Page 60 of One Night with Number Nineteen

“Actually,” Luna interjects with a smirk. “I think it’s present time.”

“Presents!” Ollie shouts, running over to Nate and grabbing his hand. “It’s present time. What’d you ask Santa for?”

Something crosses the kid’s face that I hate.

Because I lived it too.

When I found out far too young that Santa didn’t exist for kids like me, right before the first time my mom⁠—

“Nothing,” Nate says quietly. “I don’t think I’ve been very good this year.”

Josie closes her eyes, and Vi wraps an arm around her shoulders, drawing her into her side.

“That’s okay.” Ollie tugs at his hand. “Santa’s always watching, so you can just show him you’re good now.”

A long pause.

Then Nate nods. “Thanks, Ollie.”

Ollie beams and starts dragging him toward the house.

But I don’t miss that he doesn’t agree with Ollie, that he clearly doesn’t think he’s good.

Josie sniffs and Vi turns her into a hug. “It’s going to be okay,” she says softly.

“Is it?” Josie whispers.

A flicker of movement catches my eye and I glance over to see Beck Ambrose standing a few feet away, his gaze locked onto Josie.

For a second, it looks like he’s going to come over.

Then Josie looks at him.

Something passes between them, something painful and awkward and⁠—

But Josie slightly shakes her head.

And…Beck stays where he is.

Lainey settles her hand on Josie’s shoulder. “Yes,” she says. “It will be okay.”

Josie turns, studies Lainey’s face.

Then exhales. “Okay.”

“Good,” Luna says in her typical no-nonsense manner. “That’s out of the way. Now it’s present time.”

“But all of Nate’s are at home,” she whispers.

“No”—Luna loops her arm through Josie’s and starts leading her toward the back door—“they’re not. We have something for everyone.” A kiss to her cheek. “Even stubborn, incorrigible defensemen,” she adds, winking at Shepherd.

“But—” Shep begins.

“Inside!” she bellows, snapping us all to attention.

We follow her into the house, take seats in the oversized front room of Luna’s family home, the same home that has hosted get-togethers just like this for generations.

And she wasn’t lying.