Page 175 of The Offside Rule
Then Oli and Sloane arrived with Quinn and her two kids, and the apartment became loud in under thirty seconds. Sloanehugged me like she had not seen me two days ago. Oli kissed my cheek. Quinn walked in, looked at Hunter setting rolls on the table, and grinned.
“Look at you,” she said. “So domestic.”
Hunter gave her a flat look. “Leave.”
“On Christmas? Rude.”
Dinner was chaos. Perfect chaos. Mila talked Isla into showing everyone every ornament on the tree. Jaden ate three rolls before dinner technically started. Quinn’s youngest refused anything green. Sloane kept telling me to sit down even though I was hosting. Mom helped anyway. Dad watched Hunter pass Isla a napkin, refill my water, and help Mila cut a piece of chicken in precise tiny pieces.
I could see it in Dad’s face. He was still not thrilled about Hunter and me, but he was trying.
Halfway through dinner, Isla dropped her fork and whispered, “Oops,” like she had committed a crime. Hunter picked it up, got her a new one, and kissed the top of her head without missing his conversation with Oli. Dad saw that too.
After dinner, Hunter and I cleared plates while everyone moved into the living room for presents. He came up behind me at the sink and wrapped one arm around my waist.
“You, okay?” he asked near my ear.
“I’m happy,” I admitted. It felt good to have our families together.
His arm tightened. “Good.”
From the living room, Dad said, “I can see you.”
Hunter sighed. “I barely touched her.”
“That’s still touching.”
“Cole,” Mom warned. “She’s a grown woman.”
“What? I’m adapting.” Dad shrugged.
I laughed and turned in Hunter’s arms. “Come on before my dad attempts to ground me.”
The living room looked like Christmas had exploded. Wrapping paper was already everywhere. The kids sat near the tree. Isla positioned herself beside me on the couch like she had a job to do. I noticed because she was never that still. She looked at Hunter. Hunter looked back at her.
I narrowed my eyes. Those two were up to something. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Isla said too fast.
“That was not nothing,” I giggled.
Hunter’s face was painfully innocent. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Quinn snorted from the armchair. “Liar.”
Isla bounced once. Hunter gave her a small nod.
“It’s okay,” he said. “Go get it.”
She jumped up and ran toward her bedroom.
I turned to him. “Hunter.”
“Trust me.”
“I do. That’s what worries me.”
A few seconds later, Isla came back holding a golden retriever puppy.
