Stay For Me - Megan Smith Page 0,65

haven’t said anything because I hate when he’s on the road, he worries about this type of shit. He’s afraid that if you guys can’t work things out that it’s going to be all weird for us. He’s being stupid. Plus, I was waiting for you to grow a pair of balls.” She laughs.

I balk.

“I’ll tell him.”

“No, I can do it.”

Jaylinn laughs. “You could or I can do it while we’re in the middle of having sex and can get him to agree and do just about anything for me.”

I giggle. “Alright, alright, you can talk to him about it.”

We swing by and pick up Jaylinn’s mom, Sadie, before heading over to the Cahill’s. When we pull up to the house there are cars everywhere. I guess everyone is there already.

Jaylinn, Sadie, and I walk into the house, discard our jackets and go into the kitchen. Elle, Cooper’s mom, smacks Cooper’s hand away from what looks like a bowl of potato salad.

“Doesn’t Jaylinn ever feed you?”

“He never stops eating, like ever.” Jaylinn answers, walking into the kitchen.

“Merry Christmas, Jay, Sadie,” Elle kisses Jaylinn and then Sadie on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Layla.”

“Merry Christmas, thank you for having me.”

Elle waves her hand dismissively. “The more the merrier.”

“Well, that’s good because you just got another visitor.” Eli calls from the doorway as Sadie excuses herself to go see her grandchildren in the other room but not before wishing Eli a Merry Christmas.

“Merry Christmas, Eli.” Elle sings.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Cahill.”

Cooper stands there with his hands on his hips shaking his head. “Why the hell didn’t you two just drive together?”

Eli and I both look away from each other but I catch Jaylinn glaring at Cooper. He sighs and nods his head in the direction of the dining room, Eli follows him.

Jaylinn and I stride into the dining room holding drinks for the boys and ourselves. “Thanks, babe.” Cooper says to Jaylinn.

“Welcome.” Jaylinn says as she makes herself comfortable on his lap.

I walk down to the other end of the table away from Eli. The look on his face kills me but it’s Christmas and I don’t want to start a fight with anyone.

“Oh hey, Layla, Merry Christmas.” MacKenzie greets me with a messy faced Olivia in her arms. Her daughter is absolutely stunning with her bright blue eyes and curly brown hair.

“Merry Christmas.” I grab Olivia’s little hand. “Merry Christmas, Ms. Liv.” The little girl blows bubbles at me.

MacKenzie looks around the room, Jaylinn is sitting on Cooper’s lap, Eli is sitting next to them and I’m sitting all the way on the other side of the table. “This is awkward.”

Jaylinn sighs, Eli huffs, and Cooper laughs. It really is awkward.

Elle breezes in. “Let’s have the kids open presents then we’ll have dinner.”

We all pile into the living room and watch all the kids open up their presents. It’s like a tornado touched down in the living room by the time everyone is done. Andrew, Cooper’s dad, is in the corner picking up all the wrapping paper that Hunter is tossing at him trying to keep the room as clean as possible.

When presents are done, a line forms in the kitchen as we all pile ham, potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs and all the other stuff on our plates and make our way into the dining room. I’ve taken notice that Sadie is being really quiet which isn’t like her, normally she’s talking my ear off but not today.

Cooper wipes his face with his napkin. “Just think, this time next week you’ll be a married man.” He says to Mason.

Eli reaches for my hand under the table. I glance up looking to see if anyone has noticed but no one has. I secretly love that he pushes the boundaries with me.

Mason nods shoving an egg in his mouth. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“All your cleat chasers are gonna sob.” Jaylinn teases causing everyone at the table to laugh.

After dinner everyone hangs out in the living room letting their food digest. Past Christmas stories are being shared, new memories are being made, it really is a perfect Christmas. Mason and Hailey’s twins get really cranky, so they’re the first to leave. Hunter and MacKenzie are next with their two. Sadie asks Hunter to give her a ride home claiming she’s got a terrible headache. Following everyone’s queue, I ask Jaylinn to take me home. Eli cuts me a look after I ask her. I told him we’d go home together but I