“Somebody give me a shot, quick,” I demanded.
Carrie shoved a bottle under my nose with the top off and I turned it up and took a long gulp. I handed it back to Carrie as the liquid burned down my throat and settled in my stomach like a warm blanket.
“Better?” she asked.
“Much. Thanks.”
Carrie pulled me in for a hug and whispered, “I thought you might need that.”
The doorbell rang and we all turned as Mike went to let Max in. The light outside glowed around Max and he looked into the room right at me. He grinned when he saw me, still within Carrie’s embrace, then winked at me before turning back to Mike.
He looked for me first.
Either that knowledge or the slow burn of the shot I had melted through me, settling low and warm and happy in my belly.
“Thanks for the invite. Sorry to barge into your Christmas though,” Max said, obviously feeling bad for intruding.
“No worries, man. We were all lamenting our horrible days and had just gotten back from kidnapping Charlie before you called. We’re glad you could make it.”
“Thanks,” Max said, clearly feeling more at ease. He walked into the house and looked around the room, his eyes growing huge. “Wow, you guys have a really nice place.”
Mike looked sheepish but I knew he didn’t really feel it. He was proud of his home, and he should be. He and Lexi worked hard and their home was proof of their work and their smart money choices.
“Thanks,” Mike said as he directed Max toward the rest of us hanging out at the edge of the kitchen.
Max came straight to me and glanced around before kissing me lightly on the lips. The liquor was quickly making its way through my blood stream, making me happy again. Or was it that he sought me out first making me happy? I’d settle for both.
For some reason I found Max kissing me, and acting like someone was going to punch him for it, incredibly funny. I burst out laughing and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. Claire started laughing with me, even though she had no idea what was funny. As Claire and I laughed like we were crazy people Carrie looked down at the bottle she’d passed me. I could see her wondering what the hell was in it. It only made me laugh harder.
Carrie took a swig from the bottle and passed it to Lexi who followed suit. Claire was after them and when I stopped laughing I took another drink.
“Does anyone want to share what was so damn funny?” Carrie asked.
Of course, I started laughing again. Mike jumped in. “Hey Max, wanna see the house? Maybe the women will calm down by the time we make it back.”
“Uh, sure,” Max said hesitantly. He followed Mike out of the living room with Brady, Aidan, and Drew right behind them. I had no doubt we’d have to go looking for them later in the man cave.
With the men gone, my friends turned on me. “What the hell happened?” Lexi demanded.
I managed to calm my laugh down to a snicker and finally spoke. “He looked like someone was going to jump him for kissing me. Or maybe jump him if he didn’t. Either way, he looked terrified, and it was just so funny.” I broke down laughing again, falling onto the couch when I couldn’t stand any longer.
“Shit, I wish I could drink,” Sam complained as she dropped down next to me. “It’s gonna be a long nine months.”
“It’s okay, we’ll drink for you,” Carrie teased as she turned the bottle up. “Damn, this is good.”
Surprisingly the men were back right away, talking and laughing as they returned. Max came right over and sat next to me, pulling me close to him. Drew squeezed in on the other side of Carrie, kissing her hard enough that she leaned back onto me. Carrie and I started giggling and fell into each other.
“I like that you’re a happy drunk,” Max said, pulling me against him. “Much better than a weepy or angry drunk. Can I get you something?”
“Sure, I guess I could go for an actual drink. Maybe something to eat too. Lex, you got any food?”
“Yep, Mike’s working on pizza right now, frozen since no one is open tonight, but food.”
Max kissed me then got up. Aidan called out to him from an oversized chair where he was cuddled with Claire, “You’re making the rest of us look bad, Max.”
“You’ve all put a ring on your women, I’m still trying to impress mine.”
A chorus of catcalls erupted around us but I barely heard them. He called me his woman. Holy shit! I met Lexi’s eyes and she mouthed, ‘Holy fuck!’ I made a ‘OH MY GOD!’ face and we both grinned.
A few minutes later Max sat back down with me and handed me something blue. He took a sip from a glass of dark caramel liquid over ice. Carrie grabbed my glass and took a sip, draining half of it. “Drew, I want one of those. Please?”
Drew rolled his eyes then grinned and headed to mix Carrie’s drink. Before he got back she’d finished mine and handed him my empty glass to refill.
Everyone piled around the living room, some on pillows on the hardwood floor, some in chairs, and talked about our Christmas. At least they talked, I listened.
“Your mother’s ham was almost inedible,” Carrie cackled. “It was so tough I had to chew it like a hundred times and I still couldn’t get through it.”
“Yeah, Mom’s never been a good cook. She tries so I’ve always just gone with it, but she’s horrible,” Drew added, shaking his head.
“I’m just glad she didn’t spend the whole time talking about Brandi and how badly you screwed up.”
Drew tugged Carrie onto his lap. “I didn’t screw anything up by ditching that crazy bitch. I made the right decision by marrying you, baby. Besides, Mom pretty much gave up the Brandi talk when we got married. She doesn’t say much anymore.”
“Well, good.”
“At least my mom wasn’t demanding a grandchild though,” Drew teased, pinching her leg.
Carrie groaned. “Tell me about it. I think after the last time my mom and Megan thought we’d jump right into parenthood. Not that I’d argue.” Drew just grinned, making me wonder if they were attempting to get pregnant again.
“Just imagine how bad it would be if you eloped. Everyone thought I was pregnant when we got back from Vegas and the Grand Canyon,” Claire chimed in. “This baby has the longest gestation possible!”
We all laughed. Claire and Aidan got married on a whim after he took her on the vacation of her dreams. He proposed while they were at the Grand Canyon and they decided to go ahead and get married a few days later when they were in Vegas instead of waiting.
She was right though, we all thought she had to be pregnant. Two and a half years later I’m pretty sure she never was.
“Are they still bugging you about that?” Lexi asked Claire.
Claire pointed at Aidan. He rolled his eyes. “My parents are the ones desperate for a grandchild. They barely talk about anything else. My mom actually said we needed to hurry up because Claire will be too old to have more than two if we don’t start soon.”
Sam choked on her drink and spit water across the room. “You’re so shitting me. Why do they get to dictate how many and when you have kids? Fuck.”
“A little riled up there, Sam?” Lexi teased.
Brady rubbed her back, trying to calm the storm obviously brewing close to the surface. “We told her parents about the baby and they were less than supportive. They both jumped back into us getting ‘real jobs’ and don’t think we’re equipped to handle a baby.”
“Unfortunately you agree with them. About the baby thing at least.”
Brady shook his head. “I did. Everyone here knows how bad I had it growing up. An absentee parent on the best days and an abusive one on the worst is no way for a kid to grow up. I never wanted kids because I knew they deserved better, but hearing your parents throw it in our faces was a bit of an awakening for me. We’re going to be kick-ass parents.”
Tears spilled down Sam’s cheeks. Brady pulled her in and kissed her softly on the lips then whispered something I couldn’t hear. Sam nodded and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him again. Max leaned into me and asked, “Is the baby why she came in that one day? Was she worried about it?”
I nodded. “It wasn’t planned and she thought Brady would flip out.”
“They seem really solid. Why would she doubt that?”
I shrugged. “Long story, but it’s always nice to have some reassurance that someone cares. It’s easy to forget. Having someone who says ‘I love you’ or ‘You mean the world to me’ can ease a whole lot of shit, you know?”
Max nodded but didn’t say anything. It felt like he slipped away just a little bit, but I had no idea why.
“So, other than the shit-storm of your parents, how was Christmas?” Lexi asked Sam.
“Oh, just wonderful. My brother and sister were there with their families so my parents barely acknowledged us except to point out all the things we were doing wrong with our lives. It started with the jobs, went straight for the lack of a house, and finished up with how horrible we would be as parents.”
“I thought things were better. Why did you even go?” I blurted out, unable to stop myself. “I have no family and it sounds like I had a better Christmas than you. And all mine consisted of was feeling sorry for myself and drinking until I passed out. At least before you guys came over that was it.”
Max shifted in his seat, probably uncomfortable with the conversation. He had a great family so the bashing probably bothered him.
“Honestly, I don’t know why we bothered. Next year we might not. I’ve always spent holidays with my family because it seemed like the right thing to do, but we’ve been together a year and a half and both Christmases were just horrible. My parents, mostly my mom, doesn’t support us. With the baby I think she’s only going to get worse. Maybe next year will be the time we make our own rules for the sake of our kid and say screw what everyone else thinks.”
“It’s your family, babe. If mine were still around I wouldn’t have anything to do with them, but I know your parents aren’t as bad as mine.”
Sam chewed on her lip and looked back at Brady. “We’ll think about it. We have a year to decide, but I’m not going to subject our kid to the negativity my parents bring. If they want to know the baby they’re going to have to accept us, together and separately.”
“That works for me,” Brady said, rubbing her belly. “Alright someone else. Max, how was your Christmas? We barely know anything about you. Any family drama?”
Max shifted again and looked around the room. I could tell he didn’t want to admit how much he loved his family, but he also didn’t want to bash them.
“Max adores his family. It’s him, his sister Abby, his mom, and grandma. He’s doted on by three women at all times and I’m pretty sure he can do no wrong in their eyes. You’ve cornered the wrong guy if you want the ‘families suck’ conversation to continue.”
“It’s true,” Max admitted. “My sister is living with me right now so that’s the biggest trouble I’ve had lately. I only have a one-bedroom so I’ve been sleeping on the couch and she’s hogging the bathroom, but for the most part my family is pretty great. Although I got a bit of flak for not bringing Charlotte.”
“Why?” I exclaimed.
Max grinned at me. “They wanted to meet you. Abby told them about how much time we’ve been spending together and Mom and Gran were pissed that I didn’t invite you, especially when I told them you didn’t have any family left. I’m pretty sure they’ll disown me if I let another holiday pass without including you.”
I smiled, hoping I’d be around to see that day.
“So, Max, tell us about your company. You drive a snowplow?” Mike asked.
“Ugh, seriously? You’re going to talk about work? Now?” Lexi chastised him.
“What? I figured we should get to know the guy who’s talking about including Charles in his next holiday.”
“Oh, speaking of holiday,” Claire interrupted, “Mandy and Xander are throwing a New Year’s Eve party. They want to get together with everyone but know Elise will need to go to bed early so they’re inviting everyone to their place for the night. Mandy said to bring sleeping bags and everyone can crash in the living room as long as we’re all okay with Elise getting us up early.”
A night with my friends sounded wonderful. New Year’s was always one of my favorite holidays. There was something about partying away the last hours of one year and starting a new one with the people I loved most that spoke to me. It was cleansing to straddle two places at once. One foot in the past, reliving the year. The other in the future, anticipating the next. All in just a few seconds.
Of course I didn’t like being the only one without someone to kiss at midnight, but that only lasted a few seconds.
“Max, are you busy New Year’s Eve?” Brady asked. “Will you be able to join us?”
I cringed. Nothing like putting him on the spot. The last thing I wanted was for Max to think it was an elaborate plan to get me a date for New Year’s Eve. I’d say I could get my own date, but we all knew I would be too chicken to ask him. It didn’t matter though, if Max agreed because he felt like he had to I’d never feel right about us.
“You don’t have to feel obligated. If you have something else going on, it’s okay,” I urged in a quiet tone, trying to sound like it wasn’t a big deal either way. If I could have glared at Brady without Max noticing I would have done that too, but Max was watching me too closely.
“You make it sound like you don’t want me there, Charlotte. Did you invite someone else already?” He kept his voice low, holding our conversation between us and not including all my friends in it. They sensed it and started talking around us.
“What? No! I just found out about it. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to say yes because Brady asked you in front of everyone. If you would rather hang out with friends or your family you shouldn’t feel like you have to go.”
“Charlotte, I’m not seeing anyone else if that’s what you’re asking.”
I shook my head. “I’m not asking anything, I promise. I really just don’t want you to feel like you have to do something if you don’t want to.”
“Do you want me there?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want, Max.”
“It matters to me.”
I huffed a breath and went with the truth. “Yes, I want you there, but I don’t want you to feel like-“
“I know,” he cut me off. “You don’t want me there out of obligation. Would it be okay if I was there because I want to spend time with you?”
“All my friends will be there. I know you don’t really like them.”
“What do you mean I don’t like them?” Max snapped.
“I’m not trying to be mean, but you never want to spend time with my friends. You always seem uncomfortable around them. Like when you came in here tonight and acted like you weren’t sure if you could kiss me because they were around.”
“We need to talk about this. Can we go somewhere quieter?”