A Touch of Christmas Magic (Peppermint Hollow #2)

4. Colby

CHAPTER 4

COLBY

Kai sat bolt-right up in bed when Elsie wailed for her first overnight bottle.

“Jesus,” he gasped. “How does that not give you a heart attack every night?”

I chuckled sleepily and dragged myself out of bed. Reaching for my squalling baby, I gave her kisses and set to work getting her diaper changed.

“Oh my god,” Kai groaned. “Feed her. She’s breaking my heart.” He rushed to the dresser and started mixing the bottle.

“You don’t have to get up. I’ll make this as quick as I can,” I said as I put the dry diaper on my daughter. “It’s best to change her first so I don’t have to wake her up after her bottle. She usually goes back down quickly.”

“I can help.” Kai stood next to me and shook up the bottle. “Let me feed her.”

My heart couldn’t handle this man and how much he loved my baby.

I took the bottle from him, let him pick up the screaming baby, and helped him get situated in the chair to feed her.

Kai had absolutely no experience with babies, but his instincts with my daughter were on point, and I trusted him without question. I made a quick trip to the bathroom while he hummed a song as Elsie drained her bottle.

Taking the empty bottle from him, I whispered, “I can burp her.”

He nodded and let me take her from him. By the time he’d used the restroom and gotten a drink, Elsie had burped, and I’d put her back down.

“We need to get into a routine where we’re not both up for that,” Kai said as we settled back into bed. “I can do the next one if you want to sleep.”

“I won’t sleep through her crying.” I fixed my pillow and got comfortable. “Don’t worry about getting up for the next one. I’ve got it.”

Stubborn ass that he was, Kai rolled from bed when Elsie woke again. He mixed her bottle while I changed her diaper. Luckily, she went back down without a fuss once her belly was full, and we got a couple more hours of sleep.

She hadn’t made a peep yet when I stirred in the morning, but something had woken me.

Heat.

And a scent I’d recognize anywhere.

Fuck.

I’d wrapped Kai in my arms, his back against my chest, my leg thrown over his.

Oh god.

So warm and solid.

He smelled so damn good.

My cock ached to press against him.

My lips begged to taste his skin.

And my heart nearly pounded out of my chest.

Holding Kai in my arms felt so right.

We’d be so good together—I wasn’t sure how that knowledge had sprouted in my head, but I knew it without a shadow of a doubt.

But if he’d ever wanted anything with me, he would have told me. And it was ridiculous to think that just because my best friend was bi, he’d automatically be into me. I wasn’t about to make a fool of myself by exposing my unrequited love.

Luckily, Elsie picked the right moment to save her daddy from an awkward moment and squawked her discomfort.

Rolling quickly out of bed, I yanked on my sweats in hopes of covering my morning wood, grabbed Elsie up, and started changing her diaper. Maybe if I stayed bent over for a while, things downstairs would ease up and save me from mortification.

Kai snuggled deeper into the blankets with a moan, but a few moments later, he got up and made his way to the bathroom. When he came back, he mixed up a bottle and ran a hand over his sleepy eyes. With any luck, he hadn’t even realized I had him tucked into my arms when I woke up.

“You good if I go run?”

I nodded. “Yeah. You wanna get breakfast or grab something farther down the road?”

“Let’s just get coffee here and we can eat later. I won’t be hungry for a while.”

So, I fed Elsie, showered while she played, and waited for Kai to finish his run and shower before we packed up and headed out.

The next three days were a blur of long drives, hotels, laughing with Kai, taking care of Elsie, and falling head-over-heels in love with my best friend.

By the time we were thirty minutes away from Peppermint Hollow, I’d resigned myself to the fact I’d likely go insane with the feelings I had for Kai. But everything would be worth it to be raising my baby at home with family.

Summer hadn’t completely given up in the Midwest yet and the early fall day was overly warm for the time of year. At least we hadn’t come from California straight into a Peppermint Hollow winter. After years in Florida and California, I’d need some time to adjust to the cold.

Hell, I needed a winter coat and Elsie needed warmer sleepers and bigger blankets. I’d kept her mostly in onesies and little shorts on the West Coast, but I saw long sleeves and long pants in her future as we headed into fall and winter.

“Whatcha thinkin’?” Kai asked as he glanced in the mirror to check on Elsie again.

“Just that we need warmer clothes,” I mused.

Kai laughed, pointing at the temperature reading on the truck. “It’s hot as balls for this time of year.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, I know. But we both know it could be spitting snow within two days.”

“Okay, you haven’t forgotten how weather works in the Midwest, that’s good.”

I pulled the truck into Kai’s driveway and looked at the house that was as much my home as the one next door had been. The homes on this street were old, beautiful, and full of charm. Kai’s home sat next to the wide driveway; the garage located diagonally from the back door.

The house looked almost identical to the one I lived in so many years ago. Two-story, a mix of light and dark blonde brick, and dark wood. The large picture window made for Christmas-card-perfect photos during the holidays when a large tree shone cheerfully through the glass. The tall, thin window closer to the driveway caught attention due to its decorative arched design at the top.

With no front porch, only an ornate door with a small overhang, the house had a beautiful, large front yard. A well-kept sidewalk led from the door to the street; a brick-lined path veering from the bottom step to the driveway.

Three large trees flanked the home and provided shade and beauty all year round. The two maples put on a show in the fall and were already gearing up for their colorful splendor. The balsam fir had always been the most picture-perfect Christmas tree in my mind. When harsh, cold, icy weather descended on Peppermint Hollow, the evergreen stood tall and proud, its branches basking in the wind and snow.

Out of sight due to where I’d stopped the truck, the back of the house boasted a gorgeous patio area. Wooden table and chairs, loungers, and a firepit surrounded by Adirondacks invited friends and family to sit, relax, and stay for a while under the twinkly lights hung from the rafters under the tin roof.

The backyard was small compared to the front, but the patio reduced mowing time and made the area all the more welcoming. Eric and Lacy, Kai’s parents, had kept the place immaculate and I expected Kai would do the same.

Cataloging the house had been a decent distraction, but all too soon, my head brought me back to the present. Trying to breathe through the tightness in my chest, I reminded myself that coming home was my choice and it was for the best. Everyone would be arriving soon—we’d given them our approximate time of arrival with a slight cushion for travel delays—but I needed a moment to just wrap my head around the fact I was back in Peppermint Hollow.

My demons might have still been rattling around in my head, but my mother was gone. My dad and I were good. The Jacksons were as much family to me as my father and Allison—if not more thanks to our history. And Kai was by my side.

Everything was right in my world.

Elsie, home, job, friends, family. I truly wanted for nothing.

Except for how badly you want down your best friend’s pants. How’s that gonna work when he goes out or brings a date home?

Fuck.

“Hey, talk to me. What’s up?”

I shook my head. “Just not sure how I fucked so much up and still ended up with all of this.”

Kai gripped my forearm. “You haven’t fucked anything up—no more so than any of us fuck things up.”

I scoffed. “I don’t deserve all of this.” I gestured vaguely toward the house, but I meant Kai standing by me, my family, a great job, a baby I’d die for in a heartbeat.

He sighed. “I know you’ve got a lot of shit to deal with, but I need you to believe me when I say there’s no one better to be Elsie’s dad, and you deserve every good thing that comes your way.”

My eyes stung and I shook my head, glancing out the window at the very first hints of color dancing between leaves as the warm breeze blew through the trees. The house next door—the one I grew up in—had a decorative fall flag, amazing mums, and a fall wreath on the door. I didn’t miss the colorful little LGBTQIA+ sticker on the corner of the front door window.

Kai had been my biggest supporter and cheerleader from the time we were five. Of course, he’d say I deserved everything good. But when you grew up with a parent who always picked a high over you, it was hard to think you were worthy of anything, let alone the good stuff.

“Who bought the house?” I nodded toward my old home.

“Haven’t met him yet. His name is Blake. Your dad said he’s nice. Physical therapist, I think. He’s attractive.” Kai waggled his brows before he threw open the truck door, letting in a giant blast of warm air.

Oh god. Did Kai have a thing for the new neighbor guy? The man living in my old house hooking up with Kai while I lived in my best friend’s house…fuck, if that didn’t scream of messy.

But Kai went on. “It’s been weird being back in town after living on the outskirts for so many years.”

“You like it?”

He shrugged. “Yeah. Supposedly good neighbor next door.” He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “The two guys who live over there are life-long townies, but they haven’t lived there long.”

I glanced toward the old house we’d always called the Christmas House when we were kids. “Wait, so the physical therapist has a rainbow sticker. You’re bi. And there are two guys living in that house? Is this like the queer corner of town now?”

Kai laughed. “First, I have a sticker too. The town council handed them out to anyone who wanted one; more a sign of support than anything. Second, I hadn’t even thought about it. Sure you want to move in here? Don’t want to mess with your het vibe,” he teased.

I tensed. “You know that shit doesn’t bother me.” If I wasn’t so chicken shit, you’d know just how much it doesn’t bother me.

Kai slapped my leg. “Just givin’ you shit, man. The two guys over there are definitely together.”

“Do we know them?”

“I recognize the one who’s around our age. Don’t think we ran in the same circles in high school. The younger one I don’t recognize.” He waggled his brows. “Pretty sure there’s something going on between these two.” He gestured between the Christmas House across the side street and my old house.

“Like what?”

“Well, I’m pretty sure the guy who visits the Christmas House a lot—friend or brother if I’ve clocked him right—is sneaking around with Blake the physical therapist.”

I shook my head. “You always were a shit-stirrer. What makes you think that?”

Kai threw up his hands. “Look, I’m just saying, I haven’t met any of them yet. Haven’t been here more than a day or two without moving or tons of work to do. But he’s comfortable with the guys over there.” He tilted his head to the Christmas House where I saw a bright sign on the garage touting Ivy’s Auto . “He sneaks in the back door or side door over here.” He climbed out of the truck. “Don’t worry, I’ll get to the bottom of it. Even Francis has noticed.”

“Francis?” My eyes immediately went to the house behind Blake’s. “Oh my god, I haven’t thought of Francis in years. He was so old…”

“Ha! We thought he was old. He was probably only like fifty-something. I think he’s closing in on eighty now.”

“He still spy on everyone in town and keep the grapevine in business?”

“From what my parents said, definitely. But he’s harmless and I always remember he was kind.” Kai glanced at his house. “I think we need to have an open house type thing. Invite the neighbors so we can meet everyone.”

“You just want to try to figure out the mystery.” I opened my door and stood, groaning as I stretched my legs.

“Yeah, so?” Kai got out and mimicked my stretch.

We got Elsie, the luggage, and headed inside.

The inside of the house was exactly as I remembered it, just missing some of the furniture Eric and Lacy had taken or Kai had gotten rid of. Inside the front door, a little foyer area led to four direction options.

Off to the right was the kitchen. The cabinets had been replaced when we were in high school, the counters and backsplash a neutral tile, the appliances black and stainless steel, and the floor a marbled tile.

From a brief glance, it appeared Kai hadn’t kept the table and chairs. Which meant the one I brought with me would be absolutely perfect.

The kitchen led to the dining room which looked out the large picture window into the front yard.

To the left of the foyer was the living room with the tall decorative window trimmed in stained glass. Kai’s recliner sat in a corner and a large, flatscreen TV hung on the wall. The hardwood floors gleamed, and I recalled the summer Lacy had hired a crew to remove the carpet in that room; Kai and I had spent hours in our socks running and sliding across the new, shiny wood once the floors had been sanded and waxed.

Back in the foyer, I looked slightly to the right of the stairs and saw the hall bathroom, a door that opened to the basement stairs, the laundry room, and the ninety-degree turn that led to the main bedroom and its bathroom. Off the laundry room was a small back porch area that looked out onto the patio.

Glancing up the stairway, I recalled the two bedrooms on the second floor and their shared bathroom, the large storage closet, and the den-type area where Kai and I played hours and hours of video games.

“Same as you remember?” Kai asked.

“Like I never left.”

I gave Elsie a bottle while Kai carried things in from the truck. Then we switched and he changed her diaper while I walked in and out of the late summer heat with my arms full.

“Colby!” Kai yelled as I put a box down in the kitchen.

My heart sank and I bolted to the living room where Kai had Elsie on a blanket for a diaper change. “What?” I asked, skidding to a halt.

He beamed up at me as Elsie kicked her legs and cooed. “She smiled. At me. It wasn’t gas, I swear. She smiled at me.”

Elsie chose that moment to make a gurgling noise and churn her little legs, a gummy grin lighting up her face.

“See,” Kai exclaimed. “That’s a smile and it was for me. She can’t even see you way over there.”

I chuckled. “I told you she likes you, she just needed some time to get used to having you around. Now you’re her best buddy.”

We sat, shoulders pressed together, while Elsie made precious little baby sounds. “Better get her diaper on, I don’t want to risk her peeing all over the place.” Kai made quick work of the diaper and got the onesie back into place just as a knock sounded at the door.

Assuming it was our parents, I left Kai with the baby and went to let them in. Instead of finding the Jacksons or my dad and Allison, I was greeted by a smiling man in glasses and a dark-haired, tattooed man.

“Hi, we’re Ivy and Emory. We live across the street.” The guy in the glasses gestured to the Christmas House which stood across the side street to the left. “We’ve been sucky neighbors and figured it was beyond time to come introduce ourselves. Thought we could offer help carrying the heavy stuff in too.”

I recognized the guy with the ink. We’d definitely gone to school together, but Kai was right in saying we didn’t run in the same circles. I remembered him having a friend—kinda an odd couple type thing—but other than that, I knew very little about the man.

Stepping back, I let them in. “Come on in. I’m Colby Burke.” I held out my hand to shake.

“Ivy Gregory,” the dark-haired guy said. “I own Ivy’s Auto. Happy to service your vehicles at a good price if you’re in the market.”

“For sure. Just moved here from California, I’ll need a mechanic.”

“Emory Bell.” The guy with glasses and great smile shook my hand. “I help Ivy at the shop.”

At that moment, Kai walked to the door with Elsie cradled in his arms and I worried my heart would ooze to the ground in a gooey mess.

“Hi, I’m Kai Jackson,” he said, holding out his free hand to shake. “I’ve been a shit new neighbor by not coming over to say hi.”

“Oh my god,” Emory gushed just as Ivy said, “No worries.”

“You have the most gorgeous baby,” Emory continued.

Kai beamed, not even blinking at the assumption Elsie was his. Ours . “Thanks. This is Elsie Mae. You met her dad. They’re moving in.”

Voices coming up the front porch stairs interrupted, and greetings and hugs were shared all around.

Over the next little bit of time, Allison and Lacy took turns gushing over and holding Elsie while Eric, Dad, Kai, Ivy, Emory, and I got the recliner, the table and chairs, and the miscellaneous items moved from the U-Haul into the house.

We also worked out a few six-degrees of separation shit.

Emory and Ivy had been on a television show last year which was partially why they looked familiar. I hadn’t watched it, but I remembered the commercials.

“The Season’s Streaming channel is supposed to replay Once Upon a Christmas House this season, so we’ll let you watch it to see how we did,” Emory said with a smile. “I won’t be responsible for spoilers.”

Emory had worked at the Peppermint Café upon returning from college which was why our families recognized him. He and Ivy had lived in Peppermint Hollow all their lives. Dad and Eric took their cars to Ivy’s Auto. It was one of those situations where most of the parties involved knew of each other but hadn’t been more than just a vague acquaintance.

“You guys probably went to school together,” Emory said.

Ivy snorted. “I wasn’t exactly in the popular crowd.”

“Trevor was.” Emory glanced at me. “My brother. He and Ivy are like best friends.”

I nodded. “I remember them.”

Kai made a noise of recognition. “Yeah, I do too. Trevor was super smart—he was in a few of my classes. You guys were definitely a…different…mixture.”

Ivy smirked. “You could say that.”

“I missed the show last year, but I want to watch it when they replay it,” Kai said. “Didn’t I hear something about your brother was going to be on the show first?”

Emory winced. “It’s like one of the worst-kept secrets in town. Trevor got in a wreck right before filming was set to start. They let me replace him.”

Kai’s eyes went wide. “And you two ended up together?”

Ivy put his arm around Emory and the younger man grinned. “Yep. And Trevor ended up with—” He yelped when Ivy poked him.

“No, Little Bell. That’s not your story,” Ivy warned.

Emory huffed. “Fine.”

“Your brother is around here a lot, right?” Kai asked with a gleam in his eyes.

“Yeah, he visits us a lot,” Emory said. “He doesn’t live far, and he knows others around here, one in partic?—”

Ivy clapped a hand over Emory’s mouth.

Kai smiled wickedly and I knew if Emory and Kai got together, the secrets would spill in a heartbeat.

So, we all kinda knew each other, but we were pretty much strangers. I had a feeling if Kai and Emory had any say in things, we’d be spending a lot of time with our neighbors.

And Kai was likely already planning a way to get to the bottom of the Trevor and Blake story, with help from Emory.

Dad and Eric volunteered to return the U-Haul.

Allison and Lacy were enthralled with their new granddaughter.

Emory and Ivy said goodbye with the promise we’d get together for dinner soon.

“Come with me,” Kai said.

I eyed Elsie, but she was sound asleep in Allison’s arms, so I followed Kai to the kitchen. He handed me a beer and headed outside to the patio.

“It’s so weird to think of living here as adults,” I muttered. “But it also feels like we never left.”

“Yeah, like I’m in charge of the yard and the appliances and shit now. Mom and Dad won’t be taking care of things.” Kai cracked open his beer. “But it feels like yesterday that we had a million campouts and gashed our knobby knees open on the concrete.”

We settled in the patio chairs and sipped our beers. The warm breeze held the promise of fall, and I breathed in deeply, trying to relax. “Do you think I need to get a babysitter for Elsie?”

Kai cocked his head. “Hadn’t given it much thought. With both of us here, we can probably split it, but it may not be fair to her if we’re not completely present.” He pointed his beer bottle my way. “Pretty sure Mom and Allison would gladly volunteer to watch her. If they both took one day a week, that would leave us with just two main days, since Friday is light anyway.”

“Don’t want to assume anything,” I hedged.

He chuckled. “You saw them in there, right? Mom has a flexible schedule at the community center, and Allison makes her own hours at the salon. I’m one hundred percent positive they’ll gladly each give a day to watching their granddaughter. And how lucky is Elsie to have two sets of grandparents in her life?”

A brief flicker of guilt sparked in me.

Sasha’s parents.

I’d never met them. Did they know about Elsie? Would they be the types to want to be part of her life? Sasha claimed they weren’t great when she was growing up and she wanted nothing to do with them during our time together.

I smiled, warmth filling my chest at how easily Kai and his parents had accepted me into their lives way back then, and how they did it again without even a moment’s hesitation now when I brought my daughter home. “Yeah, we can see if they’d want to. We’ll see if we can handle the other days. If not, we can see about a sitter.”

The buzz of the beer and the soft breeze lulled my drive-tired ass into a light doze, but for the first time in a long time, things felt right. Not perfect, but right.

Like coming home was the beginning of something big.