Fulfillment(116)

All four girls happy-clapped and bounced on the sofa.

“Hi, pleased to meet you,” I said.

“Great, now that Bridget and Emily are here, that is my cue to leave. I’ll be in my office if you need me.” He placed two fingers on his lips and blew me a kiss. I sighed. Did I just sigh out loud? Shit! What is wrong with me today?





Emily and Bridget spent the next hour applying facial masks to me and the girls while 4Life played through the speakers in the background. We each had our hair in buns, with headbands keeping the loose strands of hair back, a greenish poo-coloured mud mask spread across our faces, and slices of cucumber lightly balanced on our closed eyes.

All four of us were lying back on the sofa with our robes on and our feet up on the coffee table.

“How long does this mask have to stay on?” I asked Bridget or Emily, not being able to see either of them. Quite frankly, I couldn’t see shit through these circles of cucumber.

“Another five minutes,” one of them replied with a slight giggle. Glad you find this funny!

I nodded very carefully. I honestly couldn’t wait to get this shit off my face. I was only indulging in this incredibly expensive mud mixture—that was probably dug up from down the street—because Charli wanted me to.

The sound of a camera shutter broke through the only piece of silence I’d had since the girls arrived.

“Was that a camera?” I asked awkwardly, as the mud around my mouth was dry and made it difficult to move my facial muscles to talk.

“Yes,” Bryce answered with a cocky tone.

I shot up, the cucumber slices falling into my lap. Blinking for a second, I spotted Bryce standing on the opposite side of the coffee table holding up his phone.

He smiled satisfactorily. “This photo is going on my desk.”

“Like fun it is,” I said as I stood up. “Give me your phone.” I held out my hand.

“Sorry, Hunny.”

“Bryce Edward Clark.” I put my hands on my hips.

Bridget, Emily and the four girls started laughing.

“You know I can’t chase you,” I said angrily, but with a subdued laugh.

“I know.” Grrr.

“You do realise I look like a clown. Would you like me to put on a red nose for you? Maybe even a coloured wig,” I warned.

He raised his eyes to meet mine. “Point taken. I’m deleting it now.”

I squinted my eyes at him—I must’ve looked atrocious. “Good,” I said triumphantly as I took a few steps toward him. “Now give me a kiss.” I reached out to grab his t-shirt, pursing my crackly skin and lips. He was too quick and jumped away.

The girls all laughed—again!

***

After our make-overs were complete, two dozen cupcakes were baked and artfully decorated then consumed, pizzas were devoured and movies were watched, and we all made our way to bed.

“My fucking ears are ringing,” I complained. “I must have a permanent high-pitched squeal noise going on in there.”

“No, they are all still screaming,” Bryce grumbled as he turned over and placed the pillow over his head. “A house full of young girls. Whose idea was that again?”

“I don’t know, but please, someone shoot me.” I flopped onto the bed, just as another loud giggle echoed down the hallway. “Grrr.”

“You’re so sexy when you growl into a pillow.”

I growled back. “Shut up.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE





The end of the calendar year was fast approaching which meant one thing: Christmas! I loved Christmas. I loved all things Christmas. I loved Santa. Not the Mr. Gordon Santa variety, he interrupts too many of my fun sexed-up moments. No, I loved the real Santa and his big round belly and big black boots. I loved the fantasy and joy behind the concept of Santa and his elves, who joyously made the toys in the North Pole. I loved the reindeer and the Christmas tree, the sleigh and the presents. I loved the sense of family and togetherness, of giving and being grateful. Oh, and I loved the food—damn, did I love the food.





We decided to have Christmas at the hotel, being that it was a convenient place for everyone to stay. I was terribly excited that we were hosting both our families, so much so that I had gone just a tad overboard in my decorating. I’d twirled tinsel around the staircase banister, bought a sleigh which was about two meters long and one meter high with an entire set of Santa’s reindeer. I’d also put up twinkling lights on every door frame and window frame I could find. But I think my over-the-top craziness had been when I’d gone absolutely ga-ga when seeing the huge hanging snowflakes and baubles dangling from the hotel’s lobby. They were gorgeous, and each one was approximately one meter squared.