“We better get out of here before they douseallthe lights and we’re stumbling around in the dark.”
“Good idea.”
They got up and headed for the exit.
“Have you ever considered leaving Twilight?” Jazzy asked. “Get out of the shadow of your mother?”
“You’ve got something in mind?”
“I do. Traveling Nurses is desperate for pediatric staff and with your drive and determination, you’d be a shoo-in.”
Chapter 28
“Brother, you are acting like a dud. Slumping around. Sighing constantly.” Rio cornered him in the kitchen at his parents’ house on Christmas Eve while everyone else was in the living room getting ready to open presents. “I know your rebound booty call has ended, but—”
“Don’t,” Roan spoke so harshly his sister jumped back. Wincing, he gentled his voice. “Please don’t talk about Jazzy that way. Yes, we might be broken up, but she means a lot to me.”
“I was just being flippant to lighten the mood. Boy, did that go off the rails. I think Jazzy’s great. Truly I do. You’re right. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“Kids,” their mom called from the other room. “Are you two arguing?”
“No, Mom,” they called back in unison.
That broke the tension.
“Look...” They spoke at the same time and started laughing.
“You go first,” he said.
“No, you.”
“This is hard for me, Rio. Jazzy’s the first woman since Claire. But the timing wasn’t right. We got involved too fast. I brought her into our family too soon—”
“My turn,” Rio said. “You’re talking nonsense. It’s never the wrong time for love.”
“It’s just not that simple.”
“Only because you’re making it hard.”
“Daddy!” Trinity said from the doorway. “Hurry up! We’re ’bout ta open presents.”
“I’ll be right there, Doodlebug.”
“Now please?” Trinity twisted the hem of her Christmas pajama top around an index finger and sent him a beguiling smile.
Laughing, Roan took his daughter’s hand and led her to the living room. His dad played Santa Claus, passing out the presents and in a flurry of papers, oohs and aahs and thank yous, they exchanged gifts. Trinity getting the bulk of them.
While his daughter played on the rug with her new toys, he and Rio started picking up the wrappings and bows and putting them away. His mom went into the kitchen to make hot chocolate and popcorn, a Sullivan family Christmas Eve tradition.
“Daddy?” Trinity said.
“Uh-huh?” Roan asked, leaning over to stick a bow on his daughter’s head. “You’re the best present of all.”
Trinity leaned back her head and beamed up at him, fingering the bow on her head. The foil made a crinkling sound. “Is Jazzy coming over tonight?”
“No, sweetheart.”
“Whenisshe coming over?”