“Okay? Why do I feel I’m about to get pissed?”

Shea laughed because she probably was going to get pissed but he didn’t care. It was the profession she chose, and it wasn’t his fault she was his twin. It also wasn’t his fault that she had to do anything he asked, and vice versa.

Shea went on with the theme he wanted for Elli’s birthday, and Grace didn’t say anything for about a minute after he got done talking.

“When’s her birthday?” she asked.

“December 17th.”

“So you want me to take us back to the 19th century in a little over a month?”

He nodded, even though she couldn’t see him, as he said, “Yes.”

“Are you f**king crazy?! How the hell am I going to pull that off? I would have to send the invites out next week, just to see how many people RSVP! Then, where am I going to have it? Places are filling up because of Christmas parties! You’re positively crazy!-” and on she went, complaining about how she wasn’t going to be able to pull this off as he rode the bus to the hotel.

When he had enough he said, “You can do it, Grace, I know you can. You have access to my account. I don’t care how much it costs, just make it happen. Invite all her friends from Facebook, invite the team, I’ll contact her family. This is going to be amazing, and when it’s all said and done, I’ll make sure you get all the credit.”

“Damn right I will and I’m gonna charge you an arm and a leg!”

He laughed before saying, “You can have all my limbs as long as this is the best birthday Elli has ever had.”

Chapter 21

“He’s driving me bat shit crazy, Elli. I don’t even understand how a grown man can bitch and moan as much as Jakob does!” Harper complained as they sat in Elli’s office, waiting for a walk-in or their next appointment to come in. It had been a long two weeks, but Shea was coming home the next day and Elli was super excited.

The first week Elli worked a lot. It was a good week for her, and the Assassins’ since they had won every game they played. On Thanksgiving, Elli ended up going to Liam and Noah’s house to see the kids before they went to her parents. It was wonderful seeing the kids. They asked her about Shea and when they would see him again, Elli promised to have a day with them and Shea. They loved that and covered her with kisses and hugs. She ate dinner with Bryan, talking about hockey and Shea. He wanted to make sure Shea was being good to her. Which, of course, he was.

Every time Shea and Elli would get off the phone, he would tell her he loved her. She didn’t realize being told that she was loved by someone would fill her so completely. But every time Shea did, it gave her butterflies, but then she would feel like the biggest ass in the world because she couldn’t say it back. What was supposed to say, though? She didn’t want to lie to him. Yes, she had deep feelings for Shea. Maybe they were love, but she just couldn’t bring herself to say it, not unless she knew for a fact that she did. How she was going to know that was beyond her, though.

The past week was busy with people getting Christmas pictures done in the studio, and businesses hiring Elli for Christmas parties. Birthdays and weddings were in full swing and Elli wasn’t getting home until late again. The holidays always brought in a lot of business. Which was good, but Elli was crazy tired by the time she got home.

Nashville was so beautiful during Christmas time. Lights covered trees, Santa filled the windows of businesses, lights shaped into different Christmas figures adorned every light post along the sidewalks, and everyone was just nicer during the holidays, it seemed. There was such a beautiful feeling that just filled Elli up during the holidays. Even with Harper bitching every minute about Jakob, she couldn’t help but smile.

“I mean, I love him, I do. But Jesus, I’m ready for him to go on the road!”

Harper complained some more as Elli ordered some toys for the kids on the computer.

“I mean, what did you expect, Harp?”

Harper threw her arms up in the air.

“I was expecting him to not bitch and moan!”

Elli shook her head, “Harp, he’s in pain. Give him some slack.”

“He’s a baby,” she said in a huff as she crossed her arms. Elli giggled just as her phone went off. She looked at the display, seeing it was Jodi.

“Jodi!” she gushed.

Harper smiled as Jodi gushed, “Hey, Elli!”

“Tell her I say hi!”

“Harper says hi!” Jodi laughed, saying to tell her the same.

“So I’m calling because my water heater busted, my carpets are soaked and there is no way I can have people over this weekend for our dinner. Is there any way we can do it at your house?”

“Oh no! That sucks. Um, yeah, I don’t see why not,” Elli said, trying to think of the last time she went home. She had gone shopping for clothes because she didn’t want to go back to her house. She had been missing Shea a lot these past two weeks; she had figured it was because of the holidays. All she knew was she was ready for him to be home, even if it was only for three days.

“Awesome, thanks so much!”

“No problem, Babe! See ya Sunday,” she said before saying bye and hanging up the phone.

“What happened?” Harper asked as she stretched out on Elli’s couch.

“Jodi’s water heater busted, she was wondering if we can do it at my house,” she answered before putting in her credit card information in the right spaces for her order.