Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(74)

"Mom, can we watch the movies yet?" I hear Samantha say as we finish up dinner.

When Jesse met the kids, she was adorable introducing herself with a handshake to each and every one of them, including Erin's eight month old little boy. I felt it the moment her eyes landed on my oldest niece Samantha. I knew she was reliving the moment Sarah slapped her picture down on the table at Nell's claiming Samantha to be mine. I also knew she didn't let it fester long, because she looked up at me grinning.

"She's gorgeous."

"Yeah, she is."

"And tall! She's like eight and taller than I am already. Your family is full of giants."

"Nah, we’re just average. You’re actually just a snack-sized person," I tried to tease, but caught an elbow to the stomach instead.



WHEN DINNER was over we all piled into the den for the annual pajama exchange. I could see the panic in Jesse's eyes as she was handed a gift.

"Brett, you didn't tell me there was a pajama exchange. I didn't bring anything for anyone else!" she whisper-yells into my ear.

"Simmer down, gorgeous. I bought for you and Kara. No reason to get worked up." She still huffs in my direction. "But you have to promise to take them off tonight." Her eyes go wide and I catch yet another elbow to the ribs. By the end of the night I'm going to have a bruise or twelve.

Kara is the first to rip open her package. She even beats the kids to tearing off the wrapping paper.

"Shut. Up," she screams entirely too loud. "Vegetables!" she cackles, holding up a pair of footed pajamas covered in every vegetable known to man.

"I heard you were a vegetarian." I lift my eyebrows at our little inside joke.

"Exclusively," she winks.

My family continues around the room, one by one opening gifts. Finally, it makes a full circle landing on Jesse. Shit! I was hoping she could open hers amidst the chaos, blending in. But here she is the focus of the room. I have to warn her. She'll never speak to me again if I give her sexy panties in front of my entire family.

"Don't remove the bottom layer of tissue paper," I whisper into her ear.

"What?" she tries to whisper back, but it catches Erin's attention.

"Yeah, what Brett?" Erin shouts across the room.

Jesse acts fast pulling out only the top half of the box slamming the top back on and handing it to me. I sheepishly nod at her unspoken chastise.

"Oh my God."

"You like them?" I ask as she holds up the pajama equivalent of our relationship.

Grey fleece pants covered by cartoon versions of bowling pins, beer bottles, Chinese takeout containers, coffee, pickles, and of course, sunshine. Yeah, okay, I may have stumbled upon a place online where they make custom pajamas. I couldn't resist. It was too fitting, and the smile that lights her face is worth a million fold more than the money I spent on express shipping.

"I love them. Seriously Brett, these are perfect." In the most un-Jesse like fashion, she plants a bold kiss on my lips in front of my whole family. "I promise, I'll wear whatever you're hiding in that box," she whispers causing me to chuckle against her mouth. I look up to see smiles glued to the face of everyone in the room. Jesse never notices everyone’s face because her eyes never leave mine.



Jesse

HE MADE me pajamas. Freaking amazing, sweet, and thoughtful pajamas. He didn't just go down to the mall and buy me and Kara any old set of P.J.'s. He took the time, got creative, and had them made. Ever since I poured my heart out to Brett, I've been trying really hard not to read into things. That just went flying out the window though. He made me freaking pajamas that tell the story of our relationship. Seriously, this is huge. No one gets it. I bet they all think I'm a pickle-obsessed alcoholic who is currently laying a wet one their brother/son/uncle, but I don't care one bit. I'm going to enjoy the heck out of this moment.



AFTER WATCHING A Christmas Story, Love Actually, and It’s A Wonderful Life, everyone decides to turn in for the evening. I'm not sure where Kara and I are sleeping. Brett took our bags somewhere when we arrived, and I haven't seen them since.

"Where are Kara and I sleeping, handsome?" I smile hugging his muscular stomach. I haven't had this much fun on Christmas in years. His family is hilarious, and even though they were a bit overbearing at first, I knew they were just curious. I'm just happy they welcomed me the way they did. I was expecting someone to give me the cold shoulder, but they all seem to be thrilled.

"You're sleeping with me, and Kara is in the bedroom in the basement."

"I'm not sleeping with you in your parent’s house! They'll think I'm a slut."

"I don't mean we’ll be having sex, Jesse. I just mean sleeping in the same bed with me."

"Oh, I know exactly what you meant and the answer is still, no way Jose."

"What? Why the hell not?"

"God, I should have bought you Q-tips for Christmas. Your family will think I'm a slut if I sleep with you!" He tries to fight it, but fails when he bursts into laughter. It really annoys me, but he doesn't seem to care that I'm shooting daggers at him.

"Jesse, I'm thirty-two. My family is not going to think anything if you sleep in my room. Besides, they love you. If you sleep in the basement, I can't promise they won't hunt you down in the middle of the night with pitch forks and torches.”