Page 16 of Grumpy Santa

I pat my chest and Lola jumps into my arms. “How’s my pretty girl?”

“You have a cat!” Audrey says.

I scratch under Lola’s chin and she purrs loudly.

“And she’s huge like you.”

“She’s a Maine Coon,” I explain.

“Is she friendly?”

“Yes.”

“She’s beautiful.” Audrey steps closer and pets my cat between the ears. “Why do you have a cat?”

“Cats are cool,” I say. “And easier to have than dogs since I’m at shop so much.”

“I bet you miss Daddy when he’s gone all day, don’t you, pretty girl?” Audrey asks.

Our eyes meet and Audrey realizes what she said.

“Daddy,” she says again.

I nod.

Lola jumps down and heads off into the kitchen.

“Come on,” I say.

Audrey follows.

“You hungry?” I ask. I feed Lola and refresh her water, then turn to face Audrey. I’m hit in the heart with how good she looks just standing in my kitchen.

“I know what you’re planning,” she says.

I raise my brows. “Interesting. Because I don’t have any plans. Other than we need to figure this out together.”

She nods. “Have you told anyone?”

“Haven’t had a chance. I’ve been with you the whole time. Did you text your folks?”

“No. I think I want to tell them in person.” She leans against my kitchen counter. “I was texting my girlfriends.”

“You told them?”

“Yeah. I had to tell someone. That okay?”

I frown. “Of course.” I stand in front of her and grip her arms, giving them a light squeeze. “This might not be how we planned things, but this is something to celebrate, knödel. We’re going to have a baby.”

“Are you scared?” she asks.

“Fuck yes, I’m scared. My father was the worst, and he was gone by the time I was twelve.”

“Who did you live with after that?”

“I bounced around a bit. Sometimes my Oma though. She was my favorite.” My hands rub up her arms. I want to pull her to me, wrap my arms around her.

“I’m not going to marry you, Jared.”