Chapter 21

Emily's POV

I hate Christmas time. Jack has a sickening obsession with the damn holiday. If that boy holds one more piece of mistletoe over my head, I may be forced to knee him in the groin.

"Hey, Emma," Buzzy said, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from behind.

"Hey," I replied, turning around to face him. "Big Christmas plans?"

"The guys are doing something the night before," he told me. "Then Christmas is with Gayle. She's pregnant, ya know."

"Yes, I've heard mention of that," I responded. "How's she doing?"

"Well, there's been talk of my getting a vascetomy," Buzz explained, wincing at the thought. "Completely a one sided discussion though. Gayle thinks it's comparable to her 'looking like a whale'."

"Hmm, might be a good idea for Jack," I mumbled.

"Wait a second," he halted me as I tried to walk away. "Are you...?"

I covered his mouth before nodding.

"Don't tell anyone," I warned. "I have to go find my fiancé."

"Looks like he found you first," Jack said, sneaking up behind me. Bastard nearly gave me a heart attack.

"Trying to kill the mother of your child, Mr. O'Callahan?" I chided, kissing him softly on the lips.

"Going before I throw up," Buzz said, moving to the exit of the arena. "See you later, love birds!"

"So, what are we doing for Christmas?" Jack inquired, enveloping me in his arms. I can't think of any place better to be.

"Bah humbug," I muttered, resting my head on his shoulder.

"Scrooge," he whispered. "Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."

"Sounds good to me," I replied. "Are you going with the boys on Christmas Eve to wherever it is they're going?"

"Yeah, we're just going to Doc's place. You're coming too, though," my fiancé informed me.

"Oh, am I?" I asked in mock surprise. "Look at my big, strong fiancé dictating my every move. What's a girl like me to do?"

"Cute, Morrison," he replied rolling his eyes. "Let's get out of here."


I stood in the doorway between the kitchen and living room with Velta as the boys exchanged the strangest gifts I've ever seen in my life. Never in a million years would my brother think of giving me alien antennae to wear on my head.

"Put em on!" Jack yelled out, causing my vision to focus on Silk holding purplish blue panties that looked all too familiar. My eyes locked with Jack's as he stood up and walked over to me.

"Mac took them," he whispered, placing his palm on the bulge that I called a stomach. "Want me to beat him up?"

"No, it's fine," I said with a sigh, removing his hand from my abdomen to lace our fingers together. "What is that?"

"What's what?" he asked, turning around to see Herb holding a whip. "Oh yeah, that's our gift to Coach."

"Fitting," I mused.

"Have a great Christmas, boys," Herb said, standing up to leave.

"Bye, Coach," the boys waved, sounding a little disappointed. The whole night, Herb seemed to be fitting in with the boys, with his team, his brainchild.

One step forward, ten steps back.

"Let's play some football!" Jack announced, kissing my cheek before grabbing his coat.

"Hat and gloves, OC," I said in a motherly tone that I didn't even know I possessed.

"Oh, come on, none of the other guys are wearing theirs," Jack whined.

"Whining does not become you, O'Callahan," I replied with a smile. "Go have fun."

"Come watch," Rob suggested. He still had a way of looking so sweet that you couldn't turn him down.

"I was gonna help Velta clean up after you slobs," I replied, looking for any excuse to get out of having to go out in the cold.

All I got was twenty-one pairs of puppy dog eyes.

"Go watch the boys, Emily," Velta said, giving me a little shove toward Jack. "Have fun."

The cold air hit like a tidal wave. The guys all ran out onto the huge, snow covered lawn, tackling and taunting one another. I loved the way Robbie and Jack were finally getting along. Herb did right by making those two room together.

I couldn't take my eyes off of him. There was just something captivating about Rob McClanahan. The way his eyes twinkle when he's having fun. The excitement on his face at scoring a touchdown and giving his team the upper hand. The way he laughs at Jack as he's practically slung over his shoulder.

These are not the thoughts I should be having though. Not about Robbie anyway. Maybe this is all just hormones. I can't have feelings for him still.

Can I?