Page 80 of Sleepless Nights and Hockey Fights

“This better be good, jackass.”

I stand up, facing the brother who’s always been the worst of the bunch. The leader of the bullies. Instead of puffing up my chest or taunting him back, I force myself to relax. Will works hard as a general contractor here in the town we grew up in. It can’t be easy to watch his little brother making seven figures. Couldn’t have been easy to help raise all us boys. Ashley’s right. Will’s got his own past and his own reasons for being the way he is. I just need to see if we can see eye to eye as grownups.

“You couldn’t have had it easy being the big brother to all of us and dealing with Dad directly. I just wanted to tell you I love you, Will.”

His face remains stony for several long beats. Richie comes up to my side and claps him on the shoulder. “I love you too. Love both of you.” Then he throws his arms around us both andpulls us into a group hug. Not a precursor to a tackle. Just an honest-to-god hug.

Will lets out a belly laugh that gets us all laughing. He pats us on the back before pulling away. He looks confused, but also softer. Like maybe he isn’t planning our murder in his head. “You two are weird as fuck. Why don’t we do this inside, so the neighbors don’t think we’re drunk off our asses?”

We traipse inside where we have the first honest conversation we’ve ever had as a family. Mom cries happy tears, Dad apologizes for being too tough on us sometimes, and no one gets tackled to the ground. It’s not a fucking kumbaya song around a fire with linked arms, but it’s progress.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Molly

“What made me think this was a good idea again?” I whisper to Ramona from my spot next to her on their cushy loveseat.

We both watch as Luke models the new scarf Ramona gave him while Blake looks on like he’s hatching plans to use the scarf to tie Luke to his headboard and have his dirty way with him later tonight.

She throws an arm around my shoulder and whispers back, “You’re in the running for goddamn mom of the year for giving Matty both his parents on Christmas.” When Blake leans in to kiss Luke, she springs to her feet and announces, “Time for Christmas morning Bloody Marys!”

“I’ll help!” I jump at the chance to escape for a breather. I mean, sure, I’m happy for Blake and Luke, but I’m also fresh off a three-day Hallmark holiday movie marathon where I spent the better part of each film yelling at the characters that love is a lie and they’re better off alone. Yeah, I’ve had better weeks.

I can’t stop thinking about how I allowed things to get so out of hand that Bobby and I actually had a conversation abouthaving babies together! Babies! What was I thinking, traipsing off into la la land like that and not thinking rationally? Ripping it off like a Band-Aid was the right move, even if it had me emptying every tissue box in the house.

“Who’s Bloody Mary?” Matty asks.

“An excuse for your Aunt Ramona to drink her breakfast,” Amir replies as we duck into the kitchen.

“Thanks again for being so awesome and letting us crash your Christmas,” I say as I dig through her fridge for the tomato juice. Matty and I had planned to spend the day with Bobby before everything fell apart, and I wanted to give him something better than a morning hanging out alone with his mom.

It was Luke’s idea to combine parties and spend the day together once Matty spilled to Blake that Bobby and I are on pause—a thoughtful gesture that makes me feel even worse for being a love Grinch today. I haven’t had the heart to tell Matty that Bobby and I are likely over for good.

“Please, girl. Any excuse to avoid Amir’s mother for a few hours.” She slams the freezer door after grabbing the vodka. “Did I tell you she suggested I might want to buy the next size up in dresses the last time I saw her?”

“Yikes.”

Ramona waves a hand and sets the vodka on the counter. “Matthew’s having a good time; that’s all that matters.”

“He asked me earlier if I could take him to give Bobby his present.”

“Damn. What did you say?” Ramona asks with a wince.

“I panicked and told him where I was hiding the Christmas candy. Thank god he’s so easily distracted.”

“What did Matthew get him anyway?”

“A hockey bobblehead. Some player named Roman LaFontaine? He said it was a joke between them.” I frown downat the jug of tomato juice and then feel Ramona’s hand on my shoulder.

“You’ll get through this, Molly.”

I muster a half smile and put my hand over hers. “Then why do I feel so awful?” When I woke up this morning, I had a few beautiful seconds where I forgot Bobby wasn’t in the bed next to me. Those tiny seconds felt like the best Christmas in history. Until reality crashed the party.

“Because you made a grown-ass adult decision, and you’re facing the fallout like a grown-ass adult woman.”

I sigh and return to the fridge for the celery. “I’m never dating again.”

“Hm.”

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