"Hey Cor, can you go get those gingerbread cookies from Riley's? And if Chantel is in, ask if she can come tonight." Dad asked.

"Yeah Dad. Do we need anything else? I was think about stopping by the store for a few things I ran out of."

Dad looked around. Our house was full of Christmas decorations. We kind of go full out in this house. "Um I think we're good here. I'll text you if I think of anything."

I nodded and head up to my room. I already had in a white sweater and black leggings. I threw on my Uggs and a red beanie. I grabbed my purse and keys and went back downstairs.

I got in the car. First and foremost, I put on the Christmas music. Then I buckled up and pulled out of the driveway. I danced and sung to my Pentatonix Christmas songs.

I pulled into Riley's. I'm glad I wasn't working today.

"Hey Simon, I'm here to pick up the gingerbread cookies." I told Simon as I walked into the store.

"Hey girl" Chantel came out from the break room. "What are you here for?"

"The gingerbread cookies and the best hot chai you could get me right now" I smiled at her.

"Oh I forgot about the party tonight. I'm not sure if I can make it." She went to make the chai.

I frowned. "Chan, you have to come. Please. You already told Dad you were gonna come. Sky's really excited to see Beckham again."

She sighed. "I'll try if my brother isn't a dumbass and brings Adrien over. I can't leave my house if he does. My mom can't handle him."

"If you need me, I'll gladly put I dent in that boy's face."

She laughed at me. "I know you would." She handed me the chai.

Simon got back and handed me the box of gingerbread cookies. "Thank you guys so much." I handed them a ten.

My phone dinged and I pulled it out of my back pocket.

"That's Dad. Turns out we don't have anymore napkins." I rolled my eyes with a slight laugh. "Chan I better see you tonight." I walked backwards.

I turned at the wrong second and ran into somebody. Thankfully I didn't spill anything.

"Oh I'm sor-" he started but the word died off his lips.

I started wide eyed at Will. "Sorry" I mumbled and walked around him as fast as possible. I left the store.

Why is it that every time I step out of the house, I run into him? Why does this have to happen to me?

I got in the car and took a deep breath. I quickly pulled out of the parking lot and drove down the street. I pulled into the store parking lot.

First, I grabbed two packs of napkins that had Merry and Bright printed on them. Then I went to my favorite aisle, the candy aisle. I grabbed some chocolate, sour candy, and some candy canes. Some of it was for me and some of it was for the kids.

I went to the cosmetic section. I grabbed some mascara since I ran out recently and some deodorant, that I also ran out of.

As I walked up to the cash register, I grabbed a couple of gingerbread houses for the kiddos to work on.

I check out and left the store. I got back home a few minutes later. Lauren's car was there already. People were gonna start showing up within the next couple of hours.

"Okay, I have the napkins." I put the bags on the counter and grabbed the stuff I got for me. "I got a few things for the kids. Some candy canes and gingerbread houses. Oh shoot I forgot the gingerbread cookies from Riley's in the car." I turned around to go out to get them.

"I'll get them." A voice offered from behind me. It was Will. I knew his voice inside and out. I just didn't know he was here.

"Thanks, Will" Dad smiled at him and picked the keys up from off the counter and tossed them to him. Will of course caught them effortlessly and walked outside.

"What is he doing here?"

"Cora, he is a guest to the party. You knew he was gonna come." Dad said.

"Why isn't Karla or Micheal here?" I asked.

"They went to go pick some things up and left him here. Kenzie is with Grayson." He explained. "I know this is hard on you and if I could I would kick his ass on your behalf. You know you were gonna have to face him sooner or later."

"You're right. It was so much easier when he was a thousand miles away."

"I know, but you can't run away from all your problems. You should talk to him. See his side of the story and show him yours. Some things have a way of working themselves out along the way" Dad gave me his great advice.

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my head.

"I'm gonna go hide in my room until Remi or Logan get here" I said and grabbed what I needed before going upstairs.

I put my stuff in the bathroom and took the rest of it to my room. I sat on my bed and I wanted to cry. Will wasn't worth any more of my tears. I have my best friends and my mom and dad are planning their wedding.

In the next few hours, a lot of people showed up at my house. Pretty much Nick, Tommy, Darren, Sam, Cole, Remi, Logan and Will's families are all here. As well as Lauren's family and I think Penny and Hank are coming as well. Chantel and Beckham haven't made it yet, but I'm sure they will. In all it's almost fifty extra people to serve.

Don't get me wrong, I love the chaos and the noise. It's my favorite part of the holidays, but at least I have people to talk to instead of focusing of Will.

I took Ryan out of Karla's arms for a while. I sat on the living room floor with Logan, Remi, Kenzie, and Grayson. Carter was with Cooper, Lena, and Connor. Will was with Darren, Sam, and Cole.

"Gray, is your family not coming?" Remi asked.

He shook his head. "They had a corporate holiday party tonight." She answered.

Remi nodded and left the conversation at that. We played with Ryan on the floor for a while.

"I'm gonna get a drink, anyone want anything?" Logan asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

"Can you get me some punch please?" I asked him.

"Only for you" he winked at me and stood up to go to the kitchen.

I saw Will glaring at Logan from outside. What was his problem?

Logan came back over a few minutes later. He handed me my drink.

"Here you go milady" he sat down next to me.

"Thank you kind sir" I laughed.

We sat around talking fir a few minutes.

The doorbell rang. I handed my drink back to Logan and got up to go get it. Chantel and Beckham were on the other side.

I smiled at her and gave her a hug. "Glad you could make it Chan."

"Me too." Her and Beckham walked inside. He was wearing a little red moose sweater and a pair of jeans. She was wearing a green crewneck that said merry and bright and jeans.

"Most everyone is outside. There are heaters and a fire out there so it's not too cold. We also have punch and a hot chocolate bar. There's blankets outside. Dinner is about to be served."

"It sounds perfect" she smiled.

"Thank you"

We walked over to the little group in the living room. "Hey guys you all know Chantel. She works at Riley's pretty much all the time. Chan, I think Kenzie and Grayson are the only ones you haven't officially met. They're dating and the baby is Ryan, Kenzie's baby brother"

"Nice to meet you two. I've seen you around at Riley's a couple times." She smiled at them.

Beckham was hiding behind his mom. The only people he knows here is me, Sky, and Carter. "This is my son, Beckham. He's a little shy."

She bent down to his level and whispered a few things to him.

"Let's go outside while it's still bright. The kids are all out there playing in the snow." I suggested.

They all agreed and we all went outside.

"Beck!" Sky squealed and ran over to give him a hug. Beck's face immediately lit up like a Christmas tree. "Come play with us." She said.

He looked up at Chantel, asking if it was okay. She gave him a nod and a smile. "Go play" she whispered to him and he ran off.

"Who wants to play cornhole? We need one more" Con asked.

"Oh I will dominate at cornhole" I said. "I volunteer like Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games" I yelled and got a few laughs.

I walked over to them. Will, Carter, and Connor were standing in a circle.

"Who am I destroying and who is on my team?" I asked.

"I choose Carter" Con said very quickly. Carter agreed. I looked at the two of them. Con winked at me and Car gave me a sly smile.

Sons of bitches.

I glared them down. They had to plan this. What did they think would happen?

"I guess that means you two are on a team" Carter patted Will's back.

We stared at each other for a second. "I'll go on this side" I mumbled and walked over to my respective side. Will walked over to his.

Connor and Will did rock paper scissors to see which team went first. Will won. Immediately Will sunk two in the hole and two on the board.

Connor went next throwing two on the board, one in the hole and one off of the top. Making the score three-zero.

Then it was my turn. I sunk two in the hole, slid one in, and one completely missed. Carter threw one in and three on the board. Which made the score six-zero.

The game went on and Carter had finally gotten some points. It was a close game and it got more stressful. It was nineteen-twenty with my team losing. All Will had to do was get one bag on the board and Connor had to miss or go over.

Will tossed it on the board and threw his other three halfway, not even trying. Connor tried to sink his in the hole but each one slid or bounced off.

I jumped up in celebration. "Yes yes yes!" Will was cheering too. Connor and Carter had their pouty faces on. They walked over to their girlfriends who jokingly consoled them.

I went to hug Will, but I stopped myself. Instead I offered and awkward high-five. He awkwardly accepted and high-fived me back.

"Dinner's ready" Dad called and I made a beeline to the food to get away from Will.

We are and talked and everyone had a good time. There were smiles and laughter everywhere. The little kids were raving about Santa and what they thought they were gonna get from him. Christmas spirit was in the air and I could feel it.

After dinner the kids did the gingerbread houses together. I saw Beck and Sky sharing one.

I looked over and saw Will playing with Ryan. Both of them had big smiles on their faces and I remembered the conversation Will and I had before Ryan was born.

He was scared that Ryan wouldn't like him or know him since he was going to be away so much, but the way Ryan looks at him is just so brotherly. He might not understand that Will's his brother or what a brother even is. But he knows Will and he loves him.

Logan snapped me out of my tance as he sat next to me. He handed me a hot chocolate and put a blanket around me. I thanked him.

"You sure do have a knack for pulling yourself out of a situation and watching everyone else." He observed.

"I like watching everyone else happy and together. It's like I'm watching a movie and it's amazing. I get to slow down and enjoy what's right in front of me." I explained. "It makes me happy."

"That's an interesting point of view." He said. "I came to tell you Nick is hosting a Christmas party at his house tomorrow night and as per usual we're all invited."

"Sounds fun"