A Christmas Collin (Bringing Home Trouble)

Chapter 4

4

COLLIN

E velyn's reaction is a familiar one to me, but I don't want Danielle to feel a way about another woman commenting on my looks, especially her sister. I'm supposed to be her boyfriend, after all.

My arm moves around Danielle's waist, pulling her into me to nuzzle against her ear as I speak to her sister. "Thankfully, I'm not too hot to handle for my Jelly Bean."

"Oh my God. How come he gets to call you Jelly Bean after all these years, but I can't call him Leftie?" Evelyn whines.

The name Leftie isn't one I chose. It's one that followed me the entire time I spent in foster care. I hate it, but I have learned to accept that it's too easy to pair Leftie with a last name like Wright. It amuses people, even if it makes me a bit uncomfortable.

"Because I told you he doesn't like it," Danielle says with a touch of hostility in her tone. She just went from 0 to 100 in my defense, and something about that makes my chest crack open. No one defended me before, which was why I learned how to fight. I depended on no one but me.

And this slip of a girl is out here fighting her own family for me.

I wrap my fingers around her hand to calm her down. "Take it easy, Jelly Bean."

Danielle's face is red with anger, her nostrils flaring. "Evil, just leave it alone. I told you not to call him that, so don't call him that."

"What's going on here?" Josh Brogan comes inside, standing behind me.

I have no idea where he came from, but the look in his eyes as he drags them up and down my frame shows he's less than enthusiastic to see me. I can imagine why since he's two years younger than me and Danielle, but he hasn't been taking good care of himself. The stress in his life is easily seen in his receding hairline.

"I don't know." I shrug.

"Oh shit, Leftie! Welcome back, bro." Josh extends his hand for me to shake, which I do, but Danielle stiffens beside me, looking like she’s about to explode.

"Don't call him that!" Danielle shouts at her brother.

Josh holds his hand out as if he's waiting for payment. Danielle turns her nose up, with her arms folding across her chest as she shakes her head. The whole thing is confusing.

Josh's tone is teasing as he says, "Aw, what's the matter, Dani? Not enough jelly beans to pay the toll?"

"What's happening?" I ask the siblings, feeling like I’m missing some inside joke or something.

Evelyn narrows her gaze before throwing her hands in the air. "You all suck. I'm getting back to my croissants. The butter can't get too warm."

Josh smiles, elbowing me playfully. "It's funny how you two are dating, but you don't know about the jelly beans by now."

"I call her Jelly Bean." I tug Danielle close to me, feeling warmth all the way to my toes at her nearness.

"Josh, don't," Danielle warns, but I want to know what the hell is going on.

"Come on, guys, don't hold out on me," I tell him with a smile.

Josh doesn't need much prodding. "She used to bribe everyone with jelly beans to call you Collin. Didn't you ever wonder why she always had them on her? She got everybody we knew and in your senior class to call you Collin."

I'm alarmed by the realization that she's been looking out for me, but it also comes as no surprise. Danielle is beautiful inside and out. There's a reason why she stands out and why my best memories as a teen had something to do with her.

Fuck. My heart skips a beat as I look at her—my Jelly Bean.

Danielle turns to me. "I'm sorry, Collin. I know I shouldn't have gone behind your back to do that, but?—"

Fuck it.

I cut her off with a kiss. It's just enough to swipe my tongue around hers while my attention drowns out everything else. My mind registers Josh’s presence, but the need to kiss her overrides my common sense.

It takes every self-restraint I have to eventually pull away, not wanting to take it further while her family stares at us. Me being here as her boyfriend is awkward enough as it is.

"I can't believe that's the reason you always carried those things around and never told me."

Danielle gently touches the side of my face, and I instinctively lean into it. "You weren't exactly the most understanding person back then, but I wanted you to have some peace while you were here."

Josh rolls his eyes and walks away. "Great, so everyone's partner is here, love is in the air, and I have to wait for Hilary to get in from Chicago."

I turn to him. "They said there's a snowstorm coming. The bridge is going to be shut down after eight tonight. I'm not sure if she's going to be able to get into town if the bridge is closed."

Josh groans and storms off just as their mom comes out of the kitchen. She's drying her hands on her apron as she approaches with some pep in her step. "Oh my goodness, look at you, Collin. You certainly shot up in height, didn't ya? Good thing you took all those piercings out. You look great. Come tell me about work while the girls get dinner on the table."

I give Danielle a knowing look, and she shakes her head and leaves me to walk with her mother into the living room. It feels odd coming back here after all these years and joining the family for Christmas Eve dinner. I don’t remember the last time I celebrated holidays. Usually, I sit down in front of the TV with a bottle of beer and a big cheeseburger.

Danielle brings me a beer while Josh plops into an armchair and flicks on the TV.

"So tell me what you've been up to." Mrs. Brogan smiles and pats me on the leg.

"The Wright Spot is my shop, and it's been open for about six years now. We do really well."

"So you must live in one of those fancy houses on the bluff. Probably run into Evelyn's boyfriend, Jake, up there too," Josh says with disbelief.

I hate being in the spotlight, with everyone’s attention on me, and I try not to give him a reaction. "I actually own the lot where my shop is, and I built a small house off the back corner. It's a tiny house with a loft, and I get to live without a mortgage on either building."

"Oh, that's … um, nice." Mrs. Brogan speaks with some hesitation in her voice as well. "You know, you're more than welcome to crash here tonight. I'm sure Josh won't mind?—"

Josh cuts his mother off. "I mind. He's not getting my room, and I'm not sleeping on the couch. If Hilary makes it to Pittsburgh, I want her to come here and have a place to crash. That won't happen if he's knocked out in my bed. Let's be adults, Mom. He can stay with Dani in her room. I'm sure it won't be the first time, right?"

"Uh, no," I answer, resisting the urge to lower my gaze to the floor. Images of Dani in her bedroom with nothing but her sleepwear on shuffle through my mind, and I shake them off. Not the time to think about being alone with her.

Heat rises to my cheeks, my face, neck, and ears getting impossibly warm, and I feel more like a teenager than a grown fucking adult. I can see Danielle blushing as well as she sets the table with her sister, her eyes flicking toward me every so often. They're putting us on the spot, and I'm not sure I like it. Not one bit.

"Right, all those nights you stayed in her studio apartment on Piedmont Drive," Josh says, his word choice oddly specific.

However, Evelyn is oblivious that he's trying to trip me up as she blurts out, "Josh, Dani doesn't live in Piedmont anymore. She moved into that swanky condo on Bahama Way last year."

Josh kisses his teeth. "I know that. I just wanted to see if he knew that."

"Most of the time, I stay in a hotel when I'm in D.C. I like Dani staying with me to give her a little vacation while at home, you know?" I tell them.

The joke's on me since thinking of Dani in my hotel room and all the things I want to do to her makes blood rush down south, forcing me to shift uncomfortably in my chair. Not fun, especially with her mother sitting beside me.

Mrs. Brogan swoons, resting a palm on her chest. "That is so sweet. I don't remember you being this sweet, Collin."

"He wasn't." Josh grimaces.

"I wasn’t, and I'm sorry to all of you for that." I offer Josh the apology more so than everyone else. They were good to me, but I had way too many issues to deal with back then. "I regret not showing my appreciation, especially to your father, Josh, your husband, Mrs. Brogan."

"Oh, sweetie. Call me Donna. Frank always said the only thing you needed was a helping hand with a little understanding. I wish you could have stayed with us longer, but I guess you found your way right back home, huh?" She giggles and pushes herself off the sofa.

It's funny how life works out. This morning, when I woke up, I mentally cataloged everything I needed to do. I never for once considered my life was about to take a sharp turn.

Now I’m here at the Brogans’ and about to stay the night in Danielle’s bed.

"Dinner's ready," Evelyn calls out from the kitchen.

Danielle's warm smile of admiration graces her face as I sit beside her. That damned smile always makes me feel like slamming my fists into my chest like a caveman. I used to live for her smiles, and dammit, I still do, apparently.

Josh sits at the head of the table while Mrs. Brogan and Evelyn take seats across from us. The food is delicious, but it's possible because my talents with cars don't translate to the kitchen. I know how to cook just enough to keep myself fed, but this meal, I can taste the love that went into it.

"This is delicious, Mrs. Brogan. I mean Donna. Thank you again for having me." I almost choke on my own spit as Danielle rubs my leg under the table.

"It's not a problem. Now, the table needs to be cleared, and the kitchen needs to be cleaned. You all figure it out. I'm going to watch my show with the rest of this lovely bottle of wine. Thank you for this, Collin. It was very thoughtful. You kids have a good night. Merry Christmas, my darlings.” Donna pushes herself away from the table, grabs the bottle of wine, and leaves us.

We all mumble a Merry Christmas to her, but she just blows us a kiss.

"She's going to pass out in like twenty minutes." Josh scoffs. "You two have fun. I'm going to see if I can figure out how to get Hilary here."

"Not fair, I've been kneading and baking with Mom all day," Evelyn whines before jabbing a finger in our direction. "You and Dani need to clean."

"Scissors, rock, and paper for the chores," Dani says, drawing a chuckle out of me. She turns to me. "What's so funny?"

"That's the first time I ever heard it that way."

"Ignore him, Dani. Come on. I'll play ya for it." Josh puts his fist in the palm of his hand. "Scissor, rock, paper, shoot."

Dani throws out a flat hand to Josh's fist and cheers as she covers it.

"No, two out of three." Josh shakes his head.

"I'll do it," I tell them.

"No, babe. You're the guest," Dani objects. "We'll play for it."

I hook a finger under her chin, drawing her close so she only sees me. My gaze drops to her mouth, remembering the kiss earlier, pleasure singing through my veins. "What did I say, Jelly Bean? Your family's done so much for me. You have done so much for me. Go relax. Have a glass of wine with your brother and sister. I'll clean up."

My lips brush against hers, kissing her tenderly and slipping my hand around the back of her neck to hold her in place firmly. I should care that her siblings are still here with us, but I don't.

It's like the only people who exist right here and right now are me and her. Fuck everyone else.

My tongue slips inside of her mouth, drawing out a moan that reminds me we're not alone.

"Jeeze, you two should get a room," Josh mumbles.

I pull away from Danielle, holding onto her gaze. "Go spend time with your family, Danielle. I'll clean up."

She nods silently and steps back, giving me a shy grin before heading into the living room with her brother. I've never been a slouch. I work hard to fit in any space I end up in, and cleaning up a mildly dirty kitchen is the least I've had to deal with.

It's therapeutic, the simplicity of cleaning up a space that feeds a family—a family that's accepted me twice now. At some point, the chatter between Danielle and her siblings dies down. Once I finish tidying the kitchen and dining room, I step into the living room to see Josh snoring on the couch.

The TV's playing softly in front of him, and I go upstairs. It's like a blast from the past. Faintly striped beige and light brown wallpaper holds up pictures of the Brogan family and their achievements. If I remember the layout correctly, Mr. and Mrs. Brogan's room is at the top of the stairs. The crack in the door shows I'm correct as I spot an empty bottle of wine sitting on a nightstand.

The gritty texture of the walls is familiar, reminding me of how I used to run my fingers along them as I made my way to the room I shared with Josh. We never bonded or became friends. We simply shared a room to sleep.

Tonight, however, I walk by it and stop in front of the door to a bedroom I've never entered … until now.