Fucking needed to set up a camera on him. Of course, that’d get millions of views, but then I resorted to a harness, a collar, and I wrapped a leash just to connect the two. But I wasn’t chancing anything. I kept a firm hold on his leash the whole time, only letting up once we were in the air, and I knew there was no way he could figure out his way to the cockpit to say hi to the pilot.

  I was leaving the plane with my bag when an SUV pulled in. Matteo was at the wheel, and he parked, getting out to come over and grab some of my stuff.

  “Hey, man.” He threw me a grin, putting the kids’ bags in the back.

  “Hey! It’s good to see you.” We hugged each other. Matteo and I didn’t get to see each other that often. His schedule kept him busy, and the same was for me. The off-season was our only free time, and that filled up real quick too. Family events like this were always worth losing any sleep.

  I’d missed the guy. “Grace is coming?”

  He got quiet before shaking his head. “She got a job promotion, so she’s taking it. It’s in London.”

  “Oh, man.”

  “We ended it, and she’s dating someone else.”

  “She’s over there already?”

  “Went early to get set up. She’s staying with a friend.”

  “Sam never said anything. I’m sorry.”

  He shrugged. “It’s… whatever. I don’t think she told anyone, just packed up and went.”

  He looked away, and I was taking that as a clue that he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

  I put Sam’s items in, then stuffed my bag in at the end.

  “Mr. Kade, sir.” The other attendant was coming down from the plane, all the things I needed for the dogs. I took the items, saying, “Thank you for everything.”

  “Thank you, sir. Thank you for flying with Elite Lines.”

  Matteo and I had worked it out before our games. We were both working on Christmas day. He had plans with his family after his game. I needed to fly in, so we decided on a good time. The plan was to show up hella fucking early, and since he was driving, he offered to pick me up.

  “Dude. You're carrying dog food and a roll of poop bags.” He looked around. “There’s no dog here.”

  I flicked him off. “Too early for your smart shit.” I nodded toward the attendant who was bringing Matty and Natty back with her. “That one dog is a lunatic.”

  Even now, Natty was twisting around, raising his front legs and doing a body twitch. He looked like he was learning some new dance, but nope. He was trying to get out of the harness/leash combination.

  Matteo burst out laughing. “You’re a brave guy. You traveled with both of them.”

  I was eyeing Natty, seeing he got the collar off. It was hanging and dragging next to the harness, but Natty was doing a whole head twitch, and he was trying to flip his body around.

  I swore as I went forward to grab him before he got loose. “I need a padlock on this dog.”

  The attendant had no idea how to handle him either. That was obvious. She didn’t notice me approaching. Natty was on the ground, rolling around, and he had one of the harness legs off him. Her mouth was open, and she was trying to pull on the leash. “Come on. Don’t do that. Oh, dear.”

  She started to reach down, but I got there first. “I got him.”

  Her head jerked around, flustered. “Oh. Thank you. I mean,” she grimaced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there.”

  I took both leashes, and she hurried back to the plane.

  Matty saw the SUV and Matteo, both of his favorites, so I let his leash go. He took off like a bullet.

  Natty had paused, back on the ground, two legs extended out and his other front two paws up and twisted. He had crazy eyes, but he was watching me, his tongue hanging off to the side of his mouth.

  I knelt, putting the harness back on him. Snapping my fingers, “Up.”

  He stood up, panting, and I knelt to pull the leg through his loop. He kissed me, running his tongue up my face from chin to forehead. He panted and did it again.

  I grunted, “Lunatic.” I stood, holding the leash. “Should’ve been named Loony.”

  He had no comment.

  Matteo was shaking his head, laughing as I walked back with Natty.

  The back door was open, and Matty was sitting perfectly, right behind the front passenger seat.

  “His dogs are nuts.”

  “Uh. Isn’t that why he picked them?”

  I laughed. “Logan’s soul dogs. I should buy him an alpaca as payback for Christmas next year.”

  “If you do, you need to do two. They die from loneliness.”

  “Even better.”

  We were in the SUV and pulling away from the plane.

  Matteo glanced over. “You know he’ll just give it to Nate somehow. Nova will see those things and fall in love. So you’re really gifting Nate two alpacas.”

  I grimaced. “Maybe I’ll hold off.”

  “I heard Mark’s coming today too?”

  “Yeah, I think so.”

  “What’s going on with them, anyway? He and that girl still together?”

  I shook my head. “I have no idea. Sam talks to Mark, but he doesn’t talk about his woman at all. From when I was here earlier, I think Malinda is trying to like her.”

  He whistled. “Mark should just cut ties, make a start with someone new. They don’t have kids?”

  “As far as Mark knows.” It was meant as a joke, but considering the earlier reason for my visit…

  Matteo grunted, “True.”

  We talked about our teams, teammates, but nothing specific. General stuff.

  Matteo was closer to Nate and Logan, but he and I were on good terms. It really was good to see him. He was family. Then we arrived, and as soon as we parked and I opened the door, an excited but shrill scream came from the house.

  “DADDDDDDDDDDYYYYYY!”

  Matteo started laughing. “Everyone’s awake.”

  “Merry Kade Christmas.”

  The front door burst open, and two of my kids came running down. Maddy was chill, hanging out in the doorway, and she raised a glass of what had better be hot chocolate in a salute to me.

  Then she saw Matty and Natty.

  “OH, MY GAWD! MATTY AND NATTY ARE HERE TOO!”

  38

  Taylor

  Kade Christmas ensued.

  I saw Matty and Natty and started bawling. Hormones.

  Logan whispered, hugging me, “Surprise!”

  Matteo was there. Logan was happy, jumping on him later. The SBC-er chant was heard throughout the day, but not by them. Maddy heard about it and taught the twins. Then, when Heather and Channing came over, the rest of their kids heard about it too. It was a whole choral piece with altos, sopranos, and someone tried for a bass. It didn’t work.

  Quincey and Nate arrived halfway through the day. Nova was in tow, along with the rest of their family too.

  It was an entire event.

  The older kids had settled in the corner, going over their presents and their phones. The rest played with Quincey and Nate’s youngest, who was starting to crawl. Nova got wind of alpacas somewhere and wouldn’t leave Uncle Mason’s lap, asking about the alpacas.

  Natty was loving life, on a continuous loop going from one person to the next, giving kisses. Licks. Asking for pets. His tail never stopped moving. That dog would be exhausted for three days after today, but Matty knew better. He had snuggled onto my lap, his head on my leg, and I was petting him.

  I was content watching everyone. I was seeing life, love, and hearing laughter.

  I was watching happiness.

  Then a hush came over the group.

  Goose bumps rose, covering my arms, and one by one, all eyes turned my way.

  “What?” I sat up straighter. Matty readjusted but didn’t leave my lap.

  Sam was blinking away tears.

  Heather had a hand over her mouth.

  Maddy gasped. “Holy shi—”

  “Child.”

  “Sorry, Dad.”

  And then I saw as Logan came around the corner. He was holding an ornament in one hand and a sparkler in the other. It was lit, which sent some of the adults in a frenzy, grabbing their kids out of the way.

  Logan ignored them, coming my way.

  I still couldn’t move. Matty was dug in. He wasn’t budging, but he moved his head to watch his dad’s approach.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, but then I saw what was inside the ornament. It was a ring. Another ring. “Logan.”

  Air left me.

  I started blinking away tears.

  My throat had swollen.

  My chest was pounding.

  “Logan,” I whispered.

  He knelt, holding that sparkler out of reach since Natty had come over to try to help. “So there’s a family thing. We’re supposed to propose in front of everyone, and well, we didn’t go that route.”

  “Cheater,” Heather yelled.

  Logan grinned but extended the ornament to me. He nodded at it. “You already have your ring. We already got married, but that’s a memory for us. This one is for the family.” He held it up. “Will you marry me, Taylor?”

  I took the ornament, my cheeks hurting from my smile. “I’d love to marry you.” I moved in, hugging him, and for a moment, it was just us. A ripple of tension eased from his body as I held him, and I leaned back. “Were you actually nervous?”

  He gave me a look. “Um, yes. I’m proposing to you.”

  “Should’ve said no before the ceremony, Taylor.” From Nate, his hand cupped around his mouth.

  Quincey added, “She could this time.”

  “Wait!” Maddy shoved to her feet. “What? Are you already married?”

  Max’s eyes got big. He was sitting by her but eyed her balled hands and started looking around. Without missing a beat, Channing reached forward, grabbed his son by his shirt, and pulled him back and out of swinging distance.

  “Uncle Logan!”

  Maddy was fierce.

  “Uh.” Logan glanced my way before saying, “We are, but nothing official until the whole family witnesses the wedding.”

  Maddy was blinking, confused. “So you’re not married?”

  “We did a ceremony, but it wasn’t—”

  He was struggling, shooting me a look. Sam, Mason, anyone.

  I spoke up, “Maddy.”

  She glared my way, but it was less fierce. She had a soft spot for me. I had one for her too. “Would you be my bridesmaid for the wedding?”

  She gasped again, but her eyes were filling up with tears. The change was dramatic but genuine. “Really?”

  I nodded. “If I’m doing a big wedding, I won’t do it without you.”

  “Aunt Taylor!”

  She started for me, tears sliding down her face, but Mason caught her and nodded at us. “Considering there’s a live sparkler going, let’s let Logan have the floor for a bit longer.”

  “Oh.” She blushed. “Yeah. Sorry, Uncle Logan. I love you, Uncle Logan!”

  Logan was still holding the sparkler as high in the air as he could get. Thank goodness for the tall ceilings in this Mausoleum. He cleared his throat. “As I was saying, now everyone shut the f—eff up!”

  One of the twins gasped. “He said a bad word.”

  Nova’s whisper was heard, “They always say bad words. Just go with it. Keep a tally and hit your parents up at the end of the night.”

  Smothered laughter came from the room, but Logan was now cursing under his breath. He leaned in, his forehead finding mine, and he whispered, “I brought this sparkler to torch the bottom of the ornament, make a whole gushy thing about it, but now I just want to drop it and torch the house.”

  I laughed, hugging him. “Don’t give in to your delinquent side. Keep the faith, brother.”

  He tipped his head back. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m pretending to be an SBC-er. Chill. Zen it out of you and proceed. You want to torch the ornament?”

  He snorted, laughing, but then got serious. “Yes. From early on, you were my sparkler, bringing a whole new life to me, and I want to singe the bottom of this ornament. It’ll go up on this tree to commemorate the first of another new chapter in our lives.” He stared at me, and then dropped his gaze to my stomach and back.

  Oh. OH!

  I was back to fighting back the tears because my whole body was melting.

  I nodded, tears streaming down my face. “I got it. I love you.”

  His own eyes got a little wet, but he stood, touched the sparkler to the bottom of the ornament until it had darkened. He handed the sparkler off to Nate, who dumped it in a bucket of water and set that aside.

  “Dad! Are there fish in there?”

  We heard Quincey replying in a hushed tone, but Logan went to the tree and hung it up. He turned, addressing everyone. “I love each one of you guys. Adore some of you more than others.” He winked at Maddy, who was now all smiles and laughing. “But you all are my family. Each of you, and I know I went around the family tradition with you know, but it truly means the world to me to have everyone here together. I know life is going to keep going. Who the f—knows what will happen with James and Analise, but it’ll happen. Promotions. Jobs will change. I’m sure more babies will come, but we’re here. All of us. Together. I’ve had you guys all my life, and we just keep adding on. I love you all and Merry Christmas! #KadeChristmas”

  There was laughter. Cheers.

  The hugs started.

  Logan was being hugged.

  I was being hugged.

  Natty jumped on Matty to get to me, so Matty had to get up. I was able to stand up for the hugs after that.

  Logan found his way back to my side, one of the twins clinging to his back, and he pulled me to his side when we heard the front door open.

  “We’re here! Late, but here.” Malinda led the way, coming down the front entryway and rounding to a stop at the living room opening. David stepped in behind her. Two more came next, Mark and Cass, who were holding hands.

  That’s when Malinda sniffed the air. “Why am I smelling fire?”

  A beat of silence.

  Then from Maddy, “THE TREE IS ON FIRE!”

  If you enjoyed A Kade Christmas, please consider leaving a review!

  They truly help so much.

  Until then, for more stories head to www.tijansbooks.com

  Acknowledgments

  I feel like I need to acknowledge Logan himself here because if he hadn’t randomly popped into my head one Saturday morning, and be a pest, this novella might not have been written. I had no plans on this novella, but yep. It happened exactly as I said, and all the Fallen Crest gang were eager to join as well. Then the Crew crew started talking, and well, you see what came of it all.

  Good old Tate and James, right?

  I’m not usually big on writing time jumps, but this was how the novella was coming to me and so I decided to go with it. Blame Logan, if you’d like!

  Also, a big huge thank you to the readers who have loved Fallen Crest and now Crew over the years and to the new ones who are discovering them. When you send me a message, email, or do a post in the reader group, you guys are keeping them alive. Not that they aren’t, or… You know what I mean.

  Thank you to the team that helps me on a daily too!

  And lastly, thanks to my Bailey. He’s always happy to give me a cuddle after a long day of writing. Love you, B.

  Kess

  One more step would mean certain death.

  The words were scribbled on a piece of paper, taped to a bathroom stall, and I was about out of patience. I ripped it off, balled it up, and tossed it into the garbage. I knew why they put the note up, because this was the druggie stall.

  Asshats.

  There were three other stalls open, which wasn’t normal, but we were in the end run of the school year. Graduation was in two days. It was our last official day of school, though most seniors stopped coming a long time ago. Not me. I was here because of detention.

  Detention.

  I growled under my breath.

  I was about to head inside the stall, find the drugs I knew were stashed somewhere, and I was going to mess with them. I was going to hide them somewhere else in the bathroom, but just as I hit the door to open, the main door to the bathroom swung wide.

  In walked Tasmin Shaw.

  “Hey, Kess.”

  I paused, trying to stomp down some of my irritation. It wasn’t her fault I was here for detention, but it was her brother’s and his whole group’s fault. There was a situation they brought about that ended with me getting detention. It was a whole round-about thing, and it didn’t really matter in the long run. But, I couldn’t be mean to Tasmin Shaw, or Taz as she was called by her friends. There were a few different reasons why I wanted to, but none really had to do with Taz as a person.

  One, Taz was nice. Like actually nice.

  Two, she was connected. Taz was not only popular, but she was well connected with the toughest crew still going strong in our school. We have a system, or had a system. There used to be a whole chain of groups that weren’t gangs, but we weren’t all friends either. We were in the medium between those extremes, and tended to look down on those who weren’t in a crew. That meant you weren’t loyal, and if you were crew, loyalty was like blood to us.

  You needed it to be crew, or you were simply ‘less than.’

  Or I used to think so.

  And three, there was a respect issue here because Taz’s brother’s woman was now the only female in a crew. There’d been one other girl, but no more, and I can say that because it was me. I used to be in a crew. We weren’t big or even tough, but we were a crew and I loved my crew.