“Wait a second.” Kat frowned. “You didn’t know she was coming.”
Grace cleared her throat and shot another panicked look at her husband. “We…”
“We need to get everyone settled so we can get to it, that’s what!” Thomas clapped his hands and everyone jumped. His no-nonsense tone sounded more like a coach in the locker room during the Super Bowl than a father greeting his kids at the holidays. “Now, who’s going where? Let’s get this figured out so we can bring out the holly.” He winked at Holly. “Not you, dear.”
How she refrained from rolling her eyes, Nick would never know.
“I’ll just grab a piece of paper and try to work out the new rooming arrangement.” Grace clasped her hands in front of her chest, something Nick was quickly noticing as her default move.
“No need.” Chloe offered a flippant shrug. “I can just share with—”
“Kat.You’ll share withKat.” Grace spoke quickly, without a hint of anxiety in her eyes, despite the storm clouds gathering in Thomas’s.
Kat protested, “But I’m already bunking with Holly.”
Holly scrunched her nose, which was unfortunately adorable. “Guess we’re having a week-long sleepover.”
Kat groaned. Chloe squealed. “This will besofun.”
Holly looked as if she didn’t quite believe her, while Kat looked like she most definitely didnotbelieve her. Nick coveredhis grin with his hand. Served Holly right after the pranks she’d pulled on him that morning. Maybe having two roomies would prevent her from sneaking out again in the wee hours to decorate.
Grace continued. “And Axel can join Nick in the media room.”
Wait, what?
Nick blinked, working to keep his features schooled into something neutral and not reveal the wave of panic coursing through his body. A muscle in his jaw jumped. Once again, the temptation to leave loomed fresh. Nothing about this trip was going as planned, and his Cup O’ Noodles was becoming more appealing by the minute. So much for the low-key Christmas Ryan had promised.
“I hope that’s okay?” Grace raised her dark eyebrows at him, hope shining in her eyes.
His chest tightened, and he pushed up the sleeves of his Henley. He couldn’t bail. It was clearly important to Grace that he stayed—and his dream career was equally important. If he could suffer through Holly’s sudden obsession with Christmas, he could share a room with Surfer Boy.
Right?
Nick nodded. “Of course.”
“Wonderful! Now, we’ve got an air mattress tucked away somewhere.” Grace tapped her fingertips together and looked around, as if said mattress might be hidden away in that very living room.
“I’ll get it, dear.” Thomas pressed a kiss to his wife’s forehead. “I think it’s in storage in the barn.”
“You don’t have to do that. Just send Ryan.” Grace glanced around, then frowned. “Where is Ryan, anyway?”
“The honeymooners are still asleep.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Don’t expect to see them until noon.”
Grace shook her head, her forehead creasing. “We’ve got plans today, so someone needs to wake them up around nine.”
“Not it!” Holly, Kat, Chloe, and Olivia blurted simultaneously, as if defaulting to a family system of rules established long ago. Then they stuck up their thumbs.
“Ha!” Kat pointed to Chloe with a triumphant smile. “Too slow.”
“Not fair. I’m holding coffee.” Chloe pursed her lips.
“And your boyfriend.” Kat smirked. “Regardless, you lost.”
“I see you’ve not gotten any less competitive in your old age,” Chloe jabbed.
Kat crossed her arms. “I’m only five years older than you.”
“So why do you look more like ten—”
