Chapter Text
“Alright, place your bets.” As Chloé stepped up to the front porch, staring at the den of wolves that hid behind wreath adorned doors, she lifted her left hand into the air and waved her fingers. Reflections of rainbow Christmas lights glistened off diamond. “Who notices first, and how long does it take?”
His answer was immediate. “Georgia’s going to notice the second she answers the door.”
“Whaaaaaat?” Her hand dropped to her side and she turned to frown at him, lips downturned in a pout that was absolutely priceless. “No way; it’ll take longer than that!”
Nathaniel chuckled. “Okay, then what’s your bet?”
She hummed as she thought. “It’ll be Jasmine, and we will have made it to the living room.” After a second’s pause, she added, “BUT, Ryan will have already noticed and just not said anything.”
He smiled and held up his knuckles to the door. “The usual?”
With that smirk on her lips that she always wore when presented with a challenge, Chloé nodded. “The usual.”
He hadn’t even finished knocking when the door opened. “I was wondering how long you were going to make us wait!” Georgia waved her arm impatiently, her greeting unchanged from the previous three years. “Come in come in!”
Warm air dense with the comforting scents of pine and vanilla blanketed them as they stepped inside. “Hi, Aunt Georgia—,”
“Yes yes, hi, hello, I’m making cookies, close the door behind you, wipe off your shoes.” She immediately bustled off, leaving them abandoned in the entryway. As Nathaniel closed the door, Chloé turned to him with a triumphant ha ready on her lips.
Before she could say it, however, Georgia’s voice carried from down the hall as she called out to the rest of the house.
“Hey, guess who got engaged without telling us!”
Now that look was priceless.