An Aces Christmas (The Aces' Sons)

“Come on, now,” Curtis complained. “I just spent all my money finishing up Roxanne so you guys would have a sweet ride.”

“Roxanne?” Charlie asked.

“Roxanne,” Draco sang loudly.

I choked on a laugh.

“She seems like a Roxanne,” Curtis said with a nod, reaching forward to run his hand over the dash.

“Wasn’t Roxanne a prostitute?” Charlie asked dryly.

“Don’t talk about her that way,” Curtis admonished. “She can hear you.”

“All of you are weird,” I said. “Every single one of you.”

“And you’re the weirdest of all of us,” Charlie said, wrapping her arm around my neck from behind. “The queen of weirdos.”

“Roxanne,” Draco sang again.

“Is that the only part of the song you know?” Charlie asked, letting go of my neck as we pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant.

“Something about a red light,” Draco sang back at her.

I giggled as Curtis pulled into a parking spot.

“I’ll get your door,” he said, turning to smile at me. “Wait just a second.”

“Well, isn’t he chivalrous?” Charlie said drolly as Curtis climbed out of the car.

“He could’ve at least let me out on his side,” Draco said in exasperation. “I’m bent like a pretzel back here.”

I ignored them both, watching Curtis round the hood and come over to open my door.

Then, with a deep breath, I got out of the car. He hadn’t moved from where he was standing, so I had to slide past him. I was pretty sure I heard him suck in a sharp breath as I did so.

Straightening my shoulders, I waited for Charlie and Draco to tumble out of the back seat. It was hard being patient when they were being such goofballs, and I had to remember that it wasn’t like they were crashing my date or something. I’d built everything up in my head. It wasn’t a date. It was the same group I hung out with every day, just dressed up and doing something fancy. If anything, technically I was on a date with Draco.

Draco, who was still humming a song about a prostitute.

After I got that straightened out in my head, the night went a lot smoother. My nerves disappeared and I found myself laughing and joking with the group like always. Dinner went by in a flash, even though Charlie took forever to eat the two entrees she’d ordered, and before long, we were on our way to the hotel where the prom was being held.

“Someone’s getting pregnant tonight,” Charlie said as we strode toward the entrance.

Looking up at the fancy hotel, I agreed. I knew that more than a few of our classmates had gotten rooms for the night, and it was inevitable that the glamour of the place would fuel romance.

“Nose goes,” Draco said, putting his forefinger to his nose.

Charlie and I instantly did the same.

“Looks like Curt’s getting pregnant,” I joked when he was the last to touch his nose.

“Dammit,” he sighed. “I had so many plans!”

“We’ll stand by you,” Charlie said solemnly.

“We’d never let you face this alone,” Draco agreed, reaching out to squeeze his brother’s shoulder.

“What about you?” Curtis asked me, sending me a sad look. “Will you support me?” He put his hand on his belly. “Support… us?”

“You got yourself into this mess, you can get yourself out,” I joked, raising one eyebrow.

“Oh,” Draco sang, laughing. “Burn.”

“Come on, lets get this over with,” Charlie said, striding forward. Draco fell into step with her, which left me and Curtis walking side by side.

“You look gorgeous tonight,” he said quietly, bumping me with his elbow.

“Thanks,” I replied, trying to hide my giddy smile. “So do you.”

“Yeah?” he asked, preening as he smoothed his hand down the front of his shirt.

“It’s the tux,” I joked. “Usually you’re—” I grimaced.

“I know, right?” he joked. “It changes the whole picture.”

“You always look good,” I said, scoffing a little. I swallowed hard.

“And you’re always gorgeous,” he said, whispering like he was letting me in on a secret.

“You guys coming?” Charlie asked from the check-in table. “I need my ticket, Curt.”

As I glanced up, Charlie was gesturing us forward, but she wasn’t what caught my attention. Draco was standing perfectly still and staring at us, his eyes sharp and his face emotionless.

“All good, brother?” Curtis asked him.

“You tell me,” Draco said, his eyes on me.

“Of course,” Curtis replied, slapping Draco’s chest. “Bring your date inside and show her your moves.”

“You’ve got moves?” I joked, trying to break the tension. I wasn’t sure what was happening.

Draco’s lips twitched. “Like you would not believe,” he assured me.

We got sucked into the dance along with a hundred other kids, and there wasn’t another chance for me and Curt to talk about anything—but I didn’t mind. Between the music and the dancing and the hanging out with my friends, I was practically vibrating with happiness. The fact that Curtis had called me gorgeous, quietly so no one else could hear, made things a thousand times better.