;sometimes the people who don't talk to you are really the ones who want too

I think taking care of people ran in my blood. Not my families. Just mine.

I liked to look after people, make sure they're happy and healthy.

And having my brother, boyfriend and friends around me for Christmas was an excellent way of proving this.

The last two days I spent running around New York City - dragging Maddox dinner shopping with me, the girls and I headed onto the high street to grab some last minute presents, we all decorated the apartment not stopping until it was done - which wasn't until three in the morning.

And that brings us to now.

Everyone's still in bed, fast asleep, snoring like children, while I stand in the kitchen cooking.

Having already started preparations for the dinner late last night, there wasn't much I had to do this morning except put the stoves on for the vegetables and leave the meats to rest.

I treaded round the living space with light feet setting up the dining table with cute linen, cutlery, glasses, crackers and a beautiful candle lit centre piece my Nan had hidden away.

Jason was the first one awake - much to my surprise - his heavy bare feet slapping against the marbled floors and into the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas, sweetness." He chirps, still half asleep as he runs a hand through his blonde dishevelled hair.

I turn my head to look up at him with a smile as he places a kiss on the top of my head. "Merry Christmas to you too, sunshine. Want some juice? Coffee?"

Jason being the cutie pie he is, snorts at me. "You're kinda busy, Quinn. How about I make you a coffee?" he says with a raise brow, looking all kinds of amused.

"How about I'd love that and you're a god damn star." I cheesed, turning my attention back to the boiling potatoes.

Jason clicks and clatters behind me, grabbing mugs and flicking on the switch to the coffee machine, humming some unrecognisable tune under his breath.

I can't help but chuckle.

"Merry fucking Christmas you filthy animals!" A deep voice booms out, echoing off the empty walls.

Eli.

I jerk in surprise. "Eli, you fucking idiot, you scared me!" I scolded while Jason chuckles, giving my brother a fist bump, mumbling merry Christmas to one another.

He wraps his arms around my shoulders from behind and sways left to right with me. "Sorry, sis." He says lightly, "Merry Christmas, you filthy fucking animal." He repeats in a whisper.

I jab my elbow backwards and into his stomach. "Merry Christmas, shit face."

Eli grunts, but still has enough energy to laugh it off. "That's your present for today."

I roll my eyes, Jason placing a cup of coffee beside me, I mouth thank you and take a sip.

As time goes on, and as dinner comes closer to being done, everyone begins to stir awake.

Steph, Hannah. Maddox, followed by Cammy.

"Mmm, something smells de-fucking-licious!" Cammy hums as he steps into the kitchen.

The girls are perched on top of the counters. Eli is nudged between Hannah's legs - I give them a knowing smirk, for sure - Steph is learning Jason a new TikTok dance, and Maddox is glued to my back as I shuffle my way through the kitchen.

I look over my shoulder at Cammy, his dark hair messily mopped on his head, his long torso stretched out as he raises his arms over his head to stretch. Padding his big feet in my direction and nudging his forehead onto the side of my head.

"You, Mrs Hunter, are a damn genius in the kitchen." he states, light and happy twang in his tone.

I give him a small giggle. "And you, Cameron, are on meat carving duty."

"Hey, what about me?" Maddox chides.

I shoot him a glare over my other shoulder as if to say cool-it - I knew Cammy was down and although he'd brightened up since being here, I wanted him apart of this day more than anything. There was always other Christmases for Maddox to do the meat carving.

"You can do it next year, Baller." I tell my boyfriend, shooting him a smug smirk.

He lets it go with a hmph.

I yell out for everyone to go get ready as dinner would be ready in thirty minutes, they all scatter off like scared mice from a snake.

Me and Maddox make our way into our room, him slamming the door shut with his foot before dashing over to me and throwing me on the bed, instantly hovering over the top of my body with his large one.

A menacing smirk plastered across his delicious lips. "You don't want me meat carving, Bella?"

I snort. "You still hung up on that?" I roll my eyes. "I just want Cammy to feel apart of this day. He's your best friend, besides, we have all the Christmases to come for you to do that honour."

He nuzzles his face into my neck, pecking and sucking the skin below my ear. "You saying you see a future with me?"

I raise a brow as my eyes flutter shut. "You saying you don't?" I shoot back, almost breathless.

"I'm not saying that at all. I just wanted to hear you say it."

"I see it." I respond through as gasp as he sucks a little harder.

"Maybe next year it can be just us, a naked Christmas sounds appealing, don't ya think?" He murmurs into my throat, leaving small wet open mouthed kisses.

"Hm." I moan.

"I love you, Bella." he whispers, his kisses leading up to my jaw, towards the corner of my mouth.

"I love you, Baller."

✫✬✫

Looking around the table, my heart warms with the sight of happy faces, the sound of genuine laughs and the joyful glints in all eyes.

Cammy did a great job of carving the meat, Eli turned on some music to set the mood, and I dished dinner out like a mother would their children.

And I did an spot on job, if I do say so myself.

Once we'd all finished, we stayed seated at the table, stomachs so stuffed we could barely move.

"Well, Mrs Hunter, you're going to make one helluva housewife one day." Cammy spoke up, hands locked behind his head, his eyes flashes to Maddox. "Ain't that the truth, brother?"

Maddox wraps his arm around the back of my chair, stroking the bare skin of my shoulder that my dress didn't cover. "You know it, man. When we're married and living in a mansion, we won't forget to invite you round to carve that damn turkey."

Cammy chuckles, dropping his hands onto the table and grunting at how full he was. "Seriously, Tee. I'm gonna have to work out three times harder to blow off this one meal."

I shoot him a self satisfied smirk. "Looks like you need it anyway." I winked.

"Ahhh," he says through a chuckle. "Girls got hits, huh? I'll remember that next time you try beat me at NBA."

"I don't need to try, Cameron. I'm better than you, Baller and Eli put together." I raise a brow, knowing it's true.

"What about me?" Jason argues.

I scoff. "Please. You've got zero skill to make up the numbers, honey boo boo."

Everyone laughs at my come back. Cammy ruffling Jason's hair, taunting him.

I shoot Jason a sorry-not-sorry look.

"Speaking of NBA, who's up for a few games?" Eli suggests.

The guys all groan but agree, shuffling to their feet and into the living space leaving me and the girls at the table.

Hannah swoops into the seat beside me where Maddox was sat, leaning her elbow on the table and moving in closer towards me. Steph moved one seat across so she's sat directly across from me.

"Now I have you alone, I need to tell you something. I was gonna go to Mads, but you're more reasonable about this kinda shit." Hannah says, voice low and wary, looking over her shoulder making sure no one can hear.

I furrow my brows. "What?"

I glance at Steph but she's avoiding all eye contact, giving me a sinking feeling in my stomach, so I take my eyes back to Hannah who looks like she might burst into tears any moment now.

"Hannah, what is it? You're freaking me out."

She sighs while pursing her lips, contemplated on how she should deliver this fuck-knows-what news.

"I heard Cammy on the phone last night," She begins, looking over her shoulder again then leaning in closer. "I don't know who he was talking to, but what he was saying didn't sound good, as in, he's in some kind of trouble."

I hood my eyes over, trouble? Cammy? Nah.

"What do you mean trouble? Like with people or?" I trail off, leaving her to fill in the blanks.

She looks sad, "I honestly don't know, Tee. But he was talking like he's not going to be around by next year. Like he's going somewhere and it's not by choice."

I can feel my heart beat rapidly pick up within seconds. I feel bile rising up my throat and my eyes begin to sting.

Cammy not going to be around by next year?

What could that possibly mean?

Hannah places a reassuring hand on my shoulder and gently squeezes. "It worried us so we knew we had to say something. Cammy's not the type of guy who's easily scared away so whatever it is. . . It's bad."

I'm stuck for words. Literally. Nothing is coming out.

"Just.. Speak to him, or Mads. Let him know, we don't want him to feel like whatever he's going through, that he's alone. He has us. All of us." Steph speaks up, softly.

"I will." I nod, still looking dumbfounded, no doubt. "I'll fix it, don't worry."

The girls give me solemn nods before we all turn our attention to where the guys are scattered across the black leather sofa's, yelling and cheering, trash talking and playful punching one another as they engage in a game of NBA.

I can't help but think about Cammy, and how he's been over these past two weeks. Even before we got here, he was acting weird. So weird, I had to being it up and talk to him. Then his conversation with Maddox popped into my head, remembering how worried Maddox had been.

My eyes still on Cammy's happy and gleeful form.

What is going on with you, Cameron?