Page 76 of Lips On My World

My heart trips. It wasn’t long ago when we first met. To think I almost threw it all away over a misunderstanding… There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank God for Maceo stubbornly refusing to give up on us.

“He’ll never lose me,” I say resolutely.

“I’m glad he has you—someone who will stand by his side through hellfire. This shit with Esteban possibly being his…it was fucking with his head. Glad you screwed it on straight for him again. Has he been talking about it?”

“He only told me last night when you guys got home. That’s been the extent of it. I think everything with the twins and the holiday is a healthy distraction for him. He knows I’m here if he wants to discuss it more. At some point, he’ll need to deal with it. Counseling has helped him, and I hope he wants to work through this in therapy as well.”

“I’ve seen an improvement in him,” he admits. “I didn’t want to broach it when we were on the mission, but I hope he does talk to Brandon about it too. Having an unbiased person help him sort through his emotions is a good idea—Brandon’s not close to the situation like you and me.”

Gauge looks ahead at Opal. “I never did thank you properly for suggesting counseling for Opal. I can see therapy is a process, but it’s already doing a lot for her.”

“Any developments in the case?” I hate asking, but I haven’t heard anything in a while.

“No,” Gauge grumbles. “But we’ll find him.”

It feels like we’ve been hiking forever, and I’m slowing down. Gauge gives me his arm, so I have something stable to hold on to. I’m a panting, sweaty wreck. “This sounded like a great idea at the start, but I’m starting to have my doubts.”

Gauge throws his head back, laughing. “I tried to talk him out of it. He was so jacked about it—there was no reasoning with him. You know how he is about family and traditions. He wants to create as many with you as he can. And then Opal overheard and invited us along.”

Gauge rolls his eyes. “Like I can say no to her.”

“There she be,” Maceo hollers, pointing his ax at a large Blue Spruce. “Ain’t she a beauty?!”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.I’m no physics expert, but there’s no way the top of that tree will fit in our living room, even with our high ceilings. “Um…babe, it’s kind of big.”

“Wow,” Opal says with stars in her eyes. “Gauge, I want one for headquarters.”

Gauge stops in his tracks like a deer in headlights. “Opal, there’s this wonderful place called a store. And inside that store is a plethora of artificial trees—big, pre-lit, pine-scented, Christmas trees. No manual labor involved aside from hanging ornaments. Doesn’t that sound lovely?”

Opal pouts. “But those aren’t real. Please, Gauge. Can we get a real tree?”

Maceo gives Gauge a mocking smile. “Yeah, bro. Give Opal arealtree. Better yet, let's make this a tradition every year—the four of us.”

Gauge does not seem amused by Maceo’s meddling.

Opal brightens at the suggestion. “Oh, how wonderful! Can we Gauge, please?”

With a resigning sigh, Gauge caves. “Sure.”

Opal squeals with delight, spinning around to pick out her tree. Maceo is turning red, fighting to hold in his laughter.

“Way to hold your ground, tough guy,” I tease, patting his arm.

Gauge smirks. “I can’t be mad when I made her happy.”

We watch Opal running around as best she can in her snowshoes, searching for the perfect tree.Nope, he can’t.

I hear grunting and the whack of an ax swinging home.

Ah, shit.He’s sold onthistree. How the hell are we going to get it in the house?

“Hubby, we should pick a different one. I don’t think we own a ladder tall enough to decorate it.”

Lies.I own a construction design firm. I’ve got tall ladders coming out of my ears, but hopefully, Maceo won’t sense the false note in my voice.

“Tiiimmmbbbeeerrr!”

Too late.Dammit.

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