Page 36 of Happy Krampus Xmas & the Meet Not Cute
Dare wisely decides not to reply and instead takes a sip from his glass. The hoodie he’s wearing is gray and it barely holds his muscular torso in.
“Dirtbag!” Ash grumbles.
Dear vengeful God of the past, please shatter my eardrums to spare me this torture. And since you’re here, I just want to thank you for Jamie Dornan, you did a very fine job there.
“Boys, are you still trying to exceed your daily cursing quota?” Gabe’s monotone question comes from behind me. I feel his front pressing against my back. His arm wraps around my chest, and I lean back as I lace my fingers with his.
“It’s still disturbing seeing you together.” Ash purses his lips at us. He’s such a contrary arse.
“Is it because you imagine us fornicating?” I taunt him while Gabe steals a sip from my cup.
“Nobody wants to imagine that!” Ren replies with a hint of disgust. His sunglasses are new, probably a Christmas present.
I roll my eyes. “Gabe, I changed my mind.”
“About?” Ollie, the noisy wanker, asks.
“About giving my biggest gift to the Offsprings.” I wave at the triplets.
“A present,” Ash echoes with no enthusiasm whatsoever.
“A big one?” Ren adds.
“Why?” Dare inquires.
I let out a nervous sigh but instantly relax when I feel Gabe pushing me firmer against him. I brush my fingers over the little urn around my neck as I look at the boys, and I know. It’s time to let go.
“I have a house. Gran left it to me. It has a nice, spacious garden and an even nicer neighbor.” I pause to find the right words. “It’s been rotting there for two years now, and I can’t possibly think of a better way to use it than give it to you brats. You can turn it into another pet shelter, a tattoo shop, a hacker cave. Whatever. Gabe and I can help you with the legal side, and Rami…”
Ash cusses, interrupting my amazing speech. “Fuuuck! I had you by the balls after I gave you that tattoo gun. By. The. Balls.” He purses his lips, and I feel Gabe tensing behind me. I wrap my hand around his nape to soothe Bez’s feral response.
“I just finished planning the most tortuous and devious way for you to repay me. And then you come and do this?” Ash hisses at me. “You ruined it now!”
I smirk at him. “Sorry, I’m not sorry?”
“Lori.” Hunter’s voice is filled with warmth. He gives me a grateful look. He’s a silent grump, but he loves these boys deeply. Rami nods at me with the same look in his eyes,
Dare grabs Ash’s shoulder, silencing him, as he tells me, “What Ash meant to say is, do you have any idea how much that means to us?”
I open my mouth, but Ren cuts me off, “Are you sure?”
Ollie and Sully have big smiles on their faces. They know how hard it has been for me having Gran’s place and not being able to be there anymore. She loved that house, and she would’ve wanted for someone to live in it. I nod. “More certain with every passing second.”
Ren lets out a short laugh. “This is yet another sign of your lunacy.” The mirrored glasses cover his gaze, hiding his emotions. But he adds in a choked voice, “Thank you.”
“Fuck!” Ash breathes out, but it sounds like another thank you to my ears.
I grab the keys from my dress pocket and toss them at Dare. “I have a copy. We can go when you’re free, and you can help me with the moving? Gran had a lot of stuff, and I don’t want strangers putting their fingers on any of it.”
“Damn, I knew it. This is just the beginning,” Ash grumbles.
“Count me and Hunter in!” Rami exclaims, reminding me we have an audience.
“Me three.” Opal makes herself available as well. Her long braids look fabulous falling down her shoulders.
“Can’t!” Uri mutters.
“Nobody asked you,” I counter.
