by Nikki Ashton
Chapter 10 – December 22nd
“You fucking idiot!” Luke cried as he bashed Tom’s head with the cushion once more. “What if I’d been Jake?”
“Stop hitting me and turn your damn back, can’t you see that Abbie’s naked?”
“Thankfully no, I can’t see she’s naked, because of your great hulking body covering her. Although there is a little bit of…erm…” Luke’s face went crimson as he circled his finger in the area of his nipple. “Sorry Abs.”
Abbie looked down and could see that Tom’s beautifully sculpted, tattooed body wasn’t quite covering all her modesty. She squealed and slapped a hand over her naked breast that was peeking out under Tom’s arm.
Luke coughed nervously and turned back towards the door. “Sorry, but Amber asked me to call for Hendrix’s changing bag. She forgot to bring it down to the house and didn’t want Jake walking in on you, seeing as she guessed that you were here.”
“It’s okay for you to catch us on the job, though?” Tom scoffed as he passed Abbie her clothes.
“Well you should have thought about that before you decided to get down and dirty on Jake’s lounge furniture. Which I have to say is pretty nasty, if I were him I’d want a deep clean.”
“Yeah well, dick head, you’re not Jake, and he will not find out.” Tom launched the cushion at Luke, hitting him squarely on the back of the head.
“Oi!”
“You threw it at me first.”
“Hey!” Abbie called. “Stop it, I’d like to get dressed if that’s okay. Luke the bag is probably in the nursery. Tom get dressed, we’re going for pizza with everyone else.”
“But…” Tom protested.
“I’m starved and need pizza so I suggest unless you want me to turn nasty, you do as I say.”
“Fuck,” Tom groaned. “Half an hour after professing my love and you’ve turned into a mean girl.”
“You love her?” Luke asked. He turned around to face Tom, but sharply turned back when he saw Abbie was pulling on a pair of knickers.
“Yeah,” Tom muttered. “I do, so what?”
“Nothing, dude,” Luke said softly. “Nothing at all. I’m pleased for you, for both of you. You deserve to be happy.”
Tom stopped fastening his belt and looked up at Luke’s back. “Are you crying?”
“What the fuck would I be crying for, you stupid prick?” Luke threw his arms in the air. “Can’t a friend be happy for you? Knob head!” he muttered under his breath. “I’m going to get the bag. Make sure you’re ready when I get down, everyone is at the house ready to go and those kids are wilder than Abbie when they want pizza.”
“I doubt that,” Tom muttered with a wicked grin as Luke disappeared.
Abbie’s aim with another cushion was perfect, almost rocking Tom on his feet.
The small, family run, pizza house was based right on Rickeby town square, overlooking the war monument and with the striking red stone church, keeping guard on the town, in the background. The restaurant only held seven tables and by the time Dirty Riches and their families trooped in, the place was full. Luckily because it was three days before Christmas, everywhere was quiet, so they’d been happy to accommodate the Dirty Riches family when Luke had called ahead.
“Hey, Manny,” Luke called to the owner, as he guided Rocco inside, with a hand on his shoulder. “How you doing?”
“I’m great, Luke. You?”
Luke nodded and unbuttoned his coat as everyone else started to sit down at the tables that Manny had pushed together for them.
“Great thanks, but we needed to get the kids out for a while. They were starting to drive us and themselves crazy.”
“Christmas holidays,” Manny moaned, throwing his hands into the air. “The only holiday where no one has any money left to spend, so they have to stay cooped up.”
“I guess so.” Luke smiled and nodded, even though that didn’t really apply to him and the rest of the band. They really were lucky bastards, he thought, being able to do whatever they wanted to and spend whatever they wanted to. He wondered whether they should do something for the town, after all the community had been good to them. Locals barely batted an eyelid when the band members walked around town. It was only tourists that tended to stop and ask for autographs and selfies.
“Anyway,” Manny exclaimed, breaking Luke’s thoughts. “Where is your beautiful mama?”
Luke grinned. Manny was a similar age to Lucia, and made no secret of the fact that he liked her. Luke tried not to think about his seventy-two year old mother dating the rotund, silver haired, Manny. It was a thought that almost had him dropping his head in a vat of bleach to erase the images. Lucia, however, wasn’t interested; no man would replace her Seamus, even though it had been twelve years since he’d passed away.
“Mama is enjoying the peace and quiet,” Luke replied. “Plus our eldest daughter, Betty, is coming home today but as usual we have no idea when, so Mama will be there if she arrives.”
Luke turned to where Martha was strapping Gigi into a high chair. She was bending over and her gorgeous, heart-shaped backside, in her tight jeans, was enticingly in his eye-line. Luke blew out a breath as he started to feel a stirring in his jeans. Even after seven years together, that woman had him tied up in knots and desperate to get naked just by looking at her. Martha sensing Luke’s gaze looked over her shoulder at him. Seeing the twinkle in his eye, she knew exactly what he was thinking. She bit on her bottom lip and let her own eyes give him her answer. As Luke readjusted himself, Martha giggled and turned to deal with Rocco.
“Okay, Luke, well you tell her I said hello,” Manny sighed, obviously disappointed. “Right, Kelly will sort your drinks, and I will get your food order.”
Luke waved his hand at Manny. “Just bring us six or seven of your large pizzas and garlic bread please Manny.”
“Can I have some cheesy bwead please, Papa?” Rocco called as he climbed onto his knees and turned in his seat to face Luke.
Luke took a step forward and swirled his finger around. “Sit properly and you’ll get what is put in front of you. Okay?”
Luke nearly broke and ordered ten cheesy garlic breads when his beloved son looked up at him with huge, puppy dog eyes that were exactly like his own, and nodded.
“Yes, Papa.”
“Good boy.” Luke turned back to Manny and whispered. “Add some cheesy garlic bread into that too.”
Manny grinned and waddled off to the kitchen.
“Sucker,” Tom hissed as Luke sat in between him and Rocco.
“Says you who is wrapped around the finger of every child at this table.”
Tom huffed out a laugh. “True.” He cleared his throat and leaned closer to Luke’s ear. “You’re not going to say anything are you? To Jake, about what you saw.”
“Nope. I quite like having you around.” Luke winked at Tom as he poured himself a glass of water.
“He’s gonna kill me for falling for her, so I don’t want him to kill me again because I’ve had sex with her on his sofa.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Luke replied. “He’ll kill you good and proper the first time, you won’t even feel it the second time.”
Tom groaned and glanced over at Abbie who was playing ‘Rock-Paper-Scissors with Eliza at the opposite end of the table. He wished that he was sitting next to her and could openly touch her and kiss her, but that wouldn’t happen until he grew the balls to tell Jake about their relationship. When he did finally tell him, Tom knew that he’d have to consider the fact that Jake might never speak to him again. It was shit that he might lose his best friend because he’d fallen in love. He hoped that Jake would understand; he wasn’t exactly a monk himself before he got together with Amber, who, he might add, was Luke’s cousin, so where was the difference? Tom just hoped that Jake realised that he was a changed a man because of Abbie. This was Jake though, and he wasn’t always rational.
“So, you love her then?” Luke asked.
Tom’s
gaze turned from Abbie to his band brother. “Yeah.” He nodded vigorously. “I do. Have done for a few months, but was too chicken shit to tell her.”
“She feel the same?” Now it was Luke’s turn to glance over at Abbie.
“Says she does and realised it the exact same day that I did. At Hendrix’s christening.”
“The day she got covered in puke!” Luke replied with an astonished tone. “Nice.”
Tom laughed, remembering the smell and how kissing Abbie in the cupboard had pretty much ruined his jacket and shirt. He’d had to lie to Jake about why he was also covered in vomit, saying that he’d been in the line of the splash back.
A few minutes later and the pizza and garlic bread arrived and were placed on the table. Everyone started to take slices for themselves, and the kids. Manny had even made some pasta in tomato sauce for Hendrix and Gigi – although Hendrix has already devoured half a huge pizza slice before his pasta had cooled down enough for Amber to feed it to him.
“Thank you, Papa.” Rocco reached up on his knees and planted a cheesy kiss on Luke’s cheek.
“For what, little man?” Luke asked not even attempting to wipe the goo from his face.
“Cheesy garlic bwead. You asked Mr Manny for me. Thank you for evwything. I love you.” With that Rocco turned back to stuffing another piece of pizza into his mouth, totally unaware that he’d just floored his father with his declaration.
A lump caught in Tom’s throat as he saw his friends eyes start to glisten. This was what he wanted with Abbie, and he didn’t give a shit what Jake said or did about it. He was going to tell him tonight. That way if it ended badly Jake had some time to calm down before Christmas Day.
Tom tucked into his food and was coming to terms with his decision when Luke cleared his throat and tapped his knife against his beer bottle.
“Hey, I’ve had an idea,” he called as chatter around the table started to die down.
“I thought you were have a shi…”
“Jake!” Amber scolded and held up a finger, her eyes darting towards their daughter.
“She’s heard it before,” Jake complained.
“Doesn’t make it right, and it’s not just Eliza.”
Jake sighed and held his hands up. “Okay, sorry. I thought you were having a poop, Luke.”
The three older children all started to giggle and Luke threw a bread stick in the direction of Jake.
“As I was saying,” Luke continued. “I’ve had an idea. It’s a bit short notice but I think if we get Neil on the case we might pull it off.”
“Erm, have you forgotten,” Skins said. “Neil’s in Barbados.”
Neil Cornelius was the band’s manager and had been since they started out, and every Christmas he took his wife away to Barbados for three weeks.
“He doesn’t need to be here, he just needs to make a few phone calls.” Luke insisted.
“Luke, he’s on holiday,” Martha groaned.
“Yeah but babe, it’s for a really good cause.”
“Ooh Margot is going to love you,” Stacey said as she wiped Ethan’s mouth with a serviette.
“Go on then,” Tom sighed. “Tell us what this idea is.”
Luke pulled his shoulders back and smiled widely at them all. “We’re going to throw a Christmas party at our house for the residents of Rickeby.”
Martha blanched. “What, all of them?” she gulped.
Luke nodded proudly. “Yep, well whoever wants to come. It’ll be on Christmas Day, and the best bit is, Tom is gonna be Santa.”
Tom wasn’t sure what was louder, his heart thumping or Jake’s laughter.
Chapter 11 – December 22nd
“Oh my goodness,” Betty squealed, clapping her hands like a seal. “Rocco, look how much you’ve grown in three weeks.”
Rocco’s arms opened wide as he ran towards his sister. “Booboo, you’re here.”
Betty knelt down and scooped him against her chest, holding him tightly as she rocked him from side to side.
“Someone is happy,” Tom said to Noah, Betty’s fiancé, and Luke’s nephew. “How you doing, Noah?”
Noah grinned as he watched the reunion between brother and sister. “Great thanks. We’ve just had a few days with mum and dad, seeing as its Luke and Martha’s turn for Christmas.”
“How lucky you are,” Tom laughed. “You get all of us as part of the deal.”
“We love it,” Noah replied, his eyes still on Betty and Rocco who were talking animatedly to each other. “There’s always some drama going on that provides us with tons of stories for our friends.”
Tom shuddered involuntarily realising that he was probably going to be this year’s drama. “Yeah you’re not wrong. Anyway,” he said trying to avert his thoughts from his imminent demise. “How are the wedding plans coming along?”
Noah rolled his eyes and groaned. “Don’t tell Betty, because you know how much I love her, but she’s turning into Godzilla.”
“I thought it was Bridezilla?” Tom asked.
“Nope, not Betty. She’s definitely Godzilla. Thank God Martha keeps everything in line, because if it was down to Uncle Luke we’d be spending enough money to pay off the national debt. He’s already given her a blank cheque for her dress and the bridesmaid’s.”
“That’s Luke for you. You can’t accuse him of being tight with the cash, especially where his kids are concerned.”
Tom looked over to Luke who had was now talking with Betty. She still had Rocco in her arms and Luke had his arm around his step-daughter’s shoulder. Martha had practically brought Betty up alone when she gave birth to her at only sixteen. The only help Martha had was her uncle, Graham, a great man who was still a big part of his niece’s life. When Luke married Martha, he’d wanted to adopt Betty but at eighteen she was too old, so she’d legally changed her name to Mahoney. Luke loved her as if she was his own, and Betty adored him just as fiercely.
“Hey,” Tom cried, surprising Noah. “You won’t know, but Luke has decided that we’re throwing a party for the community.”
“Oh yeah. When?” Noah’s eyes lit up, always one to enjoy a party.
“Christmas Day,” Tom said through a thin lipped smile. “Yeah I know, the man’s an idiot.”
“Christmas Day?” Noah exclaimed. “You’re joking?”
Tom shook his head, and was about to speak when Betty’s cries of excitement interrupted him.
“Christmas Day! Wow, Papa, that’s awesome!”
“Oh fuck,” Noah groaned. “Betty’s on board and that little jig she’s doing generally means she’s more excited than the front row of a Bieber concert.”
“Shit, that bad?” Tom crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “Too bad, dude.” He slapped Noah’s back and gave him a conciliatory smile. “Hey I know how you can get yourself involved without being under Betty’s command.”
Noah’s eyes widened expectantly. “Yeah, what? Because I do not want to be running errands for Betty. She’s mean when she’s being bossy.”
Noah’s lips were down turned but inside his heart swelled at the thought of the woman that would become his wife in six months’ time. Betty was definitely mean when she was being bossy, but it was also very sexy when she got demanding.
“Well we need someone to play S-S-Santa,” Tom stuttered over the word as his palms grew a little sweaty. “Someone to hand out presents to all the kids, so you could do it. That way you can tell Betty you have to practice and don’t have time to do anything else.”
Tom stared at Noah, forcing himself not to drop to his knees and beg the younger man. As Noah considered it, Tom was hopeful, until a huge calloused hand landed on his shoulder – Jake!
“Don’t let him persuade you, Noah. Santa is Tom’s gig, he’s just being a pussy about it.”
Tom glared at Jake, his nostrils flaring in time with the clenching and unclenching of his fists.
“Jake, just fuck off. If Noah wants to do it, then let him.”
“I never said that,” Noah protested.
“Exactly.” Jake smirked at Tom. “That suit still belongs to you buddy.”
“I told you earlier that I’m not doing it.” Tom wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his tattooed hand.
“I know what you said, but I’m not sure I totally believe it.” Jake winked at Tom and put a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Now, Noah, my beautiful wife wants to know how your mum and dad are, so let’s leave Tom to think about a few things.”
As Jake led Noah away, Tom cursed under his breath.
“Hey, you okay, honey?” Abbie said quietly as she appeared at his side. “You look a little pale.”
Tom looked up at her and smiled. “I’m fine, just Jake winding me up as usual.”
“He hasn’t said anything, about earlier, has he?” Abbie threw a worried glance in her brother’s direction. “Luke wouldn’t tell him, surely?”
“No baby, it’s fine. He’s just taking the piss as usual.”
“Okay. Well I just wanted to say Luke has asked me to help organise this party, so it might give us some alone time. You could be my assistant.” Abbie’s tongue flicked out and she ran it seductively across her top lip.
Tom’s stomach flipped and he thrust his hands into his jean’s pockets, just so he didn’t drag her into his arms. “Sounds like a plan,” he replied.
“Excellent. I’ll tell Luke.” Abbie grinned and practically skipped over to Luke and Betty.
Tom dragged a hand through his hair, making it messier than usual. He had to find a way to get out of dressing up as the fat guy, but he also had to make sure that no one else, especially Abbie, found out why he couldn’t do it. Having Jake laugh at him was bad enough, but to have everyone else ridicule him would surely make Abbie think twice about hooking up long term with a man who got the sweats over a guy in a red suit.
Chapter 12 – December 23rd
Activity in the ‘Big House’, as the village residents like to call Luke and Martha’s house, was at an optimum and Martha was ready to pull out not only her hair, but Luke’s balls too.