After Samantha's departure from WWE, Maria, a long-time ambassador for the brand, suggests Charm as her replacement. Charm steps into her new role with excitement, and Joshua, the charming current WWE Intercontinental Champion, is one of the first p...
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The house was alive with the hum of conversation, the clinking of forks and glasses, and the warm, rich scent of turkey and spices wafting through the air.
Charm's family had outdone themselves this year; every dish was a masterpiece, and every story that floated through the air was woven with the comfort of familiarity and love. The living room was a blur of people I knew and didn't know, voices colliding and laughter blending seamlessly. It felt like home, even though it wasn't mine.
Charm sat beside me, her eyes soft and warm as she glanced my way. I knew what she was thinking before she even said anything; she was happy, and seeing her like that made me feel lighter than I had in months.
Between the laughter of her sisters and the chatter about football games and upcoming family plans, I found myself smiling, genuinely content.
"Josh, you're not even eating," Charm whispered, nudging my arm. I looked down at my plate, which was half-empty from the last time I filled it up, and realized she was right.
I was too caught up in the scene in front of me, too busy thinking about the chaos that would unfold back home later. For now, I took a forkful of mashed potatoes and let the buttery, creamy flavor distract me from my thoughts.
Just as I was about to ask Charm if she was going to go for the pumpkin pie later, Amias's voice cut through the noise, the sweetness of it laced with irritation. "Daddy, I want cake."
I looked down at my two-year-old, the little whirlwind who had managed to steal the attention of everyone in the room. His big brown eyes, a mirror of Charm's, were wide, his lower lip sticking out in a pout that threatened to pull at every ounce of my willpower. I smiled, but the smile felt a little tight as if I was holding back the truth of my exhaustion.
"No, finish eating your food," I said, shaking my head in gentle dismissal. But the toddler, his arms crossed over his tiny chest, pressed his bottom lip out even further, doing that adorable, exasperating thing he did when he wanted to make his case. My heart melted against my will. I glanced at Charm, whose mouth twitched as she watched Amias with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Please," Amias whispered, trying out his best version of puppy-dog eyes.
Charm looked at me with the kind of look that said, Don't you dare give in, but there was a warmth there too, as if she was enjoying the sight of her son getting me wrapped around his finger. I knew she'd let him have the cake if it came to that, but it was my job to hold the line. And I was doing my best.
"No," I said again, more firmly this time, but before I could finish, Charm leaned forward and said something that made Amias's stubbornness buckle.
"Amias," she said, the sound of her voice cutting through the noise, "eat your food and then you can have cake."
Amias's pout turned into a small, reluctant nod. He turned back to his plate, shoving a green bean into his mouth with a dramatic huff. I caught myself chuckling at the scene. Amias had this way of making every moment feel like a little production, a one-act play starring him as the stubborn, adorable lead.
I reached for my phone, just to check in with Jonathan. I wasn't expecting anything urgent, just a simple check-in. As soon as I unlocked the screen, I noticed a text from Jonathan waiting for me. A short, one-word message: Drama. I grinned, knowing exactly what it meant. My thumb swiped across the screen, and there it was—a video that made my pulse quicken.
It was from Phil and April's house. The footage was shaky, but clear enough to see the chaos unfolding. Reeva's back was turned to the camera, but the way she moved, the determined set of her shoulders—it was unmistakably her. Kayene's voice was shrill, but her words were lost in the frenzy. And then April and Eliza appeared, with a kind of fury that seemed almost primal.
I stared at the video, the edges of my mouth twitching up despite myself. I shouldn't have been so happy about the scene, but I was. I couldn't deny the rush of excitement that came with the drama.
Charm leaned over, looking at the screen with an amused smile as she shook her head. "Now, Kayene knew better. Reeva does not play."
I sighed, half in regret and half in longing. "I know," I said, my voice low, almost wistful. I wasn't there to witness it in person, but seeing it now, even through a screen, was enough to make me feel like I missed out. I wished I had been there to watch it unfold, to share that absurd moment with my brothers.
But then, in the next breath, I realized I was grateful too. I could see it play out from a safe distance, disconnected enough to just be entertained, not involved enough to feel the sharp edge of whatever emotions were raging in that house.
Amias's voice brought me back to reality. He had finished his green beans and was now pushing his plate away. "Daddy, cake?" he asked again, this time with an edge of determination, not just a whine. He wasn't going to let the cake go without a fight. Charm caught my eye and raised her eyebrow in a silent challenge.
I laughed, a real laugh this time because I knew I was about to lose this battle. "Alright, alright," I said, finally giving in as I reached for a napkin to wipe my hands. "But only because it's Thanksgiving. And you're being good now."
Amias's face lit up, and he squealed, "Yay!" His little hands clapped together as if he'd won a war, and I couldn't help but let my heart feel full at that moment. Charm rolled her eyes, but her grin said it all—she was glad I caved, even if only a little.
"I'll get the cake," I said, already standing up and looking at the huge spread of desserts waiting at the other end of the table.
My eyes flicked back to Charm, who was still looking at the phone. It felt weird, seeing her so captivated by it, so distant in a way, even though she was still here with me, holding my hand under the table.
"What's going on?" I asked, nodding toward the phone.
Charm glanced at me, and I saw the shadow of worry in her eyes, just for a second. "Nothing, just... chaos," she said. "It's always chaos when those families get together."
I chuckled, this time not at the video but at the truth behind her words. Families like Reeva's family never did anything quietly. It was part of why I loved them so much, why I found myself wishing I could be a part of the commotion.
I looked down at Amias as he grinned up at me, sticky hands now reaching for the cake, and suddenly I knew that even if this year was full of family drama and emotional upheavals, moments like this made it worth it.
The simple moments—like letting a stubborn two-year-old have cake and seeing him smile like he won the lottery—were enough to keep me going, to remind me of what mattered.
