Myla waved me off. “All you need to do is drink some eggnog and get to know everyone. They’re all dying to meet you. I have a few elves slaving away with me already.”
She scurried away as Gret took in a deep breath. “Ready to meet everyone?”
“As ready as I will ever be.”
There was already a large group of people gathered in the living room chatting.
Gret clear his throat, “Merry Christmas, fam!”
Everyone cheered and welcomed us with their glasses in the air.
“Etta, this is everyone. We have Sean and Jess, they’re both part of New York City’s finest in blue and their son Collison is in SWAT training right now. Over there are Jordan, who you met the other night and her husband Will Crosby.”
Jordan waved sweetly at us while Crosby nodded.
“Continuing right along, that’s my Uncle Griff and his amazing wife, Liv. Followed by Uncle Brayden, his wife Karla and their kids should be showing up any minute. Chase Harding and his wife, Nikki are on their way. My grandparents should be here any minute. Simon and his husband Shaw are helping mom in the kitchen right now.”
Karla jumped up with Liv and rushed over to us, dragging me away from Gret. “Go smoke a cigar with your uncles and father. Gavin’s already outside waiting anyway. We need to get to know this lovely lady.”
“Are you good?” Gret asked as I trotted arm in arm with his aunts.
“Go have fun,” I responded over my shoulder.
Gret retreated with the rest of the guys outside as I plopped down on the couch.
“So tell us about yourself, sweetie.” Liv smiled at me as her hand landed on my knee.
I swallowed hard. “Well, I am a jazz singer. I sang at The Oak Room last night.”
“That’s amazing!” Karla exclaimed. “One thing this family needs is an artist. We have too many jocks around here.”
“How did you meet?” Jordan added before handing me spiced eggnog.
“After one of my performances, Gret bought me a drink and I think the rest is history.”
The third degree continued and I ended up being tricked into telling most of my life’s story to Jordan, Karla, Liv and Jess.
“Oh honey, you are so much better off with someone like Gret. Your ex sounds like a total prick.” Jess hiccuped before swallowing down the rest of her eggnog. “Jordan, you’re off eggnog duty. If any of us are going to make it through dinner tonight, we need to be able to see straight.”
Jordan shrugged. “I make it the same way every year.”
“And that’s the problem,” Liv giggled.
Gret ambled in with the rest of the guys as Gavin took a seat next to me.
“Have these ladies scared you off yet?” Gret’s father laughed as he asked me the question.
I smiled sweetly at all of them. “Far from it.”
“That’s good to hear,” Gret’s low voice whisked to me as he took my hand. “Come with me.”
I followed Gret into one of the back bedrooms of the apartment.
“Looked like you needed a little break.” Gret shut the door behind us.
I shook my head. “They really are great.”
“I’m glad you’re getting along with everyone.” Pulling out a small box from his pocket, Gret sank onto the bed. “I know that this is all make believe and shit but it’s Christmas and I wanted to get you a little something.”