Page 62 of Courting the Krampus
Needing to change the subject before I get emotional, I ask, “How did deliveries go? Checked your list twice?”
“I wouldn’t be Santa if I didn’t,” Nick says with a shy smile, his cheeks brightening with a blush. He clears his throat and turns serious. “Cole, Christmas cheer was much higher than usual this year, and I think we can expect the trend to continue now that we’re done with coal for the Naughty List.”
“That’s wonderful news, Nick. I really do hope the books make a difference.”
“I think they already are.”
“Yeah?”
“Let me show you. But call your mates over too, I think they’d like to see it.”
“Jas, Nat, can you come over here? Nick wants to show us something.”
Jasper and Natalie get up without needing any further explanation, and make their way over to us, hand in hand.
Nick shakes his head and lets out a sigh full of longing. “That’s one neat trick. I’ve started praying to the fates that they send me someone special, too. Seeing you this happy makes me believe there’s a mate somewhere out there for me.”
Natalie lays a hand on Nick’s shoulder. “I definitely believe so. They’ll show up when you least expect it.”
Jasper comes to stand behind me and pulls me into his front. “Wouldn’t that be funny, though? If someone just appears out of nowhere and falls into your lap?”
“I can only dream,” Nick says wistfully, his eyes glazing over with a faraway look.
I raise my brows at him. “Never say never.”
Nick blinks as if to clear the thoughts from his head and takes out his phone. “So, technically there aren’t any rules against it, but I took a picture that Ihaveto show you. There was this one boy who woke up just as I left. He’s on the Naughty List and I could see he didn’t expect to find anything under the tree for him. But when he found a parcel with his name on it, he instantly unwrapped it and started reading your book.”
Nick winces before continuing. “This is probably where I should say something about how he should’ve waited until morning to open presents with the rest of the household, and how that probably contributed to him being on the Naughty List, but…”
Nick holds out his phone and we gather around it, staring at the picture of a boy completely engrossed in a book.Ourbook.
Rubbing at his beard, Nick says, “I shouldn’t have risked sticking around longer than was strictly necessary, but I just had to show you. He got lost in that book. Read it from start to finish, and he’s not even an avid reader.”
The smile stretching across Jasper’s face is absolutely breathtaking. “Wow. He looks… captivated.”
A single tear tracks down Natalie’s cheek, her lip wobbling with emotion. “He likes our book.”
“Cole, Jasper, Natalie—what you’re doing for the children is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. Thank you.”
I wipe at my eyes, feeling an immense amount of pride for my family well up in me. “I’m just so happy to be part of your team, Nick. Working together to make the world a slightly better place is pretty rewarding. And doing it all with my mates, and my brother at my side… Thank you.”
Nick places his hand on my shoulder, and after a moment’s hesitation pulls me into a bear hug. He breathes in deeply, and on the exhale whispers, “Brothers.”
We step back and hold each other’s eyes for a moment, before a bashful smile tilts Nick’s mouth up. “Can I give you your Christmas present now?”
“Sure. I thought we’d exchange presents later, but we can do that now if you want.”
“Let’s do everyone else’s later. I’d like to give just yours now, if that’s okay?”
“Yeah, of course.” My heart hammers in my chest as Nick walks over to his magic Santa bag next to the tree. He grabs a small box lying right near the front like it was waiting for him.
Behind me, Jasper goes still and our bond floods with gratefulness and appreciation and love, like he somehow knows what’s inside. Natalie senses the emotions too and places her hand on my lower back, shoring me up with her presence and support as Nick comes back and places the box in my hands.
I quickly unwrap the present and flip the lid before a single sob tears from me.
I’m absolutely speechless. My eyes well up as I look to my brother with immense appreciation for the significant gift he’s given me.
Tears form in Nick’s eyes and his cheeks turn a ruddy color. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of this sooner, but I contacted Adelbert to have a glamour ring made for you. You’re free to travel anywhere in the world while blending in looking human. Maybe you can go visit Jasper’s parents in the Alps, or even go meet Natalie’s mom in Arizona.”
