Page 130 of Crazy Love

That lifts my spirits a little. “Right. Okay. What are the kids doing? I haven’t seen them for a while.”

She lifts her shoulders. “They’re working on a surprise…I have no idea.”

“Ooo, interesting.” I lift my eyebrows and move toward the stairs.

“Do not go and spy on them,” she says.

I sigh. I hold Gizmo up and act like he’s speaking. “Let the master of Christmas cheer do his thing.”

“You did not just call yourself the master.”

I peek out from Gizmo. “No. He said it.”

“Mm-hmm. You’re too much,” she says, her lips pressing together as she tries not to laugh.

“But just right for you?” I move over and slide one hand around her hip, tugging her against me. Gizmo sighs happily with the increased body heat.

“Just right for me,” she says.

“We could have a little one-on-one time in our bedroom…while the kids are busy and all.”

She’s already shaking her head and backing away. “I have so much to cook still.”

“Ruiningallmy fun,” I mutter.

I try to help her in the kitchen, but the kittens keep following me around, so Addy shoos us all out. We end up on the couch—Jezebel across my belly, Elsa and Shadow on each leg, and Gizmo curled up in my neck.

I love these hideous things so goddamn much.

My phone buzzes and I try to fish it out of my pocket. Jezebel gives me a look of disdain for waking her up, and I scratch between her ears.

“Sorry, Jezzy. I know your rest is precious.”

I glance at the phone. David.

“Hello?”

“Penn! Happy Christmas Eve!” he says.

“Happy Christmas Eve to you!” I say back.

“Are you with Addy and the kids?” he asks.

“I’m actually on cat duty while Addy cooks, and the kids are upstairs working on a surprise.”

“Can you put them on the phone with you? Actually…can we make this a FaceTime?”

“Sure,” I say slowly.

I sit up and carefully move the cats to the couch, tucking a blanket around them so they go back to sleep.

“Is everything okay?” I ask, as I walk into the kitchen.

“Just wanted to deliver a little Christmas message,” he says.

“David’s on the phone,” I tell Addy. “He wants to give us and the kids a Christmas message.”

“Aw. Okay. Let’s go get them.” She washes her hands really quick and we go upstairs.

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