An Aces Christmas (The Aces' Sons)

“No curfew,” my dad said. “But you better check in every couple of hours and if I text you and don’t hear back within twenty minutes, I’m comin’ to find you and it won’t be pretty.”

“Got it,” I said.

“Ready, date?” Draco asked, bending his arm so I could take his elbow.

“Yep.”

“Wait, let me take a picture!” Rose said hurriedly. “Where’d I put my phone?”

“Here, baby,” my dad said, handing her his phone.

We posed for pictures in a line, with me and Charlie in the middle. and by the time we were finished, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling.

“Give Brody a kiss for me,” I said as we moved toward the front door.

“I will,” Rose replied.

“He’s takin’ his nap so late, he’ll probably still be awake when you get home,” my dad said dryly. “Be careful.”

“Always.” I smiled at him over my shoulder as I followed the group out of the house.

“Your chariot awaits,” Draco said dramatically as we reached the sidewalk outside.

“What the fuck?” Charlie asked, stopping abruptly as she caught sight of the souped-up muscle car.

“Finally finished it,” Curtis said excitedly. “It only took four years.”

“When?” I asked, pushing past Charlie so I could get a good look at it. The last time I’d seen the Chevelle in the boys’ garage, it had been in pieces. I had no idea how they’d kept it a secret that they’d finally finished it.

“Last week,” Draco said, running his hand over the hood. “Curt wanted to surprise you guys.”

“Nice surprise,” Charlie said, looking into the back seat. “You even got the upholstery done?”

“Yep. Found a guy willing to do it on trade,” Curtis answered, opening the passenger door.

“Shotgun,” I called first.

“Dammit,” Charlie griped. She huffed and puffed with annoyance as she climbed into the back seat.

“You know my legs are longer than yours,” Draco said, staring at me.

“You’ll survive,” I replied dryly, waving him toward the car.

Curtis continued holding the door open until I’d climbed in the front seat, then shut the door gently.

“I bet you’re wishing you guys worked on your bike first, huh?” Charlie joked to Draco.

“Nah,” he replied. “I don’t mind ridin’ around in this. Curt’s not ridin’ bitch on the back of my bike.”

We laughed as Curtis rounded the hood and climbed inside.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, glancing at me as he started the car.

“I said we’re not ridin’ double on my bike,” Draco said, leaning up to pat Curtis’s shoulder. “No matter how much I love ya.”

“I mean, if you got a sidecar, I’d be all over that shit,” Curtis joked.

“The idea has some merit,” Draco said, leaning back in his seat.

“If you put a sidecar on your bike, I’ll pay you a hundred dollars,” Charlie said seriously. “No joke. I’ll pay you.”

“Can you even find those anymore?” Curtis asked.

The conversation flowed around me and I sighed happily. We always had a good time when we were together, but it felt different somehow all dressed up in Curtis’ new car. Special or something.

“Where are we going for dinner?” Charlie asked as we made our way through town.

“McDonalds,” Draco answered.

At the same time Curtis said, “Taco Bell.”

“You better be freaking joking,” Charlie replied, leaning forward. “I’ll kill you.”

“We are,” Curtis said, glancing at her in the mirror. “We’re goin’ to that Italian place Kara loves.”

“We are?” I asked, my eyes widening. “Seriously?”

Curtis smiled at me. “Charlie’s a raccoon, she’ll eat anything—”

“Hey,” Charlie complained.

“But we knew you love this place.”

“Awesome,” I said, smiling happily. I turned to Charlie. “You kind of are like a trash panda.”

“Just because I’m not picky doesn’t mean I’m a damn raccoon,” she argued. “I work out a lot and I need the calories.”

“Me and Curt work out just as much,” Draco pointed out. “And we don’t eat like it’s our last meal.”

“That’s just a boldfaced lie,” Charlie gasped. She swatted at him, making him grumble. “You two eat twice as much as I do.”

“We’re twice your size,” Draco said, blocking her swings. “Knock it off, you’re gonna mess up your hair.”

Charlie laughed as she continued smacking at him. “Wrong way to deter me, asshole!”

I laughed as I watched the two of them argue, then looked over at Curt, whose eyes were still on the road. He was grinning.

“Having a good time yet?” he asked me, meeting my eyes briefly.

“The best.”

“You’re easy to please,” he joked.

“I’m not easy in any sense of the word,” I replied primly. It was the closest I’d ever come to flirting with him. I’d always let myself be treated like one of the guys, like one of the group. Charlie and I didn’t discuss boys or dating with Curt and Draco.

“Good to know,” Curtis said, looking at me again.

My stomach twisted. Was he flirting, too?

“Just for that raccoon comment,” Charlie said, leaning toward the front seat. “I’m getting two entrees and I’m going to eat them both.”