Whatever I was going to say next was cut off as Joey came barreling back into the room, squealing that it was time to open the rest of our presents.
As she dove under the tree for another gift, he took the box gently out of my hands and removed the ring, gently slipping it onto my finger. It fit perfectly, and I just knew they had done some sneaking around to figure that out.
Sneaky, sexy alphas.
The gift opening took several hours. I had been thoroughly spoiled with even more nesting supplies, jewelry, and bath products—and Joey…well, she had just about everything a little girl could ever dream of.
It was nearing midday, and time to start cleaning up. I stood, stretching, going to grab the piles of wrapping paper and shove them into trash bags, but Jensen stopped me.
“Nope, that’s Cullen and Joey’s job. My job is to get you a snack before we go out,” he instructed, pushing me toward the kitchen.
Rolling my eyes, I did as I was told and sat in the kitchen while Jensen made me apple slices and peanut butter as a snack. He was placing the plate in front of me as Joey sidled up to me at the breakfast bar, looking at my plate excitedly.
“Want some?” I asked.
She nodded, and I proceeded to share the plate. I had a feeling Jensen knew she would be wanting to join me because he had cut up two apples and spooned out extra peanut butter.
I also didn’t miss the way his eyes kept going to my hand, at the ring that was sitting on my finger, and smiling.
“Can we watch Christmas movies?” Joey asked sweetly.
“Of course, munchkin. Why don’t you and Bethany make the sofa all comfy, and we’ll get the snacks?”
“I’ll use my new blankets!” Joey declared, getting up and running out of the room, a slice of apple still in hand.
I couldn’t help but giggle. “People will think we’ve been giving her coffee the way she runs around.”
“She’s a pocket rocket; that’s for sure,” Jensen agreed as he cleaned away the cutting board.
“What’s the plan for Christmas dinner? I know Cullen said we were going to the restaurant, so do I need to get dressed?” I asked, mentally trying to plan out the day.
Jensen shook his head. “Nope. Cullen is going to go and pick up takeout for us. All you have to do today is lounge around with our little terror and watch Christmas movies while we wait on you hand and foot.”
So that’s what we did.
Several times throughout the day, I wanted to pinch myself. There was no cleaning or nonstop cooking. Every time I wanted a snack, one of the guys grabbed it for me. Joey and I hunkered down on the sofa with her curled into my side while we watched movie after movie.
At one point, we moved to the table to eat the mountain of Christmas takeout food Cullen had grabbed from his restaurant. It was amazing—far better than anything I could have cooked. I had always thought that Christmas dinner needed to be on fancy china and have several sets of cutlery, but the Christmas meal out of plastic takeout containers was by far the best I’d ever eaten.
“Did you have a good day?” Gideon asked as I crawled into the nest, cuddling into his chest.
“It was the perfect day,” I admitted sleepily.
In fact, I hadn’t even bothered to look at my phone all day. In the morning, I had shot Kennedy aMerry Christmasmessagewith a selfie of me and Joey, and she had sent one back of her and her pack. After that, I had left it in my bedside table because I didn’t want to see any messages from my family. Even though I had blocked them, I was fairly sure they would find a way to contact me.
The peace and quiet had been perfect. For the first time in what felt like forever, I had a relaxing holiday.
“This is what it’s always going to be like,” Gideon assured me as he ran his hand through my hair. Jensen was on the other side of me, lightly rubbing my back, while Cullen was checking on Joey, who had passed out not long ago, all the excitement of the day catching up to her.
I hummed. “I’m not so sure. I think when we have a preteen and toddler, we’re going to have our hands full on Christmas.”
“We outnumber them. We can win,” Gideon said.
Jensen smirked. “For now.”
Gideon’s hand rested on my stomach, and I couldn’t help but grin.
I was excited for the future, for my baby. There was no more panic or anxiety, only joy and anticipation.