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“It’s cute that your brother isthisinto Christmas,” he said softly. “I didn’t think anybody except Judy Hart wasthatinto Christmas.”

I snorted. “You’re telling me she’s as bad as Noah?”

“More than half the shit currently hanging in this house came from Ma.” He laughed. “My family liked the idea of Christmas, although we weren’t Christian.” He shrugged. “But the idea—gifts, love, light, celebrating the return to longer days—that’s all something my people celebrate, too, with stories and fires and food. Christmas really isn’t all that different.”

“Just with more Jesus. And Santa.”

He laughed. “I always liked Krampus better.”

I couldn’t disagree. “He’s growing on me,” I confessed. “I like the whole kidnap-the-wicked-and-hit-them-with-sticks part.”

“You and Val.” There was affection in that comment, even if he did seem to find it amusing.

I finished with the bread and fruit, then picked up the milk-and-egg mixture and poured it over the top, making sure to coat all the bread and distribute the liquid evenly. “Well, we both likeyou, so clearly we have issues.”

That got me another laugh. “You definitely do,” he replied, still teasing. “But I’m not going to complain, since that means I can do this.”

Thiswas Elliot sticking his good hand into my jeans.

“Elliot!” I hissed, trying to sound scandalized even though I was laughing and my body was reacting much more positively to the grip he had on me.

“Mmm?” He nuzzled against my back.

“Mybrotheris in the next room and could wake up and come in here any second,” I pointed out.

“Good thing your back is to the doorway, then.”

I stifled the groan that wanted to slip out as he stroked me. “Elliot,” I repeated.

His hand stilled. “What?”

“Later.”

He made a grumbling noise, but let go of me and pulled his hand out, settling it on my clothed hip, instead. “Fine.” I felt him kiss my spine through my clothes. “But I will hold you to that.”

39

Seth Mays

Help.

I wasn’t entirelycertain who the woman was who was lecturing me about… Well, I wasn’t entirely certainwhatshe was lecturing me about, or, more specifically, who. It might have been Lulu or maybe Noah, although Lulu had really leaned into their drag queen Santa aesthetic today. Lulu is where the rant hadstarted, but I’d stopped really paying attention, since I wasn’t related to her and didn’t actually have to care what she thought.

But Ididhave to be polite because they were almost Elliot’s family. That didn’t mean that I wasn’t extremely offended. I also didn’t know how to escape the conversation without being horrifically rude and causing a scene.

Hence the text.

“Aunt Susan,” the voice was Hart’s—Val’s. When we’d all loaded up in the morning he’d told me, ears bright pink, that calling himHartwould only create absolute chaos in a housefullof people mostly also named Hart. So I was supposed to call himVal. “We need your help orchestrating in the kitchen, because otherwise Oscar is going to?—”

“Oh, no, he’d better not touch that turkey!” And she bustled off.

Hart winked at me. “Do I want to know what caused the SOS?” he asked.

“So Elliot sent you.”

“He’s currently helping Mom coat the cheese balls in nuts.”

I just stared at him for a moment. “Coat the cheese balls in nuts,” I repeated, having no idea what that was supposed to mean.