All's Fair in Love and Las Vegas

Bonus Chapter: White Christmas (Jackie)

        Grayson leaned his head back in the snow, his eyes closed as he pondered the ways of life. "Jackie, my love, if I never see you again, know that you were the most dear thing to me on this earth and that I hid your Christmas present in the front closet."

        I formed another snowball. "You're not going to die, Grayson."

        "You clearly haven't met my brother."

        "Sure I have. I plan on giving him a snowball right in the kisser," I said determinedly.

        "You're so adorable," Grayson said. I couldn't tell if his tone was fond or pitying.

        I ducked as a rocket of a snowball came whizzing past my head. I immediately jumped back up, shouting, "Clay Borgen!"

        "Not really sorry!" he shouted back, still cowering behind the little fortress on the other side of the yard.

        Suddenly a cold, suspicious feeling settled over me. "Grayson, arm me," I said grimly.

        He meekly handed me a snowball and I launched it lightly, getting over the little snow wall. Unfortunately, I heard no kersplat. "Kylie's gone," I said breathlessly.

        Grayson paled. "Gone? What do you mean, gone?"

        "I mean she's not with Clay. Which is weird, since she's always with Clay," I said frantically.

        "Perhaps we took her out," Grayson offered, sounding much too hopeful.

        I gave him a look. "We both know she's too smart to be taken out."

        "Aiiieeee!"

        Grayson and I both peeked over the barrier and my heart melted. Little Astrid was toddling towards us, her puffy-coated arms extended for balance as she waded towards us.

        My heart sank. "Grayson."

        "Jackie, we can't attack a two-year-old!" he said in alarm.

        "But can we?"

        "No, we can absolutely not," he said, smacking the snowball in my hand.

        "She's on their team!"

        "She's of no real threat," he corrected me.

        "JackJackJackJack," Astrid chanted, waddling over and offering me a hug.

        That was the end of my battle strategy. "Awww, okay, you can switch sides," I laughed, plopping her in my lap.

        Pwooof! Grayson did not get a cute, smol child. He got a snowball in the face. "YES! I knew you'd fall for a cute diversion!" Kylie crowed, dancing back to the cover of her and Clay's fort.

        Astrid giggled hysterically at the downfall of her uncle. Grayson stiffly wiped the snow out of his eyes, saying, "Astrid, I'm sorry, but your mother is getting coal in her stocking tomorrow."

        "Mama," Astrid giggled. I sighed; clearly Kylie was forever perfect in her daughter's eyes.

        Packing up a snowball, I handed it to the little girl (awww, it's the size of her entire face) and whispered, "Go throw this at daddy."

        "Daddy?" she asked, lighting up. Clay was the light of her life, the joy of her soul. Yet she wasn't able to comprehend the evil intentions of an attack, so she would gladly go throw snow at her beloved father.