Feeling a gaze on me, I turn, smiling at Jaxon. He arches an eyebrow, his lips twitching.
“Magical?” he asks, his tone full of doubt.
I laugh, unable to hold it in. “I swear, it gets better.”
“Yeah,” he replies doubtfully, just as his phone begins to ring. He pulls it out of his pocket, and I catch Reid’s name. He grimaces. “I need to get this.”
I nod, watching him go. He stands in the hallway, still in my view, as everyone around me continues with their conversation.
I tense when his expression tightens, and sit forward in my seat, ready to get up. Something has happened, something bad.
My stomach rolls, tightening to the point it takes my breath away.
“You okay?” Mum asks, and I feel her drop down into the empty space beside me.
I can’t look away from him. His fingers pull at the ends of his hair, and he sighs, dropping his head forward, like he’s come to terms with whatever has been said on the other side of the phone.
“Jaxon,” I murmur, and as if he heard my plea, he meets my gaze. A shudder runs through me at his expression. Whatever is going on, I’m not sure I want to know. He says something else, sadness creeping into his eyes as he glances away. “Mum, help me up, please.”
“Of course,” she replies, and helps me up. Dad, seeing, rushes over to help too.
“Bathroom break?” he teases.
“Jaxon,” I repeat, and let go of their hands, walking over to him.
“Yeah, whatever,” he tells them, and ends the call, pocketing his phone.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
He flinches, meeting my gaze. “Lily,” he breathes out, defeated.
“What’s going on?” Dad asks, stepping up beside me, Mum at my other side.
He looks to both of them, and then to me, and whatever he needs to say, he can’t. Or won’t.
“Please, what’s going on? Did something happen at your work? Did that guy do something? Has—”
“No, nothing like that,” he assures me, but I’m unable to relax, still feeling that strain in my lower stomach. “You remember I told you Reid got drunk and had to crash at a bed and breakfast?”
“Yes.”
“He was on his way back, and whatever he ate, whatever he drank, has made him sick. He can’t drive any further. He said the snow is worse and he nearly swerved twice trying to vomit in the bag.”
“Okay,” I comment, nodding. None of that explains why my stomach is still rolling.
“Lily,” he murmurs, stepping closer, and as he does, Mum steps away, giving him room.
“I’m right here,” I tell him.
“Fuck, you need to go get him, don’t you?” Dad declares.
Jaxon closes his eyes like Dad’s words have pained him. And now I understand his dilemma. It’s sad that Reid is sick, and I hope he’s okay, but that isn’t what is troubling him. It’s me. He doesn’t want to leave me.
“I’m so sorry, Lily. I would have left him there to sit it out, but it’s Christmas. Mum is already going nuts, and everyone but Wyatt has already started drinking. We can’t call out for road assistance because there’s nothing wrong with the van. Just fucking Reid.”
“Jaxon, go; he needs you,” I tell him, understanding now. I reach for him, gripping his biceps. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. This is our first Christmas together.”
I smile at that. “It’s not going to be our last, and you’ll be back before long.”
He groans, dropping his head back. “I can’t leave you.”
“Jax, son, go. We’ve got her until you return. She’s with family.”
Jaxon jerks his chin at my dad, but addresses me. “I’m so fucking sorry.”
I lean up, pressing my lips to his. “Go, get your brother, then come back. It’s really okay, Jaxon. I promise.”
“How did I get so fucking lucky to have you,” Jaxon murmurs, pulling me against his chest.
“Beats fucking me,” Dad mutters, earning a slap to the gut from Mum.
“Go. If the roads are getting worse, you need to hurry.”
“Yeah. And I need to get Wyatt since someone will need to drive the van back.”
“Hurry back,” I softly demand, kissing him once more. “And tell Reid I said I hope he feels better soon.”
“Love you. I’ll call you when I’m on my way back.”
“Love you too,” I reply.
He leaves, and as soon as the door closes behind him, I lean into Dad and take Mum’s hand.
“He’ll be back, sweetie,” Mum assures me.
“I know. I just wanted to show him the magic.”
“What’s that about?” Dad asks, glancing down at me.
I grin up at him. “You guys. Christmas. The magic.”
Dad chuckles. “Princess, I don’t think it’s hit you yet, but it’s you who brought magic to Christmas, even long after you found out Santa isn’t real.”
My heart melts at his words, and I curl an arm around him. This is why he’s the best. He always knows the right things to say.
“Santa isn’t real?” Maddox asks, sticking his head through the door.
“Shut up,” Dad tells him, rolling his eyes.
“Where’s Jaxon?” he asks.
“He had to go get Reid. He’s stuck somewhere throwing up and needs to get back.”
Maddox snorts as he turns, heading back into the living room. “I’d have left him there.”
“Left who where?” Max asks.
Jabbing his thumb towards the door, Maddox replies. “Jaxon has had to go and get Reid. He’s got an upset stomach and can’t get back.”
“Maddox,” I sigh, then turn to Max. “He’s really sick and he’s worried he’ll crash the van if he keeps going.”
“And Jaxon just left?”
“Reid is his brother,” I remind him.
“And? I’d have left him to freeze,” Max states. “He shouldn’t be leaving you this close to your due date. I’m telling you, he should be glued to your side, prepared for anything. Just like we all were for our wives.”
“Max, he already feels bad enough that he had to leave,” I tell him as Dad helps me back in my seat. “Don’t make him feel worse when he comes back, please.”
He opens his mouth to reply but catches on to the women’s glares aimed his way and decides to rethink whatever he’s going to say. He throws his hands up. “I’m not wrong. Am I wrong, guys?” he calls, glancing to his brothers.
“I hate that these words are coming out of my mouth, but he ain’t wrong,” Mason replies.
Max grins. “Not the first time you’ve told me that.”
“Shut up,” Mason snaps.
Denny, flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder, laughs. “You have no room to talk, Mace. Remember the night I went into labour with Ashton?”
Mason blushes. “That’s different.”
“Is it?” she asks, arching an eyebrow. “Because you were only next door and look what happened that night. And Ashton isn’t even our first child. You’d think you would have learned by then.”