Gifted To His Dad: Christmas Novella

“It’s not that bad.” I wrap my arms around Eve where she’s cocooned in the blankets. Her entire body, including her head, is covered, and she’s pulled her knees up into a tight ball. I try to lower the covers to see her face, but she holds on to it tight. “Come out, babe. I promise you it’s fine.”

“I’m never coming out,” she groans, mortification clear in her voice, and makes herself even smaller.

Wishing she’d allow me under the covers with her, I squeeze her knee tight. I hate she feels this way. “I promise Griffin doesn’t care.”

“We were on his couch! He saw everything… He saw me…” Her voice drops to barely a whisper. “Orgasm.”

I kiss her forehead, wishing I could do anything to fix this, but I can’t turn back time. “Babe, don’t be embarrassed. I can’t stand it.”

“Embarrassed doesn’t even begin to encapsulate what I’m feeling right now. I think I’ll just stay here until I die. You’ll have to bring me food and water.”

A low chuckle forms in the back of my throat. She’s so adorable sometimes. I can’t help but love her. Not that she’s ready to hear that yet. My girl is skittish, and I’m sure this isn’t helping. “You have to come out, eventually.”

“Never.” The blankets move in what I assume is her shaking her head no.

I lift off her and sit on the side of the bed. It’s clear nothing but time will coax her out. I slide my hands under her, tucking the blankets in. “How about this? I’ll go talk to him and make sure everything is all good, and you can hide in here for now.”

“Okay, but if it’s weird, we’re leaving.” Her voice trembles, like she’s asking too much.

I hate that she feels that way. I’m not sure how I’m going to do it, but I swear I’ll prove to her she can ask me anything. No…that she deserves everything. I kiss her head through the cover. “I promise. If it’s too uncomfortable, just let me know, and we’ll leave first thing.”

I leave the room, shutting the door quietly behind me, and run my hand through my hair. This was not the way I expected to start this weekend.

I go through the hall that separates the bedroom from the main area to find a smiling Griffin waiting for me in the kitchen.

My brows pull down, and I cross my arms over my chest. “You weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow.”

Griffin looks behind me to where the hallway leads to the guest room. “I didn’t mean to embarrass her.”

“She’ll be fine. She’s cool like that. Just needs a bit of time. Be nice to her.”

His eyes are still fixed behind me, but now there’s a darkened look to them. “That won’t be a problem.”

Testing the waters, I ask, “She’s hot, right?”

Griffin and I didn’t meet until I was already nineteen, so there’s always been something special about how we interact. Somehow, we’re closer than most people I know. My mom abandoned us both, and Griffin’s the one who stepped in when I needed a place to stay. I’m looking for something more than his approval. I want him to see her the way I do. No matter how fucked-up that is.

A muscle ticks in Griffin’s jaw. “I think it’s better I don’t answer that.”

I hum in the back of my throat, pushing him just a little further. “She’s sweet too. Wait until you get to know her.”

It’s fucked-up, but I need him to like her. More than I should. I search him for signs of being uncomfortable, anything that shows he doesn’t like the way the conversation is going, but he just looks past me again.

His gaze goes hooded, and then he clears his throat. “Let’s get dinner started, then you can go get her.”

I join him in the kitchen, our movements coordinated after years of living together. I duck naturally as he reaches over me, his back grazing my shirt. A shiver runs down my spine at his closeness. I’m not attracted to him, but there’s something about him being near that’s always interested me. Like I want to share more with him than is normal.

He pulls back, holding a large salad bowl in his hand, and cool air replaces his heat. He puts it on the table and gestures to me. “Handle this, and I’ll take care of the steaks.”

I give him a quick nod and get to work on cutting the vegetables, making a spring salad to go with the meat and potatoes. I glance at the clock for the fifth time. I can’t stand being away from Eve even for a second, and at this point, I don’t care who knows it. By the way she stays close to me, I’m sure she feels the same.

I finish mixing in the dressing when Griffin bumps his shoulder against mine. “Go get your girl so we can get the awkwardness over with.”

I’m not exactly sure how this will work, but I put down the tongs and make my way back to our room.

Eve’s still wrapped up in a ball when I enter, and I climb over her, unwrapping her like a present. Her cheeks are still flushed when she looks up at me.

I brush a strand of her hair back. “I talked to Griffin. I told you it would be fine.”

“Really?” She bites the corner of her lip, and it takes all my willpower to stop from running my thumb along it, freeing it from her teeth.

“Really. He knows he should have texted us first. He feels guilty that he embarrassed you like that. So come out and help put him out of his misery.”

It’s wrong of me to play on her people-pleasing tendencies, but she’d stay in here forever, given the opportunity.

“Promise to stay with me? Don’t leave my side.”

“I’d never dream of leaving.”

I get up, and I’m so proud of my girl when she kicks off her blankets. I know how hard this is for her. How shy she can be. Even at school, she seems to hide behind me, almost acting like she’s not there. It’s more than just shyness. It’s like she doesn’t believe she belongs by my side, and I will do everything in my power to prove just how wrong she is. If the people around us can’t see how perfect she is, that’s on them.

Taking her hand, I lead her through the hall and give her a little tug when she pauses.

She follows me, tucking herself close, and I wrap my arm around her, enjoying the way her body molds to mine.

Griffin looks up from the grill and gives her a warm smile. “Hi, I’m Griffin. It’s nice to finally meet you. Cole hasn’t stopped talking about you.”

Her gaze meets mine, a soft flush taking over her cheeks, and I lean down to whisper in her ear.

“I told you I’m head over heels for you.”