Page 25 of Havoc's Fox

“It’s our year to host Christmas. Everyone is coming here.”

“Everyone?”

“Of course. We’re not going to exclude anyone.”

“Well, no, of course not. But Havoc? He’s coming?”

Everly and Bam shared a look.

“He’s family, too.”

“I know, but Analise?”

“Well, it’s better it’s here, then, because she can hide in her room if it gets to be too much,” Everly said.

“Maybe.”

“It’ll be fine,” Everly said.

“Yeah,” Bam agreed.

“I think I’ll go warn Analise,” Emmalyn said, heading back down the hall.

“Is she dressed yet?” Everly asked.

“No, she was waiting for me to get out of the shower,” Emmalyn called back.

Everly turned to Bam quickly and pulled him near. “Go in Analise’s room, get her car keys out of her purse and hide them.”

“What?!” Bam asked, looking at his mate like she was crazy.

“She told me she was thinking of going home early. Like today or tonight. That was before she found out we were hosting everyone including Havoc. Hide the keys, and whatever else you think might slow her down if she decides to go early.”

Bam didn’t say a word he just rushed down the hallway, slipped quietly into Analise’s room and snatched her purse off the chair at her small writing desk. He dug around inside it for a few seconds before he located her keys. Then he took her wallet and held onto that, too, while he laid the purse on the floor near the chair. He shook a few of its contents onto the carpet so it would look like it fell and spilled, then quickly left the room. Bam walked back into the kitchen and opened the small cabinet above the fridge. He tossed the keys and the wallet into the back of the cabinet, then moved the vases Everly kept there in front of them.

He turned around and grinned at Everly. “Done.”

Everly giggled a little, and accepted a kiss from him before she went back to finishing up their portion of Christmas dinner.

~~~

Analise pulled the shower curtain open and glared at Emmalyn. “Say what?”

“Really, if you think about it, it’s no different than being at Kaid’s. But now, if you get overwhelmed, you can retreat to your own bedroom. So, it’s better.”

Analise sighed. “It didn’t even occur to me to ask who was hosting Christmas day this year.”

“You’d have been exposed to him over there, too, though.”

“I know. It’s just that, this is MY space. And he’s going to be walking all over it.”

“With a little girl that you absolutely love.”

Analise smiled and her expression softened. “I really do. She’s such a sweet child, and at the same time, so strong.”

“He’s done a really good job.”

“That’s what I said! I’m so proud of him.”