“We’re almost done, Mom,” Ana told her.
“It’s not done,” Broxen insisted, but he didn’t seem very convinced.
He was right—at least technically. The game continued for three more turns, when Ana placed her hand on the top of her case and folded it partially down. “F-two.”
“Zorak akai,” Broxen muttered. “You destroyed my battleboat.”
“Sunk your battleship,” Ana corrected.
“Doesn’t matter. It’s gone now.”
Gabby laughed. “All right, kiddo, how about we let Broxen reflect upon his defeat and start the preparations?”
Ana’s face lit up. “For Santa?”
“Yup. And for bed.”
The little girl crumpled dramatically. “Aww, Mom. I won’t be able to sleep, I’m too excited.”
“You’re going to have to try. The faster you get to sleep, the faster tomorrow will come. But let’s get everything set up first, okay?”
They set out two plates on the mantle—one with the chocolate chip cookies for Santa, the other with carrots for the reindeer—along with a glass of milk and a bowl of water. The latter, Ana explained to Broxen, was in case the reindeer were thirsty.
Once those were placed, Ana wrote out a note for Santa, folded it up, and leaned it against the milk. “Santa’s going to love your cookies, Mom. And I think he’ll really like your snowman, Broxen.”
Gabby couldn’t avoid that pang in her chest. God, she didn’t want Ana to be disappointed tomorrow. The girl deserved better than that. She was so sweet and kind. “Really excited for Santa this year, huh?”
“Of course! It doesn’t matter what Lindsey Ruttle says.”
“Who’s Lindsey Ruttle?” Broxen asked, arching a brow.
“She’s a girl at my school. Same grade, but not in my class.” Ana rolled her eyes. “She says Santa Claus is fake and that it’s just parents who do all the stuff, but what does she know? Aliens are real. Santa must be real too, right?”
Gabriela was close to rolling her eyes, too. Why did other kids have to spoil the fun?
“Maybe he’s an alien,” Broxen offered.
“Hmm…maybe.”
“We’ll never know,” Gabby said. “Did you brush your teeth?”
“Yep.”
“All right, let’s get to bed, mija.”
Ana walked to Broxen, who sank into a crouch. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. “You did good for your first time playing the game, Broxen. Maybe next time you’ll do better.”
He chuckled and returned the embrace, rubbing her back gently with his big hand. “Maybe. I am a quick learner. Better watch out for your battleboat next time.”
Ana giggled. “Battleship.”
His grin made it clear that he’d known that already. “Whatever it’s called, it’s going down.”
“We’ll see.” Ana pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Goodnight, Broxen. Merry Christmas Eve.”
“Night, Ana. Merry Christmas Eve.” He released her and looked up at Gabriela. “I’m going to take a shower.”
Gabby nodded. “Okay.”
That would give her a little time to get ready after she filled Ana’s stocking.
Ana hurried into her room, and Gabriela followed behind her. The little girl went straight to her dresser. She opened the top drawer and reached inside, shuffling around her clothing for a few moments before taking out a folded piece of paper. She brought it to Gabriela, holding it out.
Gabriela took the paper, lifting it closer to inspect it. The front had a drawing of a Christmas tree with bright colors on it, and MERRY CHRISTMAS written on the top in Ana’s big, bubbly handwriting.
“Oh, nena.” Gabriela looked at her daughter.
“Since my present to you burned up, I wanted to make you something else. It’s not as cool, but I hope you like it.”
Returning her attention to the card, Gabby opened it. There was another drawing inside—three people cuddled together in Ana’s super cute, cartoony style. A man, a woman, and a child. The man was much larger than his companions, and just happened to have red skin, a tail, and horns. The lines of the latter two clipped through his hair; Gabby smiled, tracing a fingertip over them.
“I made the card before we found out about Broxen,” Ana said sheepishly. “I wanted to make sure it was right.”
“It’s perfect,” Gabriela said.
There was a note opposite the drawing.
Dear Mom,
I know this Christmas is hard, but any Christmas I get to spend with you is the BEST EVER.
I love You!
Ana
Gabriela pressed her lips together as tears stung her eyes. She raised the card away to avoid crying on it, reached out blindly, and put her arm around Ana, drawing her into a hug.
“Mija, this is the best card ever. The perfect card. I love you so, so much. Thank you.”
Ana squeezed Gabby just as tight. “Love you too, Mom.”
Once Gabriela had composed herself and dried her eyes, Ana hopped onto the bed, bouncing on her knees.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow.” She flopped down on her back, head landing on her pillow. “But I already got my Christmas wish.”
“Oh yeah?” Gabriela asked, picking up the comforter and draping it over her daughter. “What was it?”
“To have a dad.”
Gabriela’s brows shot up. “You’re so sure, huh?”
Ana smirked. “You guys are basically kissing and sucking tongues all the time.”
“It’s not all the time,” Gabriela laughed.
“Do you love him?”
Gabriela’s smiled softened as she looked down at her daughter. She brushed aside a stray strand of hair from Ana’s forehead. “Yeah. Yeah, I do. What about you?”
“I do. I’m going to tell him tomorrow for Christmas…and ask if I can call him dad.”
Ana’s words wrapped around Gabriela’s heart and squeezed it, so sweet and warm that they made it hard to breathe, that they made it impossible to say anything in response. She already knew Broxen wanted them without a single doubt, so there was no reason to tell Ana that it was too soon, that they needed to wait or give it some time. He’d told her that it was their choice.
And I’m done waiting.
Nineteen
Gabriela stood at the foot of Broxen’s bed, listening to the shower running in the bathroom while nervously fidgeting with the end of the red velvet ribbon from the giant bow tied around her chest. She stared at the bathroom door.
Despite insisting she was too excited to sleep, Ana had conked out within minutes of lying down. Gabriela had tucked Ana’s gift under the tree, filled her stocking, and made sure Santa and the reindeer had eaten their treats. Now…it was time to give Broxen his gift.
Her.
She was wearing nothing but the bow, white panties, and a bra. Though her undergarments had a little lace on them, they were nothing like the beautiful, sexy lingerie she wished she could’ve worn for him tonight. But something told her that he wouldn’t care what she had on.
And it wasn’t like lingerie stayed on for long when a man was desperate to have what was beneath it.