“You okay?” Miah asks, startling me.
I straighten, trying my hardest not to let tears form. “Yeah, just a kick,” I tell him, knowing he’s used to it now after Star made him feel my stomach earlier on in my pregnancy so he could feel the baby kick. It freaked him out so much he couldn’t even look at my stomach. I inwardly chuckle at the memory.
He cringes as he stares at my stomach. “The book said the baby’s movements lessen towards term,” he points out.
I smile; I can’t help it. “You read the book?”
He shoves his hands into his coat pocket and looks anywhere but at me. “There was nothing else to do when we had that blackout. I got bored.”
I arch an eyebrow but don’t question him further. The blackout happened months ago, and because I didn’t have enough candles to go around both houses, I invited them here to wait it out. Me, Jaxon, and Star put together a puzzle. Blanche did her crosswords and Miah played on his phone until the battery died. I guess he didn’t fall asleep like I assumed when we left him in the living room.
“Did you need Blanche? Because she just left,” I tell him, jerking my thumb to the door.
He holds a snowflake-patterned bag up, his cheeks turning pinkish. “No, I forgot to give you this when I came in. Star forgot about it at the house. She was excited to get here so I picked it up for you.”
I lean over, taking him off guard, and kiss his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Star got it. Not me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I tease.
Just as I’m about to head into the living room, the door knocks again, so I turn and pull it open, to be greeted by Dad and the others. “Hey, princess.”
“Dad,” I murmur, hugging him back as he pulls me into his arms. “Merry Christmas.”
“I smell burnt food,” Max declares, his face scrunched up in utter disgust. “Why does it smell like burnt food?”
“I ordered in so don’t have a hissy fit,” Jaxon warns him, coming up behind me as I pull back from Dad. “And before you moan, I got a bit of everything from the Chinese and pizza place.”
Aunt Lake walks in next with a few bags, Landon and Paisley following. “Are those gingerbread houses?” I ask in awe.
Paisley grins. “I found some.”
Landon snorts. “She nearly tackled an old lady for them.”
Paisley ducks her head to hide her blush. “I did not. I saw them first.”
We’ve been looking everywhere for some for Star and Jasmine to do tonight. “I couldn’t find them anywhere. They’ve been out of stock.”
“Yeah, we found some at the market. The stall owner found a box on his van and had just got the last two out when we saw them.”
“Thank you,” I tell her, going to take them from her hands, but Jaxon swoops in, taking them before I can.
“Go sit down and rest. I’ll bring you an orange juice out.”
I lean up, cupping his cheek. “Thank you.”
He presses a kiss to my lips, ignoring the groans of protest going on from behind. My cheeks heat as I pull back and lead them into the front room.
Dad props down beside me, seeing the new decorations I put up last week. “You went all out.”
“It’s our first Christmas. I wanted it to look festive.”
“Jesus, did Santa’s elves fart decorations in here?” Max complains as he walks in.
Lake smacks him upside the head. “Sit down and shut up.”
He grumbles as he flops down on the chair. “So, when are we giving the kids presents?”
“Not everyone is here yet. Maddox is coming with Amelia and the kids,” I explain softly.
“They’d better hurry up. I’m starving.”
“You’ve had Chinese,” Lake points out.
“Yeah, and that pizza will do for dessert.”
“I’m going to go say hi to my wife,” Dad comments, going into the kitchen. A few seconds later, I hear him again. “Did she get burgled?”
Jaxon laughs under his breath as he walks in, handing me the juice. He presses his face into my neck, laughing when we hear Dad question Mum on how she let the food get burnt. “I promise never to try and help in the kitchen again.”
I turn until our noses are nearly touching. “It was very sweet and kind of you to try. Thank you.”
He places a hand over my stomach, rubbing gently. “You’ve been doing a lot lately and I’ve been busy with work. You need to be taking it easy.”
I press my lips against his briefly, not wanting to start my uncle or cousins up. They always seem disgruntled when we kiss. I run my hand over his jaw, staring up at him. “Let’s not talk about work or anything else. Let’s enjoy the next day or so.”
He presses another kiss to my lips, grinning. “I can agree to that.”
There’s another knock on the door, but before I can offer to get it, Miah takes one look at my belly, grimaces, and gets up off the floor. “I’ll get it.”
“Thank you.”
Star quickly races into the living room, her entire face lit up. “Santa has been here too,” she squeals, clapping her hands. She races off before I can answer, and Dad walks in, chuckling.
“I forgot how much energy kids have.”
Max snorts. “Puh-lease. You had it fucking easy compared to me.”
Dad rolls his eyes as he takes a seat in the armchair. “I have more kids than you so I’m not sure how you work that out.”
“I had fucking triplets. Nothing compares to the chaos they bring.”
“Only your kids,” Dad mutters as Maddox walks in.
“I’m telling you. It’s discrimination,” Maddox declares.
“Oh no,” I whisper, sitting a little straighter at his tone.
Jasmine giggles as her mum makes a noise of distress. “Maddox, you can’t do things like that. What kind of example is that setting?”
“Dad, you agreed with me, right?” he asks, as Malik walks in.
He grunts, sitting down on the armchair next to Dad. “Yeah.”
Amelia throws up her hands. “I can’t win with you,” she argues.
“He was discriminating against my girl. Who does that white haired, fat pri—prince think he is?”
Amelia narrows her eyes. “Maddox.”
“He’s not a prince,” Jasmine scolds him, before racing off into the kitchen. “Cool, are we having a food fight in here?”
Jaxon’s chest vibrates against my arm at her question. “What did he do?” Jaxon asks, too much amusement in his tone.
“I’m glad you asked. He—”
“I meant you; what did you do?” Jaxon states, unable to hide his amusement.
“Why do you assume it was me?” When Jaxon doesn’t reply, Maddox scoffs, and bends down to kiss me on the cheek. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas,” I reply, smiling.
He takes a seat in front of the fireplace before unstrapping Asher from his car seat.
“Is no one going to fill in the uncomfortable silence?” Max asks.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Maddox grumbles.
Amelia sighs as she drops down on the floor next to him. “We went to see Santa. It’s Asher’s first time.”