Jingle all the Mitchell Way: a holiday novella(30)

I turned to my wife with a wide smile on my face. “I don’t plan on losing this time. You two ladies are going to be the ones running around topless outside this motorhome.” I tossed two red velvet Santa hats in their direction. “Don’t forget these when you go.”

Reese fetched them off the table and chucked them back at me. Jake sat down beside me, shuffling the deck some more. “Let’s get started then. Boys against girls. Winner chooses the punishment.”

“Let’s go!” I said with anticipation.

Here’s the thing about my antics. Often I forget to consider consequences, like the fact that my wife was willing to make a mockery out of me for her own entertainment. I happened to like being the man who kept a smile on her face, except when I lost at something. If I had to cheat for the odds to be in my favor, I’d do it without regret. Nothing feels better than winning.

Much to my utter shock, Jake was on fire. He had pocket aces the first hand, then a straight, followed by two pair. We kept a tally of which team had the most winning hands to keep things fair.

Just when I thought we were unstoppable the girls started getting lucky. Five more hands later we’d fallen behind, and had to hear all the terrible details of what would become of us in our latest failure.

The final hand came down to Amber and Jake. He had a flush. Then I watched Amber revealing her cards. A full house with two aces and three kings. We were done, and as my stomach knotted up, I heard the girls celebrating their victory.

They didn’t make us do anything at first. For a while Jake and I considered it was going to be something sexual, but the night came and went without any action for either of us. That next morning, while still parked at a rest stop in the middle of Colorado, the ground covered in a bed of fresh snow, the girls finally announced our punishment. Amber tossed two pieces of fabric toward us. “Put these on.”

Jake and I lifted the plaid cloth to reveal they were kilts.

“Where in the hell did these come from?”

“I found them on the set last week. Don’t worry about it. Drop your drawers and put them on.”

Jake wasn’t having it. “Hell no. I’m not wearing a skirt.”

“Just do it,” Reese ordered. “A bet is a bet.”

“How long do we have to wear them?” I asked.

“All day, babe. We have something special planned for later,” Amber said while cracking up with laughter.

We didn’t have a choice but to obey the girls. While Jake went into the front bedroom to change, I dropped my pants and put the kilt on in front of the two women. Reese turned her head, while Amber watched my every move.

She tossed me one of the Santa hats once I was finished. “Don’t forget this.”



Fast forward three hours. We’d gotten back on the road and were making good timing. The mountainous views were picturesque, and for a change our twin daughters were staying occupied with an animated movie about Christmas.

Jake sat on the passenger seat acting as my wingman, while the women remained close to the little ones.

“Pull over here, Jax,” Amber ordered.

I figured she felt carsick or wanted to take a picture of the landscape since it was covered in snow. Shirtless, and still wearing the kilts, Jake and I remained seated, prepared to stay there until we left again.

“What are you waiting for?” Reese asked us.

“What are you talking about?” Jake replied to her.

“Get your asses up. It’s time to pay the piper.”

“Yeah right. We’re on a main highway. I’m not getting out of the chair.”

Amber walked right up to me carrying a decoration she’d purchased for the ranch. It was a road sign on a stick with directions on it, one being the North Pole. She shoved it closer, forcing me to take it. “Take your brother outside and let us get a picture. The faster you do it, the sooner you can take off the kilts.”

Jake was fast on his feet, eager to finally be done with the charade. I leaned over and kissed my wife before exiting the motorhome. “Paybacks are a bitch, dear. Remember that.”

She cackled. “All I care about is sending this picture to everyone in the family. Now, go on out there and pose for me. I’m planning on using this for our annual Christmas card.”

With cars passing by, we both stepped outside, our boots the only things keeping our feet from frostbite. The cold air whipped over my exposed body, my nipples hardening as tiny shards of snow smacked against it. I pulled the Santa hat down over my ears, ignoring the slew of cars honking as they blew by.

Then I looked at my brother, suffering the same fate. He didn’t have to explain how awful it was, and I certainly didn’t have to read his mind.

“Okay, guys. Stick the pole in the ground and pretend you’re peeing.”

I turned around and looked at my wife, who had her camera cocked in the air. “I hate you for this.”

She giggled more. “If you’re good boy I’ll warm you up later, Jax.”

It was all the incentive I needed to bend my white ass over and moon them, before posing with my brother. Amber and Reese may have gotten the last laugh, but I’d hold her to the promise of turning up the heat later, even if my pride had to go to make it happen.





Chapter 15


Jax