Page 7 of A Collier First Christmas
“A holiday bake off!” I exclaimed.
“Possible. I think Kate’s coming, but I know Peyton will be here, we can discuss with them and see what they think.”
“A gingerbread house decorating contest. Craft time for the kids every weekend. They can make ornaments for the town tree even. Then there’s hot cocoa around fire pits. Christmas caroling. Perhaps a whole festival. Thomas said we’ll have to see if ice skating on the lake is safe enough to do. Let’s not forget the ice sculpture contest.”
“Ice sculpture?” she asked skeptically.
Thomas had already told me that was a no-go, but I wasn’t quite ready to give up on the idea. Maybe Sydney could come up with a way to make that happen.
“Yes, you heard me, right. And the parade, don’t forget the Christmas parade. I think I’d like to do a live nativity as well. Do you think it would be too late to book the Trans Siberian Orchestra to come and perform for us?”
Sydney laughed. “Yes, I’m quite certain it’s too late for that.”
“Drats. Fine, we’ll go with the school choral group at the very least. Maybe audition some of the local bands and see what they can come up with.”
“Just how many Christmas movies have you been watching lately?”
“I dunno. Only five, maybe six, yesterday.”
She bit back a grin.
“Too much?” I asked.
“As always. You have such a big heart and vivid imagination, but there are some things here we can absolutely work with.”
“So there’s hope?”
“It’s Christmas, Lil. There’s always hope!”
Thomas
Chapter 4
As I pulled up to the barn, the guys were already there and waiting. These five men were my best friends for life. We’d been through everything together and I knew we always would. Around town we’d been dubbed the Six Pack since our teen years. We’d been cocky little shits back then and owned the title.
Life seemed to pull me away from them more than I would like, but I always knew that if I ever needed them, they would drop everything to come, and it had absolutely nothing to do with me being their Alpha now.
“He made it!” Austin cheered as I pulled up.
They had gotten used to me having to cancel on them at the last minute. Pack stuff had to come first. It was just one of the burdens I carried as Alpha. They seemed to understand though. But I hated knowing I was missing out.
Lily had been adamant that I’d make it out today. “No more bailing on your friends,” she’d scolded me, but she knew better than anyone that it wasn’t something that was always in my control.
I grinned. “My apologies, gentlemen.”
“He got laid,” Clay said matter-of-factly.
“Actually, I didn’t,” I said with a chuckle. “I did have a few minutes alone with Lily for once while Cammie slept though.”
“You mean she actually put her down for a nap?” James teased.
“I guess Christmas really is the time for miracles because she did, and she arranged for a baby free night this weekend.” I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.
Typically, I didn’t talk much about my relationship with Lily, but they all knew that things had been a little tough since the baby’s arrival, at least in that department. I probably wouldn’t change a thing even if I could. I loved my daughter more than just about anything in this entire world and I was proud of the amazing mother Lily was to her. Though a bit of alone time every now and then where things didn’t feel so rushed or hushed all the time would be sheer bliss.
“Who in the hell did she finally concede to let watch Cammie? I mean does she even trust you enough for that yet?” Austin asked.
I chuckled. It was true. Lily had struggled to leave the baby for even a second, but over the last few weeks we’d finally made some real progress. I’d even got to spend more time with the baby as Lily went out to lunch with Sydney one day, and her and my sister Ruby had a spa day leaving me and Ruby’s mate Bran to handle the kids. It didn’t seem like much, but I knew for my mate it was huge progress.
