HUGE CHRISTMAS: A COMPANION NOVELLA TO HUGE SERIES BOOKS 1-4 by Stephanie Brother

Author:Stephanie Brother [Brother, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2023-12-20T18:30:00+00:00

5

KATELIN

I knew Christmas morning was going to be strange this year. It’s the first time we spent Christmas Eve in a motel, and the first time we’ve woken as a family away from home during the festive season.

Bryan wasn’t impressed when I insisted on packing a two-foot fake Christmas tree in my suitcase. It’s standing in the room's corner on a small oak table with all the presents piled beneath it. It’s an odd-looking sight - the presents are too large and plentiful and the tree too small - but setting it up last night made me feel truly festive.

There are three double beds in this family suite. Isobel is tucked into one with her brothers. Austin and Jason pushed together the other two as soon as we walked through the door: I couldn’t help but smile at their commitment to ensuring that we all slept together even when away from home.

A small beam of light has broken through a gap in the thick drapes and has caught the single gold star that I’ve clipped to the tree, refracting light through the room. It’s absolutely magical and I’m the only one awake to see it.

At least I think I am.

“You want to wake the kids, don’t you?” Austin asks, touching my cheek with the back of his thumb. I twist to face him, finding him staring at me through long lashes, his bottom lip drawn between his teeth with amusement.

“They never sleep in this late,” I whisper. “I know yesterday was full-on fun, but it’s Christmas morning. They’re usually awake at four am.”

“And you usually put them back to sleep again.”

“Well, everyone knows Santa doesn’t complete his rounds until six-thirty am.” I wiggle my eyebrows and Austin throws his arm over me and pulls me closer. His skin is so warm, and he smells of the ocean and summertime. Closing my eyes, I press light kisses to his shoulder, and he hums contentedly.

“I like it when we wake up first,” he says. “Just a few minutes of alone time before the rest want to steal your attention.”

“The rest are awake,” Jason says groggily from behind me. “But have your special time, Bro. It’s all good.”

Austin groans. “Somehow, you manage to make it less fun.”

“Play nice,” I say, even though I know that neither of them means anything bad by what they’re saying. There is only one of me, and now there are six people who need my attention. I’ve had to accept that I can only spread myself so thinly, and they’ve had to put some of their needs behind those of our children.

It’s a fine balance, but one I feel we’ve managed pretty well.

Bryan groans himself away on the other side of Jason. They take turns on who gets to sleep directly next to me without argument. They only came up with a schedule after I told them I wouldn’t keep having the ‘who’s going to sit in the front seat’ conversation every night and still have sex with them.

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