Christmas with the Reeds(12)

“For me?” I lay a hand on my chest.

She gets the present and brings it to me. I look up at Friday. “You got me a present?”

“It’s not much,” she says softly. “Just a little something.”

Then more kids run over and they’re all carrying presents. They all have my name on them, and they’re from Matt and family, Pete and family, Logan and family, Paul and family, and Sam and family.

I probably look like an idiot as I glance around the room, going from one Reed face to another. Paul has his arm around Friday. Matt has Sky in his lap. Logan and Emily are holding hands. Pete cups the back of Reagan’s neck. And Sam is snuggled on the couch with Peck.

“You guys really shouldn’t have done this,” I murmur.

But Paul hears me. “It’s just a few presents, dude. You don’t have to get all weepy. Should I get you some hair product and tampons? There are some extras in the bathroom.”

I laugh and duck my head. “Thank you,” I say. Then when the kids aren’t looking I mouth “fuck you very much” at Paul. He laughs.

I unwrap the gift from Paul and Friday. It’s a pair of pajamas, but I swear, they’re the best pajamas ever. I wad the wrapping paper into a ball and throw it at Logan’s head when he teases me about being too slow. When I’m done opening gifts, I have a small stack of wonderful items I will cherish for the rest of my life.

I haven’t had anyone care about me in a really long time. But this feels good. So good.

“So, you in for Monopoly?” Logan asks as he starts to set up the board.

“Why not?” I say. I got nowhere else to be.





Peck

My phone chimes in my pocket and I look down at it. I whisper to Sam, “D-do you care if my family comes over?”

“Of course not. The more the merrier.”

I text them back and settle against Sam on the couch. We only have a few weeks left until the baby will be here, and I’m getting a little anxious. “Are you tired?” Sam asks. “We can go home and have your family over there, if you’d prefer to.”

I shake my head. He’s about to play Monopoly with his brothers, which is apparently a Christmas tradition. I don’t want him to miss it.

“Do you miss football, Sam?” I ask.

He shakes his head and lays his ear on my belly. “I’d miss you more,” he says.

Sam retired from professional football, but I’m always worried that he’ll regret it. That he’ll be sad that he gave it up. His restaurant opens next week, and he has been busy setting things up there and hiring staff.

“Sam, get your ass over here!” Logan calls.

Sam flips him the bird and goes back to listening to my belly. “I can’t wait until he gets here,” he whispers against my skin, and it sends a chill up my spine.

I groan and adjust myself. “He’s not sitting on your bladder.”

Sam kisses me quickly and gets up. “I’m going to go kick some Reed ass at Monopoly.”

“Hey Sam,” I call to his retreating back.

He turns around.

“Will you get me a cupcake?” I ask.

He grins at me and shakes his head. He pads on socked feet to the kitchen and comes back with two different flavors. “Which one do you want?”

“Both.”

He laughs and puts them both in my hands.

Suddenly, Logan claps his hands together. “So, we sort of have an announcement to make,” he says. We all sit up, look up, or get up.

“Everything okay?” Paul asks, his brow furrowing.

Emily steps up next to Logan and he cups the back of her neck, pulling her against him. “So, I kind of knocked Emily up again.” He winces as he waits for their reactions.

“You’re pregnant?” Paul asks. He grabs Emily and squeezes her, swinging her around. She squeals and giggles.

Sam high-fives Pete. “Told you, dude,” he says. “Matt owes us ten bucks.”

“Fuck you,” Matt grunts out. “I don’t owe you shit. You totally cheated.”

“Wait,” Logan says. “You knew?”

Sam jerks a thumb toward Emily. “Her boobs were getting bigger.”

Pete nods. “And she’s been kind of moody.”

Matt tosses out, “And she can’t smell tuna anymore without puking.”

Paul shrugs. “And she’s been a little tired.”

Emily lifts both her middle fingers and jabs them at the boys’ faces, one by one.

“Oh, don’t be mad, Em,” Sam says. “We can’t help it if we notice your boobs.”

“I never noticed her boobs,” Matt grumbles.

“And that is why you’re a loser!” Pete sings out.