Page 26 of The Santa Situation
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re over six feet tall!”
“Closet then?”
“There’s no time”
“I really hope you’re decent,” Eli’s voice rang out from the other side of the door. “Because I’m opening this door in three seconds.”
“Eli, wait!” Jemma hollered, scrambling upright and clutching the blanket to her chest like a shield.
“Three.”
“Oh my god, oh my god …” She scanned the room frantically, like an exit might suddenly materialize.
“Two.”
“Charlie!” she whisper-hissed. “What do we do?”
“Brace for impact,” I said, grabbing the edge of the comforter and tugging it up to rest just under my chin.
“One.”
The door swung open.
“Found him,” Eli announced cheerfully into his phone, which was raised like he was filming. “You were right, Mags.”
My stomach dropped.
Eli turned the screen toward me, and sure enough, there was my daughter’s grinning face.
“Hi, Dad,” she said sweetly. “Have a nice night?”
“Umm,” I managed. “I can explain.”
Eli was already backing out of the room, laughter spilling out of him. “Nope. No explanation necessary, Mr. Emerson. You two have fun.”
The door shut with an almost polite click.
For a moment, there was silence. Then Jemma groaned and fell backward onto the pillow, covering her face with both hands. “Oh my god. That didnotjust happen.”
I flopped down beside her, the adrenaline draining out of me all at once. “It absolutely happened.”
“Your daughter saw us in bed together.”
“Your son, too,” I amended, fighting a smile at the absolute ridiculousness of the situation. “I guess that’s one way to tell the kids we’re together.”
She turned her head on the pillow, spreading her fingers wide to peek out at me from between them. Her expression was pure mortification.
I couldn’t help it, I started laughing.
“Charlie, this ishorrifying.”
“Sure,” I said, chuckling. “But I’ve had worse wake-ups.”
“Such as?”
“The time Lilah threw up all over me in the middle of the night after scarfing down too much Halloween candy,” I told her. “Whereas right now I’m naked in bed with a beautiful woman. I’m calling this a win.”
She groaned again, but the corners of her mouth twitched, giving her away. “You are entirely too pleased with yourself right now.”
