girl for so long. I just really hope she knows how much you care and appreciates it.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I told her and snuck in a hug. Mom thwapped me once, then returned it before giving me a light shove away. “I am, Mom. She’s…”
“Yes, yes, I get it. She’s perfect, and you’re going back over there tonight, aren’t you?”
I grinned. “Yep. Want me to go get the girls and bring them back so you can enjoy your wine before I go?”
“You, Jacob Benton, are sucking up.”
“I’m just being a good son,” I teased, and her absolute snort just made me grin. “I’m the best son you have,” I continued, and she laughed.
“Yes, Jake, yes you are. Off. Get your sisters, and I’ll order pizza from the place. Pick it up with them and bring it home, since you are a good son, then you can go spend the night with your girlfriend because I am literally the most understanding mother on the planet.”
“You are the best.” No arguments. No lie.
On the way out to my car, I called Archie.
“Mom’s on board,” I told him when he answered.
“Yes.” I could almost picture him fist pumping. “Coop talked to his mom. Just waiting on the nod from Bubba, and I’ll lock in the tickets.”
When I started the SUV, the phone transferred over the Bluetooth to the speakers. “We’re flying?”
“That’s the plan. We could drive, but I’d rather just fly and rent a car there. Already made the arrangements for the place we’re staying.”
“And you’re being cagey as fuck about it,” I told him as I backed out of the spot. “I get that it’s a surprise for Frankie, when do the rest of us find out?”
“When we’re all locked in.” Smug fuck. “Don’t bitch and just let me enjoy spoiling her and you guys by extension. This is the first Christmas in a long fucking time that I’m actually looking forward to.”
That killed any argument I could make, even if I wanted to give him shit. I still didn’t really know his parents, but based on recent experiences and that bullshit with Frankie’s mom and his dad in the park? Yeah, I’d pass.
“Fine,” I told him all aggrieved. “But I reserve the right to claim Frankie on my birthday and have her all to myself if I want.”
Archie snorted. “Birthday boy always gets what he wants. That’s always been the rule.”
It had been. “Just making sure we’re clear there, Daddy Warbucks.”
“Bite me,” came his response, sans any real heat. “You know what, just let Frankie bite me.”
Then we both laughed. “Fair deal.” Still chuckling, I continued, “I’m on my way to get the girls and pizza before I drop them back at my mom’s. You at Frankie’s tonight?”
“Nope,” Archie said. “I want to be, but Grandpa is back in town and I’m going to have dinner with him. It might run late, business stuff.”
Yeah, no comment on that.
“You might have her all to yourself. Bubba was talking to his parents tonight, so he may or may not get out of there depending on their reaction.” Considering Bubba had been attached since Thanksgiving, I was okay with that, too. When they ran so late, I’d figured it out. I wasn’t the only one, and on the one hand, I was glad for them, but on the other—we were back to having to divide her time four ways. I’d discovered I was a bit of a greedy bastard. Bubba helping her shower cut into my time with her.
Then again, he looked fucking deliriously happy, and she’d relaxed. So at least it cut some of the tension, and that was good for everyone. I didn’t have to be a dick about it. “Cool. If that’s the case, don’t make it over tonight. I’d appreciate it.”
Archie laughed at me. “Yeah, yeah. Gotta go. Grandpa is here.”
“Take care, man.”
An hour later, I finally got to Frankie’s to find Coop there but no Bubba. That was fine, I could live with Coop. He gave me a quiet thumbs up as he raised his brows at me. I nodded. His near silent yes didn’t go unobserved though.
She was sitting on the sofa looking absolutely adorable in her tank top and boxers—mine, and I never wanted them back—her laptop balanced on her knees and her hair tousled like she’d just pulled it out of the braid and let it fall in kinked and curly waves.