The Harper Brothers: All Bets Are Off (Wattpad Version)

Christmas bulbs

Reese

Christmas arrived, and Rafe came over to open presents with us. My dad and uncles gave Rafe a new pair of running shoes.

"What's with the running shoes?" Rafe asked them.

"I figure you would need them when Reese runs from her problems," Dad told him.

Rafe chuckled as I rolled my eyes.

I opened a gift to find a trampoline. "What in the world?"

"We thought you needed one for jumping to conclusions with Rafe," Brian said.

My dad, uncles, and Rafe laughed as I gave them an annoyed look. I shook my head and handed Rafe his gift. He tore open the paper to reveal cookbooks.

"I figure you could try new recipes," I said.

"I love it. Thank you." Rafe leaned over and kissed me.

"Aww," Cory and Brian said.

My dad rolled his eyes.

Rafe placed the cookbooks on the shoebox. "My folks wanted me to invite you to Christmas dinner. They're inviting Sage's mom and my family."

"Ooh, figgy pudding," Cory said, rubbing his hands together.

"You've never had figgy pudding," Brian told Cory.

"There's a first time for everything." Cory raised his forefinger to Brian.

I shook my head.

"Plus, I can serenade everyone," Cory mentioned.

"Not that blasted Christmas song," Brian groaned.

"No, I have other songs I can sing." Cory grinned.

"Great."

I giggled as Cory and Brian bickered about Cory's selection of Christmas music.

"We have a piano that no one uses," Rafe mentioned.

"Don't encourage Cory," Brian said.

Cory rolled his eyes as we laughed.

*******
Rafe

After hanging out with Reese, she grabbed her coat and left with me to head to my house. We entered to the aroma of the turkey cooking and removed our coats. My family and I opened gifts before I headed over to Reese's house. I planned to give her gift to her later.

We strolled into the kitchen as Grammy, and my Nanas helped my Ma with dinner. My grandpas were talking to Dad. I walked over and introduced Reese to my grandparents. They hugged her, welcoming her.

I grabbed a sliced celery stick from a tray.

"Raphael, stop eating the finger foods," Grammy told me.

"But I'm hungry." I shrugged.

"Then gorge yourself on cookies as most kids do around the holiday. Have you not learned anything from this family?"

My parents and grandparents snickered.

"Now, shoo so we can prepare a delicious feast." Grammy waved me off.

I would roll my eyes, but Grammy would beat my ass. Then Grandpa would beat my ass, and Dad would follow suit. It was an unspoken rule not to disrespect Grammy or our grandparents. It was Christmas, and I didn't want to spend time in the makeshift jail.

********
Tori

Lyric leaned into me as I prepped the sides. "Did you get them?"

"Yeah, Elias picked them up two days ago." I smiled.