He’s right, but he has annoyed me, so I don’t leave it alone.
“You blew your own chance to be in that kid’s life. You couldn’t play nice with Mateo, you couldn’t leave Mia alone—you couldn’t handle it. You couldn’t sac up and admit you wronged her and she didn’t owe you shit, so you know what? You’re lucky Mateo even lets her send your sorry ass pictures, ‘cause I sure as hell wouldn’t. Here’s a pro-tip for you, Vince,” I advise him. “Maybe don’t rape the next woman you knock up and you’ll get daddy privileges.”
Carly’s eyes widen and her head whips around to locate Laurel. I know Laurel doesn’t know shit about Vince’s sordid past, and I don’t intend on telling her, but fuck, I can’t handle this kid and his bullshit sometimes.
Laurel is not paying attention, though. She’s standing in the kitchen with her eyes closed, her arms wrapped around Sin’s neck, and they’re making out like we don’t even exist.
Carly notices, sags with relief, then looks back at me and Vince, her blue eyes glowing like they’re lit by fire. “This is not the fucking time or place, you two. Not even a little bit.”
My gaze drifts to Virginia, stuck between me and Vince, and completely out of the loop. Her brown eyes are wide and she stares straight ahead, sitting perfectly still like maybe if she doesn’t move, we won’t notice her.
Well, shit, this is some introduction to my extended family, isn’t it? “Enjoying your Christmas with the Morellis?” I ask her.
She turns her head and looks at me, her eyes still wide, but she nods. “Oh, yeah. What’s not to like?”
Carly clearly doesn’t trust either one of us to control ourselves, because she decides to bail. She stands and fakes a yawn, then raises her voice to tell Laurel, “I hate to interrupt you lovebirds, but I think we’re gonna go to bed.”
Laurel drags herself away from Sin, however reluctantly. “Already?”
Carly nods, taking Vince’s hand once he rises and stands behind her. “My husband needs an early Christmas gift, if you catch my meaning.”
Laurel nods her head. “Gotcha. All right, well, thanks for helping me with the presents. Skylar usually wakes me up around seven, and Nicky… right now it seems like he’s going to get me up every hour on the hour, so we could probably do gifts around eight? Then breakfast afterward?” she adds, glancing at Virginia.
Virginia nods her head. “That works for me.”
Carly goes over to give Laurel a hug, and Vince trails behind her. He nods at Sin while Carly and Laurel hug, then takes Carly’s hand and heads upstairs with her.
Seeing the opportunity to make my own exit, I also stand. “I think we’re gonna head out, too.”
“Oh,” Virginia murmurs, following my lead. “Yeah, okay. I’ll just meet everyone back here at eight, then.”
“You’re coming home with me,” I tell her.
“I am?”
“You are.”
10
Virginia
On my way to my own car, I tell Rafe, “Obviously it wasn’t worth arguing about in front of Sin and Laurel, but I’m not going home with you.”
“Yes, you are.” He’s so damn cocky. It shouldn’t be so endearing, but I can’t help finding the rogue’s overconfidence charming.
I spin around to meet his gaze, regardless of my mushy insides. “No, I’m really not. You haven’t even had anything to drink, so you don’t need a ride, and I have my own bed to sleep in, so I don’t need to spend the night in yours.”
“And yet, you’re going to,” he tells me. Not giving me time to object again, he says, “Carpooling is good for the environment, Virginia. We’re both coming back here in the morning at the same time. Driving separately is pointless, and also bad for the environment.”
A faint smile steals across my lips. “Is that the reason? I had no idea you were such a tree hugger.”
Nodding his head toward his car, he says, “Come on. I know you’re not going to make me sleep alone on Christmas Eve. Get your ass in the car.”
“I hope you’re not expecting the same early Christmas gift your cousin is getting tonight, because I’m not giving it to you.”
“I’ll be happy with your company and a little conversation before bed,” he assures me.
Every encounter I’ve ever had in his bedroom up until this point compels me not to believe him, but what the hell? It’s Christmas Eve and I don’t have much better to do, so I might as well risk it. Worst case scenario, I wind up with another memory of Rafe on top of me, his soft mattress at my back, his dark eyes beckoning me to make bad decisions with him. I already knew spending Christmas with him would give me fodder for the Rafe Morelli highlight reel, and as much as I don’t want material to torture myself with later, I also can’t pass up the chance to collect it. Rafe’s company and a little conversation between us before falling asleep in his bed sounds something akin to magical, and I can’t find the gumption to say no again.