Page 105 of The Art of Being Merry
The evening’s winding down. As much as I don’t want Clementine or the boys to leave, Jace is already conked out in a spare bed upstairs.
Lenny, Heidi, and Isla left a little while ago, Shania and Autumn not far behind. Mom and Dad turned in shortly after, making sure Beck and I knew we were on cleanup duty.
“I should get my kids home to bed,” Clementine states for the fourth or fifth time. I’ve lost count.
“Give me ten minutes to clean up, and I’ll carry Jace out to the car for you,” Beck offers.
It shouldn’t make me jealous. He’s their uncle, and for them, I’m glad he’s a part of their lives. But I want to be the one to do those things for Jace and Clementine.
Clementine holds up a mug. “No rush. Gotta finish this spiked coffee,” giving me the opening I need.
“Want me to drive you home?”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” she returns, making my heart sing.Take that, Beckett.
“Great,” I say as nonchalantly as I can. “I’ll help Becks with the rest of the dishes. Chat among yourselves.”
“We don’t need permission for that,” Willa voices, causing Clementine to burst into a fit of giggles. Atlas pulls his attention from the Christmas movie he’s watching, but seeing his mom and aunt together must be a common occurrence, since his eyes glue back to the screen in no time.
Satisfied they’re all occupied, I join Beck in the kitchen. Piles of plates and pans stack in the sink and to the side. The more people, the more dishes. “This is going to take over ten minutes,” I admit.
“Yeah, no shit.” Okay, so he’s still pissed. Excellent. “I was jealous.”
“Excuse me?” I don’t process his statement before the words barrel from my mouth.
“That your sweater was uglier than mine.”
“Oh. Right. Yeah, I kinda figured you wanted to win. Two years in a row wasn’t enough for you.”
He shakes his head. “I wanted to win, but mine couldn’t compete with yours. She’s mad talented, and I was jealous you had the smarts to recruit help.”
“I mentioned it once, and she ran with it. She has all these ideas stored up there. Images, pictures, objects she can bring to life with one thought. It’s amazing.”
“Willa, too. With words. Though I’m not sure I’d want to be in her head for even a few minutes. It seems scary.” He chuckles, handing over a pot for me to dry. “I’m sorry.”
“Aw, Becks, was that hard for you to say?”
Growing up, he was never the one who started trouble.He was too smart for that. He wasn’t perfect, but he had a way of skirting the truth, of avoiding getting caught. Somehow, I always took the blame for any idea we were both involved in. However, when we both got away with stuff, I also got the credit.
“Shut up.”
“Apology accepted. Are you really going to protest the rules?”
“No, it’s supposed to be fun. Besides, I don’t need Clem’s boys thinking that behavior’s okay. Hell, Shania either. She can get into enough trouble on her own. She doesn’t need my help.”
I nod. She’s a great kid who sometimes makes bad choices. I’m sure I made worse at her age. Hell, even still.
“I’m falling for her.” I don’t have to clarify who “her” is.
“Yeah, no shit. For some odd reason, she likes you, too.” He points a soapy ladle at me. “Do right by her.”
It’s the closest I’m going to get to a lecture, and I’m grateful.
“That’s the goal, brother. That’s my plan.”
Now, to make sure I execute it.
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