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I fight a grin.
Her eyes narrow.
"Jagger."
"What?"
"I've never seen so many presents."
"It's not that many," I claim.
"We can barely walk in our living room."
I shrug. "So."
Her eyebrows lift. She shakes her head. "You know she's not going to remember any of this."
"I'll remember it."
Her expression changes.
I add, "I missed enough firsts."
Her hand slides over mine. "You're here for this one."
"Damn right."
Charlie smacks my chest and babbles something that sounds suspiciously demanding.
I look at her. "Should have gotten you some boxing gloves, peanut."
Lainey giggles, sits up, and pulls Charlie onto her lap. She bites her bottom lip.
I straighten. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You should never lie on Christmas."
She looks toward the closet. Then back at me.
I turn my head and look at her sideways. "What are you hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm actually an excellent liar."
"You hid my daughter from me for almost a year."
Her mouth drops open.
I grin.
She proclaims, "That wasn't lying!"
"Worked, didn't it?"