Chapter 206

When mom tries to come over with more presents, I give her a little frown and shake my head, mouthing “give us a minute.” When she sees my reason why I think it takes mom every bit of strength she’s got to not come rushing to Jackson’s side and fuss over him.

But, knowing that would be too much, she moves away to fuss over someone else.

After about a minute, Jackson raises his head and nods solidly. “Okay,” he says, his voice steely like a soldier about to go on a mission. “Where do I start?”

“Right there at the corner,” I say, pointing to where the paper is loose. “Just…rip away, McClintock. Really show it what you’re made of.”

Jacks nods seriously and then does as I say, ripping into his gifts. After a joyful couple of hours of mom going around delivering more and more gifts to every single member of her family, and then Cora doing the same, and then Grandpa, Jackson and I sit cozy by the fire absolutely surrounded by our loot.

It’s mostly clothes, of course – mom can’t resist – but Jackson also got a gym bag from Rafe, a very fancy set of water bottles from Jesse, a stack of romance novels from Juniper, a set of colored pencils from Mark (though the reason behind that one’s a mystery to me). My gift is coming to him later, but the real coup is a stuffed tiger gifted from Seraphina.

“I think that one is regifted,” I murmur, noting that my cousin gave it to him crumpled up in already-ripped paper.

“I treasure it all the more,” Jackson murmurs, seating the soft stuffed toy by his side with its little face towards the room, like a real pet. And I wonder suddenly if…well, if Jackson’s ever had a toy before. And my heart breaks, thinking that Seraphina was the only one who realized that he might want one.

“Stop that,” Jackson says when he hears my little squeak of adoring pity, turning towards me with a laugh. He smacks at my hands, clutched to my chest in agony.

“I cannnn’t,” I groan, pitching myself hard against his side. “You just break my heart sometimes, Jacks! I want to give you everything – let’s go to the toy store, you can have whatever you want! You can have all of them!”

“I don’t want all of them,” he says, giving me a squeeze and then, adorably, reaching out and patting his little tiger on the head. “I have this one, and it’s perfect.”

I groan again at the unbearable sweetness of my gigantic, terrifying puppy mate, burying my face into his shoulder. He laughs harder and just hugs me closer, pressing a kiss to my hair and then my cheek. “Thank you,” he murmurs. “Today is amazing.”

I sniff a little, lifting my head with a sigh and relaxing against him. “What are you going to name it?” I ask, glancing down at the fierce little stuffed animal, complete with felt fangs.

“I have to name it?” Jackson asks, hesitating like it’s a horrible burden he’s not sure he wants.

I grin at him. “Of course. It has a face. It needs a name.” I shrug like it’s obvious.

He narrows his eyes for a moment, studying it. “Fine. Then I name it…Tiger.”

I laugh, my head falling back on my neck. “You’re terrible at this, McClintock,” I say, delighted anyway, despite my words.

“No, I’m not,” he murmurs, taking full advantage of my bared neck and pressing a quick kiss there. “Tiger is perfect. Descriptive, concise.”

“Very Jackson logic,” I sigh, raising my head and cupping his cheek in my palm. “But you’re right. Tiger is perfect.”

“If you two are done being horrible,” Juniper says, and we both turn to see her standing over us, her arms crossed, her habitual glare in her eyes.

I grin, curling closer to my mate, who doesn’t move an inch, just looks curiously up at Junie like he doesn’t understand what on earth she’s talking about.

“Then it is time to go play the awful traditional sports game,” my sister sighs, gesturing towards the door where my family – still in their pajamas – is filtering out, heading for the roof.

“Oh, fun!” I shout, getting up to my feet.

“What’s this?” Jackson asks, anxiety in his voice at every new turn of midwinter events. “What are we playing?”

“You’re playing football,” I say, grinning at him as I stoke the fire with a couple of extra logs so it won’t go out while we’re upstairs. “The girls are just drinking white wine.”

“As is our right, as royal ladies,” Juniper says, flicking her hair back over her shoulder.

“Not yours,” I say, laughing and flicking her nose when I stand up straight. “Underage!”

“Ariel!” Juniper groans, following me as I tug Jackson eagerly towards the door. “Come on! I thought we were finally cool! Just sneak me one glass!”

“I’ll think about it,” I say casually over my shoulder, grinning at her. “If…you’ll agree to be my servant. All. Day.”

Juniper groans, but then considers her choices, and nods with a sigh.

The three of us hurry after our family, picking up the tail of the group as we all start up the stairs.

The day moves too quickly after that, ushered along by a great deal of laugher and joy. Jackson, even though he doesn’t know the rules of football, is of course instantly good at it and a credit to his team, made up of him, Mark, Chase, and Roger. The game goes on for what feels like a very long time, especially considering the tiny space provided by the little patch of green on our roof and how many Alphas they’re trying to squeeze into it, all bashing into each other.

But still, I don’t mind. I just sigh and drink the glass of wine that my mom constantly refills. I secretly always pour half of my cup into Juniper’s glass as well – and spend the time chatting with my family and just…watching my mate play.

God, but he’s just so…good at it. Good at all of it – dodging, throwing, strategy, knowing precisely how hard he’s able to tackle Caleb without hurting him. Something about physical activity just comes easy to my mate. Much easier than to me and I think most people.

I smile softly as my eyes follow him, my glass resting against my shoulder as I lean back against the countertop of the little outdoor kitchen. I get lost in it, if I’m being honest, not even paying attention to the conversation of the ladies amidst whom I stand.

“Ohhhhh,” Cora coos, her voice loud and teasing enough to pull me out of it. I snap my head towards her, curious, and then blush when I see that they’re all looking at me – that I got caught, a bit, in my reverie. “Someone’s got it bad!”

“Oh, shut up,” I reply, laughing and tossing out a hand to smack my aunt on my shoulder.

“No, I’m jealous,” Cora sighs, moving closer to me and leaning against me as my mom stands on her other side, beaming. “I miss that newly in-love feeling. So much fun.” Juniper turns towards us too, an unsurprising frown on her face as Rosie, Sera, and Bella play with one of Bella’s new toys at our feet.

“So?” Mom asks, grinning over at me, eager. “Is that what it is? Are you in love, Ari?”

I blush terribly then, ducking my head and laughing in my embarrassment. Because, I mean, I instantly know that the answer is yes. But I haven’t even said that to Jacks yet – not out loud - and shouldn’t I?

And, honestly, I’m not sure that I feel comfortable confessing my feelings to one of my mates with my family without discussing the other – because I’ve fallen hard for Luca too.

But can someone even be in love – really in love – with two people at once? Even if they’re you’re mates?

God, but it’s confusing.

Luckily, my little sister comes to my rescue.

“Well, I hope not,” Junie says, frowning and turning towards the boys. “Love ruins everything.”

“What!?” Mom and Cora shout together, appalled – and even I turn towards Junie with surprise.

“It does!” June says, laughing a little and shaking her head. “You fall in love, and then you get pregnant, and then you pop out a bunch of kids, and then your life is just that, and everything else…” she flicks her fingers in the air all at once, like an explosion. “Poof! Hopes and dreams! Gone!”

“Oh, Junie,” mom sighs, smiling over at my little sister indulgently. “It’s…not really like that.”

“Well, it wasn’t for you,” June says, turning to mom with her eyebrows lifted. “Your hopes and dreams were to have kids and a family and the whole domestic bliss thing. That’s what you wanted!”

“Well, what’s yours, sugar?” Cora asks, reaching behind me to stroke a warm hand over Juniper’s long black hair. “What is it that you want?”