A Modern Love Christmas

by Piper Rayne

  I pour us a shot worth in the mugs and place one in front of her.

  She sips it and nods. “Delicious, especially after a walk in a winter wonderland.”

  “I’m glad you think so because it’s our blend.” I sit down next to her, sipping the whiskey I’ve made to perfection.

  “Our blend?” she asks, twisting to face me.

  “Yeah, it’s a single malt with the added sweetness of vanilla. Wait until we age it ten years, it’ll only get sweeter and better.”

  Understanding way more than she should about the whiskey distilling business, her whole body sinks into the compliment.

  “Whit,” I say, pushing my hand into my pocket.

  She shakes her head, tears springing up in them. I haven’t even fallen to bended knee yet. She’s nodding her head, sucking in her lips.

  “What are you agreeing to?” I ask her and all her jittery movement stops.

  Not wanting to disappoint her since she’s been waiting for this moment the last four months since Lucas beat me to it—the bastard—I fall to my knee and pull out the ring.

  Holding it out in front of her, her eyes fixate on the diamond instead of my face.

  “Whit.”

  Her head snaps up.

  “Please say you’ll agree to age with me long after my best barrel of whiskey is finished. Will you marry me?”

  She nods and I take off her glove, holding the ring to her finger. “You do realize this solidifies that you’re mine forever, right?”

  The brightest smile emerges on her face. “I do.”

  “I can’t wait to make you my wife. You asked for it, Mrs. Whitney Webber.”

  “I like the ring of that. WW, I’m like Wonder Woman or something.”

  I laugh as she falls into my arms and we topple to the ground. I swiftly move her to her back and as her ring sparkles from the moon shining down from above, I get her nice and cold and wet.

  Brady

  I run down the hall and open the door to my parent’s bedroom.

  “Shit!” Dad screams, sliding off Mom.

  Mom laughs as she buries herself under the covers while Dad sits up.

  “Brady, we’ve been over this. You need to knock.”

  “What were you doing?”

  Mom rolls over and laughs into the pillow. They must have been having a tickle fight or something.

  “What’s so funny?” I ask, starting to walk toward the bed.

  “No!” my dad holds his hand out in the air. “Give your mom and I a few minutes.”

  “It’s Christmas morning,” I whine. “Santa came. I saw the presents.”

  Mom’s laughter stops and her body is sliding around under the sheets. Her head pops out.

  “Santa came? It’s only Christmas Eve!” she exclaims.

  Dad rolls his eyes. Mom leans over and kisses his cheek. “Good morning,” she says and my dad’s face loses that mad look he gets when I play video games too long.

  “I was just about to give you your present.”

  Mom laughs again, her hand touching dad’s arm.

  “Presents! Let’s go!” I turn to run out of the room.

  “Brady, no. Those aren’t from Santa, those are the ones from your aunt and uncles.” She waves me toward the bed. “We need to talk to you about something,” my mom says.

  “Now?” my dad asks. He sounds like he doesn’t want to.

  “No better time than the present.”

  Present?

  I run in and jump on their bed. Dad pulls the blanket tighter to him while mom reaches for a present on the nightstand and hands it over to me.

  “I can open it?” I ask, my insides getting that funny feeling inside them.

  Mom nods and Dad slides closer to her. “Just this one. Tomorrow morning you can open the others.”

  I tear off the paper and the excitement falls. Clothes?

  “Open the box,” Dad nudges it closer to me.

  I try to remember what my dad always says about being thankful for anything anyone got you, but clothes?

  My fingers pull the top of the box open, great, probably a new set of pajamas. Please tell me mom hasn’t lost her mind and we’re all going to have matching pajamas for Christmas morning.

  A shirt. Yippee.

  “Thanks,” I say, trying to put a small smile on my face.

  The two share a look.

  “Brady.” Mom leans forward, taking it out of the box and holding it up. “Did you read it?”

  I blink and then read the shirt that has two pointing thumbs on it. “This awesome guy just got promoted to Big Brother.”

  Mom drops the t-shirt and the two of them stare at me.

  “Big brother?” I ask, not really sure… “Really?” I yell.

  Mom nods and water fills her eyes again. She’s been crying more than my grandma did after mom and dad told her they got married.

  Dad places his hand on mom’s belly, rubbing back and forth.

  “Your mom is pregnant,” he says and kisses her cheek.

  “Like a baby is growing in there?” I point to her stomach.

  She nods, swiping another tear from her cheek.

  “Actually, bud, two babies,” Dad holds his arm out for me to get closer. I sit in front of them and they wrap their arms around me. “Our family is growing. You’ll be having two brothers, or two sisters, or maybe one of each.” My dad keeps talking.

  “They’re not going to live in my room are they?” I ask.

  Mom laughs, grabbing me and hugging me tight to her. “Nope. You’re the big brother, you get to be the helper and,” she lowers her voice, “boss them around.”

  “Lennon,” Dad sighs, but she waves her hand at him.

  She does that a lot.

  “So I’m in charge of them?” I ask, the idea sounding better.

  “Yep.”

  “Len,” Dad repeats.

  “Let the boy enjoy the moment.” She grabs the t-shirt and throws it over my head. “Now you’re wearing this because your aunts are driving me crazy with all their questions.”

  “You don’t want to make a big announcement?” Dad asks her.

  Her hand touches his cheek. “You know I like low key.”

  My dad stares at her. “Brady, go wake up your aunts and uncles. Give Mommy and I a moment to get dressed.”

  I jump off the bed. I love waking up Uncle Lucas. He always pretends to wrestle with me.

  “Shut the door on your way,” Dad says and Mom laughs again.

  “Dad?” I turn at the door to find the two of them hugging.

  Each of them look at me. “Yeah?”

  “How did the babies get inside Mom’s stomach?”

  The two turn to each other and point.

  “This is you,” Mom says.

  Dad smiles. “Let Mommy and I figure it out and then we can talk about it.”

  Mom smacks his arm, but Dad pulls her closer.

  I shrug, slam the door and run down the hall to wake everybody up.

  Santa

  The group from San Francisco walk down the path toward the tree. Brady’s eager to come sit on my lap and tell me what he wants for Christmas. Even though I already got his letter and his new video game is being wrapped by the elves and packed away in my red satchel for delivery while I sit here.

  “SANTA!” he screams, running toward me.

  Jasper runs after him, grabbing his hand and escorting him over to the line.

  Lennon follows, her tea in her hand and a soft smile displayed. She’s content in the realization that she’s going to be a mother and next year at this time two more kids will be joining Brady on my lap.

  She grabs her phone from her coat and tells Jasper and Brady to pose for some pictures. Between the other kids telling me their last minutes wishes, I sneak peeks at the Banks family. Their happiness is contagious to those around them.

  Next I spot Whitney and Cole with Sparky walking in front of them. They’re talking with Debbie from Double D’s about the wish tree, w
here you write down a wish for the coming year and hang it on the tree. I always like to snatch a few up before I leave in the hopes of making them come true.

  Whitney scribbles one down, keeping it from Cole and hangs it from a branch.

  Debbie continues rambling to Cole who is just as talkative as her. Whitney stares from afar at her man, a slow smile creeping on her lips as her eyes fall up and down his body.

  Cole catches her, grabs her hand and pulls her to be by his side. Debbie points to the mistletoe above their heads and Cole takes another opportunity to kiss his soon to be wife. Okay, maybe someone should tell them there are kids around…oh young love. I chuckle to myself.

  Lucas snatches up Cinnamon before he runs out onto the street, and carries him back to Tahlia on the bench. He places the new dog on her lap and he rests his arm on the back of the bench. They’ll have a busy year, what with the wedding. Maybe I should leave some Xanax in Tahlia’s mom’s stocking.

  Tonight their minds aren’t filled with anxiety about place settings, reception venues, or food choices. Tahlia lays her head on his shoulder as they watch the kids skating around the small rink. I have inkling they’ll be next to bring a baby into this world.

  I wave Brady up to my lap. He plops down, Lennon and Jasper poised with their cameras to take pictures.

  “What’s you name?” I ask.

  “Brady Banks,” he says, wiggling to get more comfortable on my knee.

  “Have you been a good boy Brady?”

  He cringes and he looks over at his parents. “I think so.”

  “And what do you want for Christmas?”

  His eyes zoom in on Lennon. “My Christmas gift came early. I just wanted to say hi.”

  “My elves usually don’t work mid year. What was your Christmas gift?”

  Lennon points for him to focus on me and he my way. “My mom. I got a mom this year and,” he leans in really close. “we’re with babies.”

  I purse my lips to not laugh at him.

  “Congratulations.”

  He hops off my lap. “Be safe tonight. See you Santa.”

  Brady runs off and wraps his arms around Lennon’s waist, placing his lips to her belly and the two tiny miracles growing there.

  Happy Holidays from Piper and Rayne! May all your wishes come true this year!

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  BONUS!

  CHAPTER ONE (keep scrolling) from our BRAND NEW SERIES, The Baileys. Nine siblings try to navigate through life in their Alaskan town, Lake Starlight. Don’t worry, they know how to stay warm on those cold Alaska nights!

  Lessons from a One-Night Stand

  releases February 7, 2018

  The gorgeous guy on stage with his jaw hanging wide open, shock and awe in his eyes?

  That’d be me. Austin Bailey. Eldest Brother of the Bailey clan, guardian to my younger siblings, history teacher extraordinaire, baseball coach, good neighbor, and all-round pretty great guy.

  Before we dive into the fact that karma just raised its middle finger at me, you have to know how my morning began.

  Today was like every other morning.

  I woke up, got ready, prepared breakfast for my ungrateful twin sisters, Phoenix and Sedona, and then we all hopped into my Jeep to head to school.

  Of course, Phoenix didn’t eat the pancakes.

  Her exact words, if I remember correctly were, “They taste like cardboard. Can’t you just follow the recipe?”

  Sedona ate the pancakes but as soon as we pulled into the parking lot of Lake Starlight High School, where they’re seniors, her appreciation for me ended. “Park in the back, I don’t want to be seen stepping out of this monstrosity.”

  I’ve learned that there’s no pleasing a teenager—especially a female one—no offence ladies, but her comment still irked me. How is my Jeep embarrassing? It has a snorkel so when I off-road, I don’t have to spend my money on a new engine and can instead afford to buy her whatever new outfit she wants. She should be grateful, thanking me. But she’s seventeen. Pleasing her is impossible.

  I purposely park in the first row and honk my horn to announce our arrival to everyone at the school, because pissing off Sedona is one of my top five favorite things to do.

  I’ll probably miss that come next year.

  Phoenix’s stomach rumples as she exits the car while Sedona has already raced off to the nearest entrance like that creepy IT clown is following her.

  I stroll toward the door, reloading my emails on my phone, hoping I receive the response I’m waiting for this morning and that it contains good news.

  Elijah, my star pitcher cuts me off. “Coach. I need some advice.” He runs his fingers through his long hair.

  “How to cut your hair? Come see me. I’ve got clippers in my office.”

  It’s like a contest these days with the kids to see who can grow their hair and look the most unkempt. I just don’t get the appeal and Elijah is the worst of them all.

  “No Coach, Becca broke up with me.”

  There’s a hitch in his voice. His eyes scour the courtyard where most of the kids hang out until the first bell rings.

  I stuff my phone into the pocket of my jacket. “Why?”

  “Well…” He runs his fingers through his hair again.

  For the love of God. Once the season starts I’m making a new rule, if your hair covers your eyes, I’m your barber.

  Of course, then JP’s mom will call to complain. She always calls. I think if we changed the flavor of the performance drink we give them from strawberry to lime she’d call. You know the type. He’s her only kid, her pride and joy. She probably still wipes his ass to make sure he did it right.

  I push JP’s mom out of my head because just the thought of dealing with her will give me a headache. “What did you do?”

  I open the door into the hallway. With it being Monday morning, my fellow teachers nod, gripping their coffee mugs like life vests.

  A group of three girls lingering around one locker follow Elijah as we head down the hall. I’m not blind. He’s kind of a big deal around here and I can guess what path his teenage hormones led him down. They’re tricky fuckers to manage.

  “You know Sara Pylar?” Elijah asks in a tentative voice.

  See? Too bad I can’t bet on my player’s screw ups. I wouldn’t be working here, that’s for sure. I’d be a rich man.

  I open up the door to my classroom and Elijah heads in first.

  Do I know Sara Pylar? Of course, I do. She’s usually the one in the short skirt with her finger twirling a strand of hair. The worse her grades are, the more bubble gum she chews and asks to move to the front row, so she can see the smart board better. Sara would eat up and spit out a kid like Elijah if he ever tried to tangle with her.

  “Yeah, I know Sara.”

  He sits down in the chair next to my desk. “There was this dare…”

  “Nothing good comes from those.” I cross my arms over my chest.

  “JP was razzing me about how I’ve only ever kissed Becca and that when I went to college, we’d break up and that the girls at college are on another level.” His eyes widen, silently asking me.

  I went to college, I played in college and at one time I thought maybe I’d hit the majors. Not that I even knew if I had a shot, but family responsibilities brought me back to Lake Starlight. Now I teach and try to advise kids like Elijah not to make the mistakes I did
. Then again, youth is your free pass to do stupid shit. It’s a rite of passage.

  “Girls in college are just girls that you went to high school with but a little older.” I sit in my chair, grabbing a pen. I always have to hold something in my hand. Sitting still is kind of a hard thing for me.

  “He said that I’d regret not having experience.”

  My gaze lands on the clock. Elijah has about five minutes before first class bell.

  “Listen.” I hold my hand up to stop him from his rambling on.

  Elijah is good enough to be drafted first round and this town can’t wait to see him succeed. He’ll have plenty of temptation come his way over the years and he needs to decide now how he’s going to handle it.

  “Did you kiss Sara?” I ask.

  “No, but…”

  “I’m gonna guess here and tell me if I’m wrong.” He closes his mouth, so I continue. “You let your friends get to you. JP, whose mom probably follows him on dates you realize, tells you that you don’t have enough experience and should kiss another girl.” He’s nodding now and smirking because everyone knows JP’s mom will probably put up spy cameras in his dorm room next year.

  “You thought hey, what if Becca does break my heart and fall for someone next fall. Where does that leave me? So, you went into a bedroom or somewhere private with a very willing Sara. Then Becca somehow walked in on you right before you finished debating in your head if you were going to kiss her?”

  You see me trying to make it seem like he would never cheat on Becca? Probably bullshit. He’s seventeen. He would’ve kissed Sara and blown his own relationship with Becca into smithereens and only realized what a mistake that was down the road.

  “Exactly Coach.”

  “Now you have to grovel.”

  I check the clock one more time. Three minutes until first bell.

  “I did. I went to her house. I texted her.”

  I stand to let Elijah know he’s leaving before my class arrives.

  “Sorry,” I smack him on the back. “You need to pull out the big guns.”

  His shoulders slump.

  “Just think of what makes Becca happy. Why she fell in love with you and you’ll figure it out.”