Spencer watched from the corner of the room as Erin moved from person to person refilling their glasses as needed along the way. Her smile brightened even more when Dylan hugged her around the waist and whispered in her ear. All around them their friends and family, dressed in festive green and red, mingled and laughed. Spencer hadn’t realized how much he’d missed being able to celebrate the holidays with his brother. It felt good. Normal.
His eyes found Amber, and he smiled. Almost instantly, she looked up and met his eyes across the room. Tilting her head slightly, her eyes silently asked him if everything was okay. He knew she still worried about his drinking whenever they were at gatherings like this. His smile broadened and he sent her a reassuring wink.
“Hey there, brother,” Dylan said, appearing at his side. “How’s it going?”
“I’m good. This is nice.”
With a nod, Dylan looked around the room at all of their friends and family. “Do you ever wonder where we would be right now if we hadn’t come here?”
“Hell no,” he scoffed. “I don’t even want to think about that. I know I didn’t exactly make it easy for you when we first moved, but I’m glad you forced me to come here.” Smiling, he turned and elbowed Dylan in the ribs. “Thank you.”
Returning the playful jab, Dylan chuckled. “You’re welcome. Sometimes I know what I’m doing I guess.”
“Don’t sell yourself so short. You’re better at this parenting thing than you think.”
Dylan smirked. “You wouldn’t have said that a couple of years ago.”
“Maybe not out loud.” He grinned. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“For what?”
He pointed to Trevor, who was currently engaged in an empty wrapping paper tube sword fight with Rick. “Helping to prepare you for when that one becomes an angsty teenager.”
Dylan groaned. “What have I gotten myself into?”
Spencer shrugged. “You think that’s bad, wait until you and Erin have a kid? Can you imagine how stubborn that kid will be, especially a girl?”
Eyes wide, his brother looked at him. “Oh, god. I’m not going to survive this am I?”
“Sure you are.” He draped his arm across Dylan’s shoulders. “I’ll be here to help you out.”
Returning the gesture, Dylan smiled, “You’d better be.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be. Merry Christmas, brother.”
“Merry Christmas, Spence.”
#LakefordHappenings #silverliningsromance
angelaflowersbooksdotcom 