Page 77 of Take Me Home for Christmas

“Mom and Dad D’Angelo?” Mia asked me with a laugh.

Steve put an arm around me. “No problem, son.”Son. I must’ve looked as affected as I really was from hearing that, because he shook my shoulder affectionately and beamed. “Looks like you two worked it out.”

I met Mia’s eyes. They were twinkling. “We worked it out.”

“I guess we’re going to my place,” Mia said to me with a shrug.

“With your family,” I said.

“Withourfamily. My dad called youson. It’s official.”

Then I laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess it is.” Happiness was bubbling all through me. I hadn’t planned on gaining an entire family, but somehow, I had. I gathered Mia into my arms. “I love you.”

She smiled up at me. “I love you too.”

Mia

Later that night, when everybody left, we got ready for bed ridiculously early, laying blankets and pillows down in front of the tiny little fake tree my mom had set up for me. Only she would bring me a tree to basically light up after Christmas.Thanks, Mom.

Brax called Jenna, and I got to talk to her for the first time. “Jenna,” he said, “I want you to meet my girlfriend, Mia.” He looked up from the phone, and with pride in his voice, said, “Mia, Jenna’s my younger sister, but she’s a lot wiser than me. And she’s awesome.”

“Mia, oh my gosh,” Jenna exclaimed. “I’m thrilled.”

“Hi Jenna!” I responded. “Great to meet you.”

What I learned was that Brax was loving and affectionate with his sister, and she was the same right back. To me as well.

Before he hung up, Brax took the phone off speaker mode and spoke quietly to his sister. “Hey,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you thanks. For everything. And I love you.” Afterward, he poured us some wine as we both sat on my couch.

“I’m sorry you missed spending Christmas with her,” I said.

“That’s okay.” He was still smiling proudly. “I’ll see her soon. You know, I owe her. She told me to give myself a chance with you.”

I grinned widely. “Then I owe her too.”

We settled into relaxing. “You hungry?” he asked.

“Not a chance.” I patted my stomach and laughed.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Pizza tastes so good when you’re not heartbroken,” I said.

He chuckled in agreement and handed me a glass. We clinked a cheers.

“It’s so pretty,” I said as I took a sip and admired the tree.

“Yes, you are,” Brax said. He started to nuzzle my neck, which I loved.

“Oh, wait,” I said. “I have to tell you something.”

“What is it?” He kept dropping kisses near my collarbone. I let out a little shiver.

“Guess who came into clinic with Bianca today?” I asked.

“Who?”

“Pedro,” I confirmed. “They’re officially dating.”

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