by Carter Ashby
Still, she stopped herself. “Just a kiss,” she said.
“Mark kisses me like that. Drives me wild.”
Zoey smiled and moved past her and into the house. She doubted Tracy had ever been kissed like that. She doubted many people had. She poured herself some eggnog and settled into the couch next to Sophie. Kellen joined her a few minutes later, and she snuggled against him. Strange that in the few minutes they’d been apart since that kiss, she’d felt somehow incomplete. Like her world was fractured. Now, with him against her, by her side, at her back, everything seemed…right.
“You look hot in that t-shirt, Kellen,” Tracy said.
“Thanks,” he said flatly.
Tracy had always flirted with Zoey’s boyfriends. Somehow, this was different. It felt like a personal attack and she found herself getting angrier by the moment.
“This has been going on, what, a week?” Tracy asked. “That’s a record for you, isn’t it baby doll?”
Zoey forced herself to smile.
“You know, Mark and I have been together three months, now. Tell them what you do for a living, baby.”
“I’m a stripper,” Mark said in his deep voice. But his eyes were glued to the television. “Ha,” he laughed. “Here comes the flagpole.”
“What’s your man do?” Tracy asked.
“He’s a freelance photographer.”
“Freelance? As in code for unemployed?”
“No…I mean, he doesn’t have an employer, but he earns a good living.”
“Well, if he ever needs extra, he could definitely strip. Bodies like that are in high demand.”
Kellen sat up. “You know what, Tracy, tonight is about Matthew and Sophie. We’re just trying to give them a Christmas as close to what they’re used to as we can, so if you don’t mind letting them watch the movie, maybe you could move your conversation to the kitchen?”
Tracy gaped at him. She barked a laugh. “Are you serious?”
Zoey opened her mouth, but Kellen clamped his hand over it. “I’m not meaning to be rude. This is just their tradition. So, if you don’t mind?”
Tracy rolled her eyes and slumped back in her seat. Zoey felt Kellen relax, and she was grateful not to have to intercede. She leaned against him, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder.
After the movie, they played a couple of board games and then it was bedtime. The kids sat cookies out for Santa along with a note. Zoey thought the whole scene was über precious. She clung to Kellen’s side and for the first time in her life, felt a stirring of something she could only describe as maternal longing.
Maya tucked them in, then they all sat around chatting until they were sure the kids were asleep. Maya and Kellen brought the presents out and arranged them under the tree, so the kids would have something exciting to wake up to.
At last, Maya sat back on her heels and sighed, holding her injured rib in the process. “Guys, thank you so much for this. Zoey, Addy, Kellen…I wouldn’t be here without you. You guys are truly my family.”
Kellen knelt next to her, slipped his arm beneath her shoulders, and helped her back onto the sofa. Addy sat next to her and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you, Maya. No matter what, I’m here for you.”
“Me, too,” Kellen said.
Maya looked up, and Zoey nodded to her.
A few minutes later, Maya was ready for bed. Addy went with her to help her into the bed. That left Zoey uncomfortably alone with Kellen, Tracy, and Mark. The latter two were whispering and giggling to each other.
Kellen was perched on the edge of the sofa, his elbows leaning on his knees. “You ready for bed?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
She offered her hand, and he took it. “Goodnight, Mom,” she said. “Goodnight, Mark.”
“‘Night,” they both muttered without looking up at her.
She led Kellen downstairs and did a little strip-tease for him before climbing under the sheets. There was a dip in the middle of the bed, so they couldn’t help but roll into each other, which was fine while they were making love. Late in the night, she found she was either shoving him or he was shoving her. Sometime after midnight, they got up and dragged the mattress onto the floor. There was still a dip, but it wasn’t quite as deep. But, since the floor was hard and unforgiving, they both woke up stiff and exhausted on Christmas morning.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kellen couldn’t speak, he was so tired. He took Zoey’s hand and led her to the downstairs shower. They held each other and stood under the hot spray until they finally became alert. They dried and dressed. Then they heard a child’s squeal above them. They grinned at each other and raced upstairs to see Sophie.
She jumped up and down in the living room. “Santa came! Santa came!”
Matthew came out, bleary eyed, but grinning. “Hey, Uncle Kellen.”
“Hey, bud.”
Zoey leaned into Kellen. “Can they open their presents?” she asked.
“They usually wait for their mom.”
Zoey nodded, then she asked, “Can I tell Sophie I got arrested getting her one of those presents?”
He whispered back, “You’d ruin the whole Santa thing.”
Zoey snapped her fingers. “Darn.”
He kissed the top of her head. Maya and Addy filtered out, headed straight for the coffee pot, and then moved into the living room. After a few sips, everyone seemed awake and ready to go. Maya let the kids tear into their gifts.
They were the most grateful children Kellen had ever seen. They stopped after each gift to show their mom and gush over how excited they were.
It was over too fast. When the kids were done, they simply spread out on the floor and began playing with their toys.
Addy gave Maya and Zoey each a small, rectangular box. They ripped them open. “A Kindle!” Maya shrieked. “Oh, Addy, thank you!”
Zoey lunged at Addy, tackling her on the sofa and kissing her face. “You’re the best!”
“Ick! Stop! Jeez.”
“Okay, my turn,” Zoey said. “Only, maybe you shouldn’t open these in front of the kids.” She handed Maya and Addy each a box.
“Mattie, honey,” Maya said, “Would you and Sophie mind playing with your toys in your room? We’ll have breakfast in just a few minutes.”
“Sure, Mom,” Mattie said cheerfully. Kellen stood and helped them. They sprawled out on their bedroom floor with their new things, and Kellen smiled, for a moment, as he watched them.
He returned to the living room where Maya and Addy were ripping open their presents. He lounged back on the sofa next to Zoey.
“Yes!” Maya shrieked, pumping her fist. “I’ve read great reviews on this.”
Addy gaped at her. “Are you kidding me? You’ve researched..personal massagers?”
“It’s really great, Addy, you’ll love it,” Zoey said.
Addy shook her head as though she couldn’t believe Zoey had done this. “You’re crazy, you know that? Who gives these things out on Christmas?”
“The best kind of friend. You’ll be thanking me soon. You’ll be all, ‘Thank you, Zoey, oh, oh, ooooohhhhh!’”
Kellen had a hand over his mouth, his face turning bright red. There was a knock at the door and Zoey hopped up. “I invited Jayce,” she said, as she made her way to the door.
“Really?” Kellen said. “That’s so sweet.”
“Yeah, well, I hated to think of him all alone and pathetic on Christmas.” She had the door open for most of this sentence.
Jayce, with a case of some kind of liquor propped on his hip, pressed his lips together. “Thanks,” he said flatly.
“You’re welcome. Come on in.” Zoey stepped aside.
He stepped inside and carried the clinking bottles to the kitchen.
“What did you bring?” Zoey asked.
“Your favorite wine. Kellen’s favorite beer. And Addy’s favorite scotch.”
Addy laughed. “I don’t drink scotch, Jayce.”
“Ye
ah, well, you said the professor does. Keep it at your apartment just in case.” He winked at her and she blushed to her ears, then he passed a bottle of RumChata to her and plopped down on the couch between her and Maya.
Addy hugged the bottle to her chest. “I love this stuff.”
“I know.” Jayce turned to Maya and handed her a card in an envelope. “Merry Christmas. Open that later, okay?”
Maya blushed and hesitantly took it. “Thank you.”
“What do you like to drink, Maya?”
“Um. I don’t really know. I like wine. I haven’t tried much else.” She glanced at Jayce but wouldn’t hold eye contact. Kellen felt sorry for her, seeing how nervous she was with someone she’d known forever sitting next to her just because he was a guy. But, at least, she didn’t move away.
“What about your kids?” Jayce asked. “Matthew seems like a Jack Daniels man to me.”
Maya laughed. “My precious boy is definitely still in the chocolate milk phase of his life.”
“You’re right,” Jayce said. “Sophie, though: closet drinker. She’s shooting tequila every time you turn your back, admit it.”
Maya laughed harder and then hissed as she pressed a hand to her injured rib. “You’re funny, Jayce.”
Jayce sat a little taller.
Zoey brought in a tray with mugs of coffee. She sat it on the coffee table and Addy immediately poured RumChata into hers. Jayce held his mug out to her and she boozed up his coffee for him. “My kind of woman,” he said.
Addy clinked mugs with him.
“Between Zoey’s present and Jayce’s,” Maya said, “your Christmas is looking very promising, Addy.”
Kellen grinned, because he knew it was the embarrass-Addy portion of the morning. She was already bright red.
“What did Zoey get you?” Jayce asked, reaching for the package tucked into the arm of the couch on the other side of Addy.
“Nothing,” Addy said as she tried to grab the gift. “Jayce, come on.”
But he was already peeking inside. He grinned and shot Kellen a look. “Ah, the Power Stud. Janice has one of these. Of course, she had to retire it after she started sleeping with me.” He leaned back and splayed his legs out in front of him. “Ain’t no substitute for Jayce.”
Addy glared at him from behind her glasses. “You’re a pig.”
He just shrugged. “You know how to use that thing? You want me to give you a few pointers?”
Maya was giggling, and Jayce flashed her a smile, clearly pleased to be entertaining her.
“Have you all no decency?” Addy said, her face bright red. “What normal people talk about stuff like this?”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Addy,” Kellen assured. And then he stopped talking because Zoey sat on his lap. He hugged her against him and felt suddenly overwhelmed with warmth. He nuzzled his cheek against her soft sweater.
All three adults on the couch sarcastically said, “Awww.”
Zoey giggled, and Kellen buried his face in her neck, about as happy as he’d ever been, surrounded by his friends and family and holding a warm woman in his arms.
And then a sharp, smoke-scratched voice disrupted the tranquil mood. “Hey, y’all opened presents already?”
Everyone turned to see Tracy coming from the hallway in her robe. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat in one of the recliners. “I’m so disappointed,” she said. “I really wanted to see the kids open their gifts.”
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Zoey said. “I didn’t know.”
“Oh, well,” Tracy sighed. “Jayce Gilmore, is that you?” She leaned forward, flashing a view of her cleavage.
Jayce was already sitting up, stiff as a board, his eyes wide and his face red. He cast a desperate glance at Kellen, who had no clue what was going on. “Uh, hey, Ms. Odell,” he said.
“Oh, honey, please. After that night in your daddy’s pickup truck, I think you can call me Tracy. Come here.” She stood, and he met her halfway for a hug he obviously didn’t want.
Kellen clamped his arms tight around Zoey who was already beginning to vibrate. As soon as Jayce sat back down, he turned to Zoey. “I did not have—I didn’t—we didn’t—I swear to God, Zoey—“
“Oh, relax,” Tracy said. “We only made out a little.”
Jayce nodded vigorously. “And I was seventeen, Zoey. Seventeen. And drunk.”
“A very mature seventeen,” Tracy added.
“Oh, God.” Jayce fell back against the couch and closed his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Jayce,” Zoey said in a tense and scarily quiet voice, “but you’re going to have to die.”
He sighed. “I understand.”
Kellen couldn’t stop gaping at his best friend. “Why did you never tell me this, man?”
Jayce sat up. “I believe I did. I was practically living with you, back then. I’m sure I told you.”
“No. No way. I would have remembered.”
“Does it matter?” Zoey shrieked. And then for no reason at all, she punched Kellen in the shoulder.
Maya and Addy were both staring at Jayce. He glanced at each of them. “Well, I think I’ll go,” he said, leaning forward.
Addy grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him back down. “I made out with you, too. Remember?”
“He made out with everyone,” Zoey said.
“Only when he was drunk,” Kellen said.
“He didn’t make out with me,” Maya said.
Jayce turned to her, his expression more hurt than Kellen had ever seen it. “Yes I did. You don’t remember?”
Maya frowned in thought.
Jayce’s jaw dropped.
Kellen felt for him. Probably the one make-out session that had meant anything to him and she didn’t remember.
“Well I’m about to take the kids to Mom and Dad’s,” Kellen said. “You wanna come with us?”
Jayce tore his gaze from Maya, who was still trying to remember the most important moment in Jayce’s life. “Uh, no. Thanks, man. Your mom hates me. Plus I gotta take the old man out to breakfast.”
“You don’t gotta.”
Jayce shrugged. “He called yesterday. Said, ‘Hey, shithead, we having Christmas breakfast?’ And I said ‘yeah.’ How could I not? I mean, all the love…it just gets ya right here.” He pounded his fist to his heart and grinned.
Kellen shook his head. He never could understand how Jayce could be so nonchalant about that relationship. “If you change your mind, come on by.”
“Thanks.” Jayce stood, casting one last, longing glance at Maya.
Kellen walked him out the front door and closed it behind him.
Jayce turned to face him.
Kellen laughed. “Don’t you hate it when your youthful mistakes come back to humiliate your ass?”
Jayce’s expression shuttered. “Yes. Yes I do.”
“Was she any good?”
Jayce looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I don’t remember. But gross. What the hell was wrong with me?”
“You were horny and had abandonment issues. You had that phase there where you were chasing women in their forties. Remember that?”
Jayce nodded. “Yeah, I guess I do.”
“Don’t worry about it. I won’t let Zoey murder you in your sleep.”
He laughed bitterly. “May as well let her.” He frowned down at his feet. Then he shook his head. “How’s she doing?”
Kellen understood the subject change. “You saw her.”
Jayce nodded; his hands clenching into fists. Kellen knew he’d be thinking about how beaten Maya looked and how much he wanted to punch Damon. “She seemed pretty relaxed.”
“Good painkillers.”
“Shit. I thought she just found me charming.”
“I’m sure she did.”
Jayce shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Look I’m going. You have a cozy Christmas with the new girlfriend, okay?”
Girlfriend? That stunned Kellen into silence. He watched Jayc
e’s truck disappear down the road as he mulled it over.
Kellen went back inside to find Zoey handing her mom a small box.
“I got you a present,” she said. “If you want it.”
“I love presents!” Tracy said. “Of course I want it.” Tracy opened it. “Oh, earrings,” she said. “I love them. Did you see the earrings Mark got me?”
She sat Zoey’s earrings on the table and then pushed her hair back to reveal the ones in her ears.
“They’re lovely,” Zoey said, disappointment tainting her voice.
Kellen went for more coffee. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could sit here and watch this woman he cared so much about throw herself at someone who obviously didn’t love her. He heard Tracy follow him. She held her coffee cup out, and he topped it off for her. Then as he was returning the carafe, she cupped his right ass-cheek and squeezed.
He turned and looked straight at Zoey, silently begging her for permission to tell this woman to keep her damn hands off of him. However, Zoey’s wide, frightened eyes, and a shake of her head, told him she wanted him to be silent. He would do his best.
Tracy didn’t notice the interchange as she moved back to her recliner. Kellen stayed in the kitchen with his arms folded over his chest.
“You know,” Tracy said, “I dreamed last night that I was in a Kellen and Mark sandwich. It was so hot.”
Zoey’s face paled. The smile she wore was a sad mask.
“Isn’t it great that we can date men of the same age?” Tracy asked. “It’s like we’re more like sisters than mother and daughter.”
“Yeah,” Zoey said. The earrings sat on the table, ignored.
“Maybe we can double date while we’re here,” Tracy said.
Kellen finally made his way back to Zoey’s side. “Exactly how long are you here?” Kellen asked.
Zoey whipped her head around and said, “She’s here as long as she wants. You got a problem with that?”
Kellen wondered how she could make mere words feel like a slap in the face. “Nope. No problem.”
She held eye contact for a long moment before turning back to her mom. “A double date sounds fun,” she said.