Page 129 of Set the Moment
“Pour me up a shot, motherfuckers!” Nonna jeers, holding up her holiday shot glass as Asa and Jackson cheer, clapping and laughing hysterically in the corner of the room.
Sienna jumps from my lap where we’re seated by the fireplace and Christmas tree. I watch her butt, clad in a purple holiday set to match the rest of my family, as she heads towards my nonna, grabbing the shot glass.
Nonna grins at Sienna, her hand clasping around my girlfriend and the glass. “Oh Sienna, honey. Get you one, too! Jacie tells me that your 21st is on New Year’s Eve, wehaveto get you drunk!”
“Uh…No?” I scrunch up my face as Sienna laughs at my grandmother's request, running off to get another glass.
Nonna sighs. “Jacie, don’t be such a wuss. Your girlfriend can have a little vodka with your nonna.”
Asa snickers. “Nonna…I don’t know what’s worse. You saying wuss or insisting Si Si has a shot ofvodkawith you.”
Nonna waves Asa off, rolling her eyes as Mom clears her throat.
“Doris…I think that’s enough vodka…Poor Sienna is probably vodka’d out—” Mom tries to save Sienna, but my girlfriend clearly doesn’twantto be saved. Because instead of bringing back just a shot…she brings the whole damn bottle.
Nonna’s grin is large and manic when she sees Sienna, and I’m about to butt in and interrupt them when the doorbell goes off.
“Who’s at the floor?” Sienna asks, stumbling as Jackson catches her, settling her in a chair next to Nonna.
That’s enough vodka for her…
Running a hand over my face, I answer, “That, my love, should be a drop off. You’ve been looking all over the loft for your gifts, so I had to be a bit creative with hiding them.”
Sienna has been looking for her Christmas gifts ever since she and her mom had that falling out two weeks ago. She’s searched everywhere from her room, to my cars, and even the dance studio.
Hell, I think she tried to search Derek’s place, too, before he told her off.
I kiss her forehead as she pouts and rolls her eyes at me before heading to the door where Derek and Delilah should be standing with the three gifts I'd planned for her.
What I don’t expect to find is the whole damn student body for Summerfield University.
Cleo, Georgia, Denver, Delilah, Derek, Blake, and Ryan stand on my parents’ front porch with a handful of presents. I gape at my friends, my eyes darting between every single one of them before landing on Deli.
“Chief Mischief…What’re you doing here?” I question her, hoisting her up and holding her.
Delilah’s giggles are sweet as she responds, “My daddy said that we’re bringing Christmas to Ms. Si Si.”
Nodding, I put her down and step aside to allow them all in. My eyes snag on Blake’s pajama bottoms that eerily resemble the ones that I’m wearing.
“How didyou—”
“Anna sent me the link!” Georgia squeals, thrusting a box into my chest. “That’s for Si Si, don’t open it.”
“What—”
I’m about to throw a slew of questions her way when Ryan clasps a hand on my shoulder. “Merry Christmas, man.”
Sighing, I throw an arm around his shoulder.
“Merry Christmas, Ry.”
We hug for a moment, letting the Christmas spirit take over us just as my mom’s shouts call out for us to join the rest of my family.
The guys and I all lounge around, watching as every single woman—Delilah included—sing their own horrible rendition of some musical about witches.
Sienna’s singing voice is like nails on a chalkboard, and Cleo is no better, sounding like a dying mewl.
We each wince simultaneously as the girls continue with their songs, and when they finish, we’re forced to clap.
