Fighting for the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux Page A

racing?
    “I’m ready.” Chris closed his eyes and puckered his lips like a fish.
    Of course he would make a joke out of it.
    “You’re such a doofus,” she said and started to walk away, but he grabbed her waist.
    “Hey, you have to obey tradition. I’ll be serious, I promise.”
    The dimples disappeared, and Chris angled toward her. She drew in a breath, but then he leaned slightly left, placing a sweet kiss on her cheek. His lips were soft and warm. Not only was Scrooge melting, but some other parts of her were as well.
    Chris smiled at her, and she quickly shuffled into the family room. “A serious moment from Christopher Grayden,” she said, hoping the exaggerated shock on her face would cover up any possible blushing. “I didn’t think it was possible.”
    Em perched on the arm of a nearby easy chair. “It’s a rare occurrence, but it does happen.”
    “I’m going to be serious the rest of the night,” Chris said.
    Em laughed. “You won’t last five minutes.”
    “It’s time for gifts!” Bri said, crouching next to the pile of presents spilling out from under the tree.
    Aubrey sat on the piano bench so she wouldn’t be in the way of the mass gift exchange. She, Em, Chris, and Sergei had done their own rowdy exchange with their group of friends at the rink that morning. Chris dropped down beside her on the bench and stared into the distance.
    “What is the purpose of life?” he said in a monotone voice. “What does it all mean?”
    Aubrey groaned. “I’d like the jokes back, please.”
    “Okay, but just remember you asked for it.”
    Aunt Debbie walked over with two small gift bags and presented them. “These are for you two.”
    “You got us presents?” Aubrey looked at her wide-eyed.
    “Everyone has to have something to open. House rule.”
    “Thank you,” Chris said. “This is really, really nice.”
    Aunt Debbie retreated to the big sectional sofa, and Aubrey reached inside her bag and under the red tissue paper. Her fingers closed in on metal, and she pulled out a shiny silver necklace.
    “It’s beautiful. It will go with everything.” She looked over at Aunt Debbie. “Thank you so much.”
    Chris ripped the tissue from his bag and smiled at the Baltimore Orioles cap he produced. “Thanks, Mrs. Debbie.”
    “Em said you could use a new one.”
    Em looked up from tearing the wrapping paper on a large box. “I told her you’ve been wearing the same ratty cap since I met you.”
    “And it’s been through some good times,” Chris said.
    Aubrey placed her necklace back in the bag and sat quietly observing the “oohs” and “aahs” from the group as they opened their presents. There were also a number of laughs over the gag gifts in the pile. It was how Christmas should be among family – cozy and festive. But she could never be around her dad during the holidays and feel festive. He’d ruined it all.
    Chris rose from the bench and straightened his tie. “About ready to head home?”
    Even though they’d lived in the apartment less than a week, it strangely didn’t feel weird thinking of it as home.
    She stood with her gift bag. “Yeah, I’m beat.” The holiday had been a non-factor during lessons that morning. Peter and Natalia hadn’t shown any lenience, working Nick and her as hard as any day of the year.
    She and Chris made the rounds, bidding everyone goodnight and thanking Aunt Debbie and Uncle Joe once more for including them. The night had grown even colder, and they walked briskly to the apartment with Aubrey holding onto Chris again for security. They were just inside their front door when her phone blared with “Mamma Mia.”
    “Hi, Mom,” she answered while shrugging out of her coat.
    “How was your dinner?”
    “It was fun.”
    Chris turned on the TV and pointed at A Christmas Story playing on the screen. Little Ralphie was being booted down the slide by Santa Claus.
    “It has begun,” Chris whispered.
    She smiled and sat on the slippery