“I just feel so fat lately. And I refuse to look like a whale on my wedding day,” she cried out in horror.
Turning her head slowly, Erin’s eyes pierced into Siobhan as she slowly took another bite of her roll. Watching Fiona slap some mashed potatoes onto Siobhan’s plate, Whitney bit back a laugh. Looking down at the food in horror, Siobhan looked up at Fiona. “When you’re in my house. You eat.”
Taking another roll from Cassidy, Whitney took a small bite of ham and nearly groaned. Why was Fiona such a good cook? A loud bang from the end of the table demanding everyone’s attention, Cian and Holly jumped up catching another glass of water spreading across the table cloth from one of the boys. Grabbing some napkins she handed them to Holly as Cassidy went for a spoonful of butter. Leaning into her, Shay’s shoulder bumped hers gently as Quinn squealed in his lap at the excitement.
“Did that elf move?” he mumbled, his eyes not leaving the doll across the room.
Handing Holly more napkins she looked at him and then at the elf and back at him. Oh for cryin’ out loud. “What is it with you and this elf?”
His eyes narrowed on it, he nodded his head slowly. “It definitely moved.”
“It did not move, Shay.”
“Yes it did.”
Sighing, she intercepted another cookie that Nicky had handed Quinn as Cassidy took it from her hand.
“Uncle Shay, of course he moved. He’s magic,” Nicky explained.
Not helping.
“He’s been watching us to make sure we’ve all been good and when we go to sleep at night he flies back to tell Santa so that we can all get on the good list.”
Raising a brow Shay looked at her over Nicky’s head.
“Are you scared that you’re on the naughty list or something, Uncle Shay?” Nicky asked.
Smirking, the corners of his mouth picked up looking back at her and her cheeks felt hot. Shay Cunningham was definitely on the naughty list. Although, she wouldn’t be surprised if he was also on the top of that nice list as well. He was complex like that. “No. I just really don’t like the bastard.”
“Language,” she warned, wiping drool from Quinn’s chin. “You owe me a dollar.”
“Oh, I owe you something, Sunshine,” his smile spread from ear to ear. “But apparently I’m being watched.”
Shaking her head, she chuckled hearing the door slam as Rory came into the dining room, his limp more prominent than when they arrived. “Who’s ready for a light show?!”
7
“Why the hell ye’ making us stand out here?!” Uncle Tommy yelled, pointing to the house. “I’m freezing my arse off!”
Wrapping his arm around Whitney, Shay pulled her tighter into his side to keep her and Quinn warm and he was thinking the same damn thing. Rory had been messing with these damn lights all day long. When they had arrived at his parents, the front lawn had looked like every Christmas light nightmare and DIY project gone wrong.
“Hold on,” Rory barked, wrestling with two long, thick wires.
Looking up at him, Whitney smiled brightly, the soft snow getting caught on the curls in her hair. Pressing his forehead against hers while his brother did whatever in God’s name it was that he was doing, he grinned. She was so happy. He could see it in her eyes, her smile wider than usual and she hadn’t stopped giggling. She hadn’t complained once during the trip up here and she wasn’t complaining now over his brother forcing them all to stand outside in the freezing cold staring up at his parents’ house. And nothing brought him more satisfaction than knowing that he could do that. Could make her happy. And as God as his witness, he would stop at nothing to keep that smile on her face every single day. And the same one on Quinn’s as well. Rubbing her cold nose against his she looked away as Nicky bumped into his leg.
“What do you say about a snowball fight, Uncle Shay?” Nicky whispered, looking over his shoulder as if to see if anyone heard him.
Chuckling, Shay bent down to Nicky’s eye level. The kid was just like him in every way that mattered and it was cool as hell. “Oh, yeah,” he jerked his chin towards the rest of the lawn. “And who’s your first target?”
“Well, I may not live to see my ninth birthday if I go for Ma. And Dad, well he has been through enough with my ma yelling at him all the time and I just feel bad for him,” he shook his small head and Shay smiled. “Cassidy’s a pain and will just cry, but definitely not Lena. She’s faster than I am.”
“Well whoever it is,” Whitney smirked, looking down at them as Quinn pulled at the small hat on her head. “As long as there are no more fights where fists connect with heads on the ground.”
Laughing quietly, Shay agreed. “Maybe later little man,” he looked back at Nicky, ruffling his hair. “It will give you more time to find your first victim.”
Standing up, he smacked Whitney’s ass playfully. “Very funny.”
“Mmhmm,” she grinned, fixing Quinn’s hat again. He remembered that football game. Not just because it had only been a few short weeks ago, but because it had been the annual Cunningham Thanksgiving game. That game was as deep as traditions ran in his family, but one that had gotten nastier this year than any other before it. Resulting in him and Rory rolling around in the dirt punching each other in the guts. And the head. And the nuts. All before a huge screaming match that resulted in a fat lip for Rory and a nice shiner for himself. It was a low point in their relationship. One that Whitney and every other member of the family had a front row to seat to witness as years and years of resentment and suffocating tension finally came to blows. Luckily, things were calmer now. Which he was grateful for. Real grateful.
“You ready?!” Rory yelled, trotting as fast as his left leg would allow towards the rest of them.
“Get on with it already Clark Griswold,” Shay shouted, as his mother and Whitney both smacked his arm at the same time. In less than a second the entire house burst into light in front them causing them all to squint.
Holy shit.
The kids cheering loudly, they jumped up and down as everyone else clapped. Looking back at his parents’ home he was thoroughly impressed.
And proud.
The first thing he had done with his bonus from signing with the Mavericks was put money down on a plot of land and hired an architect to build them the unreasonably large home. He’d wanted a place for them to move around. Yards and porches and rooms to enjoy. Something so unlike what they had been accustomed to. What they had in the tiny, two bedroom, aluminum siding home where they had all grown up. Being immigrants, his parents had worked their entire lives. And worked hard. They sacrificed for him and his brothers and they deserved it.
This house.
They also deserved enough space to do this. To have his whole, rambunctious family in one place and under one roof during the holidays. And looking around the lawn at his entire family, he knew he had accomplished that.
“Wow,” Whitney sighed, next to him as her and Quinn looked up at all the lights. The brightness shining on both of them, he rested his mouth on the top of her head. How had he gotten so lucky? He wasn’t sure, but on a list of memories that would forever be burned into his memory, this moment was pretty high up there. Taking in his parents’ home, every point and arch of the house was bordered with lights as white candles and wreaths decorated every single window. Lights that resembled icicles hung from the roof and blinked as every tall tree around the property was wrapped from trunk to top in blinking lights. The entire lawn covered in moving figures, some he had grown up with and others he had never seen before, all eight of his nieces and nephews ran towards them and touched them as if they were magic.
“Who wants dessert?” Ma yelled, and everyone cheered. Kissing the top of Erin’s head, Cian winked down at her before helping her inside as Nicky and Lena raced each other up to the front porch. Scooping up Cassidy, Uncle Tommy threw her over his shoulder earning loud squeals before tapping Rory on the shoulder. Walking slowly behind Holly, Finn carried Maeve and high fived
Rory. Wrapping his arm around Whitney and Quinn, Shay led them back up the lawn.
“Great job, sweetheart,” his ma kissed Rory’s cheek gently before heading towards the house. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Siobhan kissed Rory hard and for the first time in a long time he actually saw his brother smile. Really smile. And he was glad. Giving him another kiss, Siobhan skipped up the lawn to catch up to Fiona.
Smacking his hand down on Rory’s shoulder, Shay nodded at his brother as he walked by. Rory’s arm pausing on his chest, Shay stopped. “A minute?”
Smiling, Whitney squeezed his arm before giving Rory a small hug telling him what a great job he had done. Watching her and Quinn walk back up to the porch through the snow, he dug his hands inside his pockets as Rory swiped his hand across his mouth. A nervous habit they both shared. They were both quiet a minute, looking up at the house that he knew his brother had spent the last few days perfecting. For the family.
“It’s a…” Rory cleared his throat and Shay looked out of the corner of his eye. He looked uncomfortable. And although they were still new at this again - this whole shooting the shit thing, Rory looked nervous. “It’s been brought to my attention that I need to choose a best man for this wedding.”
Swallowing back Shay lifted his hand from his pocket and smoothed his mouth slowly. He wanted to say that it hadn’t crossed his mind. That he never once wondered who his brother would choose as his best man, but that would be a lie. With Whitney helping them pull off their wedding, it had been constant chatter over the past few weeks. There was a time when he wouldn’t have thought twice about being Rory’s best man. A title he would have donned proudly, but life had happened and things had changed. They faced adversity and that was just the way it was. “Well I’m sure Finn will do a fine job for ya,” he forced, digging the tip of his boot into the thick snow. Every single day that had led up to the night of their accident he never would have imagined not being his brother’s best friend.
His best man.
“Yeah, well,” Rory scratched the back of his neck shifting uncomfortably. “I was kind of thinking that maybe you would suit the job better.”
His throat tight with emotion, it felt as if he just saw every single memory between him and Rory replay in his mind in a flash. Every high five on the field in peewee football, every cannon ball into the lake on scorching hot summer days, every race down the street to get to the ice cream truck. Driving off in their piece of junk car and throwing their caps out the window the night of graduation and every Saturday night up at Arrow Hill hanging around a bonfire with friends. Every college acceptance letter they had laid out on their twin size beds and every day in the hospital after their accident. Every tension filled family gathering and every pact they had ever made.
“Awe, are you giving me the final rose, big brother?” Shay grinned. He had to give him a hard time. He couldn’t help it. If not, he was afraid he’d break down and he couldn’t have that.
“Cut the bullshit,” Rory barked back, his eyebrows drawing. Ah, now there was his charming brother. “Are ye’ gonna make me beg?” he bitched. “Because I won’t.”
No. He wouldn’t make him beg. Chuckling, Shay held out his hand to his brother. His best friend. And certainly his best man. “It’d be my honor.”
Taking his hand after a moment, Rory pulled Shay into a hard hug smacking his back hard. Shaking his hand again, they looked back at the house, keeping his arm wrapped around his brother. Another moment that would forever be imprinted in his memory. They had come a long way and he was glad. Real fucking glad. Pointing up to the furthest window on the third floor, he drew Rory’s attention. “You know I think you missed a spot right up there in the-”
“-Shut your mouth, eh!” Rory pushed, him up the lawn. “Fucking chancer.”
8
Standing inside the entrance of the kitchen, Whitney rested her head against the wall. Admiring Shay rinsing off another dish, she watched every muscle tighten under his grey sweater before he leaned down putting the plate inside the dishwasher. Gosh, she loved this man. And had loved him for a real long time. She couldn’t quite remember the exact moment when it had happened. When she had fallen in love with Shay. Perhaps it had been the moment she had found him rocking her sweet baby girl back to sleep when Quinn had come down with her first fever. Or when he had insisted that they spend the holiday with his family so that they wouldn’t be alone. It could have been the time he had written her the first love letter she had ever received, that memory sending chills up her arms now. But if she closed her eyes long enough she could still feel how tightly he had held onto her hand, getting her through delivering Quinn. How he had found her alone, terrified and in pain about to give birth in the Mavericks stadium. How he had stayed by her side. Yes, perhaps that had been when it happened.
Placing the empty dessert plates in the center of the counter she came behind him before wrapping her arms around his tight waist. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked down at her before shooting her a wink. Burying her nose inside the fibers of his sweater, he smelled so good.
Like fresh air.
Like a man.
And pie.
Turning off the water, he turned around pulling the dishrag off his large shoulder.
“You know what,” she rested her chin against his chest, admiring his crystal blue eyes, “I don’t think I’ve seen you look sexier than you do right now.”
Scoffing, he dried his hands behind her back before tossing the rag onto the far counter. Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her tighter against his tall, solid body. “Then I’m doing something wrong, Sunshine.”
Giggling, she rested against him taking in every sharp edge of his face. Every slice of light hair dusting across his face. The way his eyes sparkled with equal parts love and mischief. He also seemed at peace and she could tell he was happy. And nothing made her happier than seeing Shay happy. “Need some help?” she whispered, pursing her lips out for him.
“Yeah,” he grinned, kissing her softly, his lips so warm. “Ma needs a break.”
Picking up the dishrag she stood beside him easily drying the plates that he handed her as she stole quick peeks at the television screen every time the kids laughed at Home Alone. No doubt learning new pranks to play on each and every one of them. Fiona lay on the couch next to Patrick wrapped inside a thick blanket, both relaxed and it was nice to see the woman take a break for once. Cian rubbed Erin’s feet as Cassidy lay next to them. Rory’s head resting in Siobhan’s lap, he was beginning to doze in and out of sleep. He must have been so tired. That light show was nothing short of amazin’. Smiling, she saw Quinn had finally stopped fighting it and had fallen asleep in Holly’s arms, exhausted after a long, beautiful day with all her new cousins. Quinn would never remember this extraordinary day, but she would.
Forever.
Feeling Shay’s lips on her neck, she smiled before her eyes drifted shut. Feeling the tips of his fingers brush down her arms, her body shivered. The way her body responded to Shay was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. She thought she would have become better acquainted and comfortable with how he made her feel, but she hadn’t. And she knew she would never get used to the power of his touch, the glorious burn of his kiss or how good his fingers felt gripping her body against the sink.
“Come with me, Sunshine.”
9
Nearly kicking in the door to his pops’ shed, Shay pulled Whitney inside colliding her body against his. He couldn’t take it anymore. He needed her. Needed to be with her. On top of her. Inside of her.
“Shay, I told you,” she moaned, between his kisses. “We are not doing this in your parents’ home.”
Moaning again, her lips calling her bluff on what her mouth was saying, he trailed his mouth down her sweet, sweet neck nearly groaning himself. “You said home,” he pointed out, taking her face between his hands, her gorgeous mouth swollen. “This is the shed.”
Shaking her head he looked down
at her. She amazed him. That everything he ever wanted was standing right before him. That he could touch her. Kiss her. Feel her. And it wasn’t just one thing about her, it was everything about her. All of it.
“Come on, Sunshine,” he smirked, moving his hands down her back before resting them on her ass. “You’re going to be a Cunningham real soon,” he lifted her up in one movement, forcing her feet from underneath her. “Cunninghams are adventurous.”
Laughing gently, she pushed her forehead against his as his foot got stuck on something on the floor. Both of them nearly going down, Whitney let out a cry before covering her mouth and laughing inside his neck. Chuckling, he kicked the object across the floor bumping them into a tall work bench. Placing her down, she cried out again. “Shay it’s freezing out here!”
Looking over his shoulder, he grabbed a flashlight off another stool. He knew his pops kept a heater out here somewhere. At least he hoped. Clicking the light, he stepped over a large metal tool box and pushed aside another crate.
There it is.
She was right. It was cold as balls out here. But he couldn’t take it anymore. He needed her. Cold balls or not.
Placing it on the stool beside the bench, he ignited the old space heater. Putting the flashlight down behind her on the ledge, he moved between her legs as she shook her head again. She always did that. Looked at him as if he was crazy. And she was right. He was crazy. Crazy over her. Running his thumb across her lip, her eyes dusted shut like he knew they would. Lifting her chin he kissed her mouth, biting then licking before slowly working his way down her chin. Her fingers digging into his shoulders, he moved his hands beneath her shirt and he felt her reaction beneath his fingertips. Running his hands up further, he stretched his fingers across her ribs as his name rolled off her lips. And he suddenly became painfully aware of just how much he craved her. Lifting up her shirt, he tossed it across the shed as his mouth landed on the warm skin of her chest. Letting her head fall back, she cried louder and he smiled to himself.
Christmas With the Cunninghams: A Mavericks Novella Page 3
