Page 99 of Fierce-Jonah

“I think they will be surprised,” she said.

He wasn’t sure how to take that and just assumed that meant they didn’t think he had any manners, but he just had to put it from his mind.

A lot of the gifts were in bags so they were able to get them in in one trip.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Megan said, walking to the back of the house.

“It’s not Christmas yet,” her mother said, smiling. “But Merry Christmas to you too. You two look like Santa coming in.”

“Jonah has some of the beard for it,” she said. “Not long enough or white, but close enough.”

“Except Jonah doesn’t have a belly on him and never will,” Charlie said. “Dad said I can start going to the gym on vacation this week and lift. We’ve been lifting in practice for soccer and it’d make me stronger. Can you show me some things?”

“Sure,” he said to Charlie. “Are you coming with your father in the morning or mother at night?”

“Dad in the morning. No way I’m going with Mom and listening to her and Aunt Megan and Aunt Emily talking on the bikes. I want to lift with Dad.”

He grinned. “It’s quieter then too. Sometimes I’m working out in the morning and I’ll come give you some pointers.”

“Thanks,” Charlie said.

“Dad,” Tyler said. “Can I go with Uncle Bill and Charlie? I told you we lift for practice too.”

“If Tyler gets to go, then I’m going,” Abby said. “You told me no, Dad.”

“Abby, you can come with me at night,” Emily said.

Tom shook his head and looked at Tyler. “If you can get your butt up early enough to go with Bill, then go right at it. I’ll be at work and I’m not going to be dragging you around.”

“I’m off,” Emily said. “I’ll take care of it like I normally do. Oh, Megan. Is that wine?”

“It is,” Megan said. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a glass.”

“Wine never hurts,” Emily said, taking the bottle out of Megan’s hand and going to the kitchen.

“Can I get you a beer, Jonah?” Kevin asked him. They were being more open and friendly than normal and he wondered if it was the holiday spirit.

“Sure,” he said. “That’d be nice.”

“I’ve got snacks on the table,” Tammy said. “We just do a buffet style with food on Christmas Eve. It’s much easier than a fancy sit-down meal. The kids end up wanting to open gifts and play games anyway, then they need to get home before Santa comes.”

“No one believes in Santa anymore,” Sophia said.

“I do,” Jonah said. “What do you mean he’s not real?”

There was a lot of laughter from that statement and Megan leaned in and kissed him. Even Tammy and Kevin laughed and he figured he had this better than he thought.

All he wanted to do was make sure that Megan had a nice holiday dinner with her family and if she didn’t he’d make sure he cheered her up later tonight.

“That might have been the best Christmas Eve I’ve had in years with my family,” Megan said hours later when they were back at his place.

“I’m glad,” he said.

“You went out of your way to be very funny and accommodating. My parents didn’t know what to make of you. I could see it on their faces.”

“Not sure what you mean by that,” he said.

She pulled him to the couch and they sat. “I think they are warming up to you.”