Page 31 of Christmas In Love

The short drive to his parents’ was loud.

Occasionally, he caught Nat grinning at some random comment either of the boys made about superheroes, Legos, or mud. Then he had to stop himself from grinning stupidly atherand focus on the road.

This was what he’d thought his future would be like, and for a while, he’d thought it would be with Nat. The two of them coming home from a family outing, kids acting like crazy people in the backseat, them just enjoying their antics.

They pulled to a stop at his parents. “Mind if I take them in?”

“Sure.”

Gregory piped up from the back, “You can’t stay in the car. My mom says it’s not safe to be left in the car by yourself.”

Cade exchanged a look with Natalie and then shifted to look at his nephew. “Your mom means—”

Natalie shook her head. “It’s okay, I can help you walk them up.”

She seemed a bit unsure as she got out, but followed him up the walk, keeping little Noah from falling two different times.

The door opened before Cade could turn the handle.

“Cade! Natalie! I was hoping you’d come and play.”

“Mom, we just—” But his mother had already grabbed their hands and was dragging them back into the house. Noah and Gregory disappeared down the hall.

“Natalie, you remember everyone?”

“Um, yes. Hi.” She did a little half wave that looked more like she was trying to swat a fly. Her cheeks were pink when she met his eyes; she chewed the corner of her mouth.

Sorry,he mouthed.

“Hey, Natalie, come sit. You and Cade can be on our team.” Abby scooted closer to her husband, leaving half the couch open. They had to squeeze to both fit. Cade wasn’t complaining.

And then his mom was explaining the rules to charades, Natalie sitting like one of those medical display skeletons—with a rod in their back.

But after about thirty seconds, Nat started nodding along, the tension slowly easing from her frame as everyone continued in complete normality—acting like they always played family games with Cade and his ex-girlfriend. Just another night in the Davis household.

“I’ll go first!” Brooke jumped up, turning to her husband and parents who made up their team.

“You have sixty seconds,” Abby said, pulling out her phone. “And… go!”

Brooke grabbed the bowl filled with small papers. She read, then dropped the paper to the ground, immediately curving her arms out to the side. Then she mimed something above her head. Cade was glad he wasn’t on her team.

“I think she’s a snowman,” Nat murmured in his ear. Her breath was warm, and he physically repressed the tingle that tried to climb up his spine.

“Snowman!” Mom yelled.

Brooke nodded and moved to the next paper. Nat raised her eyebrows at him with pride.

When it was their turn, Cade pushed Nat to a stand. “Nat is great at this game.”

He expected her to freeze, glare at him, or demure. But instead, she wrinkled her nose teasingly. “That’s just because he’s so horrible at charades. Compared to Cade, anyone would be good.”

Everyone laughed, and it was as if the four years between them were suddenly gone. For the first time, a joke at his expense didn’t feel like a deficit of himself personally. Somehow, it made him feel cared for—known. This was how it was meant to be. Nat completed him. And with her here, his family felt complete too.

“Ready… go!”

Cade brought his mind to the present and watched as Nat read a small paper. She tapped her nose, then spread her hands out, thumbs against her temples.

“It’s Cade!” Brooke yelled, laughing at the goofy picture Nat made.

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