Wes shook his head with a smile on his face. It was that smile he gave when he wasn’t sure what to do with Braden, but that he enjoyed him, too. It was Braden’s favorite of his grins.
Wes beside him, they all decorated the tree. They turned out the living room lights and watched all the reds, greens, blues and whites glow. As they talked, Braden kept his eyes on Wes, who sat on the floor with Jessie’s head in his lap. Wes stroked her curls, which just popped back up as soon as his hand left them. Her little eyes kept drooping closed, but each time they did, she jerked them open again.
She was such a cool little kid. He’d never given much thought of having kids of his own. His family had enough of them if he never did, but looking at her...he couldn’t imagine his life without her. His eyes met Wes’s, who Braden hadn’t realized had been watching him.
Braden opened his mouth to say something—what, he didn’t know—when Wes said, “I’m going to put her to bed.”
“No. I don’t wanna go to bed.” Jessie started crying.
“You’re sleepy, kiddo, and it’s getting late. We need to go to bed so Santa can come.” Wes stood her up, pushed to his feet and then picked her up.
Braden was surprised when Jessie started crying louder. He stood, too, not really sure why. She was Wes’s niece. He had this under control. He didn’t need Braden. “I’ll take care of the stuff.”
Wes nodded, and Braden knew he got that he’d put Jessie’s Santa gifts out.
“Night, everyone.” Wes’s voice was hardly heard over Jessie’s crying. Wes looked a little freaked out, too, his eyes wide and his body stiff, as though he wasn’t sure what was going on with her, either.
As they went, Braden’s dad stepped up beside him. “Told you it was more than just friends.”
He didn’t reply. Braden didn’t move from where he stood, just watched Wes disappear with Jessie. For the first time in his life, he felt left out of something he really wanted to be a part of.
***
“But Santa’s not going to find me!” Jessie cried for the millionth time. Wes sat with her in the bed, Jessie on his lap as he rocked her back and forth.
“Yes he will, kiddo. I promise.” Damn it. He’s screwed up. He thought it might not be a good idea to pull her away from her home and her family the first Christmas she spent without her mom, but he’d thought she would be okay with him and Braden. “You have to go to bed, though. Santa can’t come if you don’t go to bed.”
“I want Braden,” she cried. And Wes’s heart broke... It meant so much to him that she loved Braden, but he was her uncle. When she needed someone, he wanted it to be him.
“Braden’s with his parents right now, Jess. I’m here, though.”
There were more tears. She wrapped her arms around him tightly. “I want Braden. Santa won’t come cuz I can’t sleep. I want you and Braden.”
Wes exhaled a deep breath. She wanted him, too. She wanted them both. Red flags flew up. Wes would always be there for her, but Braden didn’t have to be.
“I miss Mommy...” she whispered. The words were a knife through his chest. He got it now. She didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to keep people she loved close to her. She wanted him and Braden. To her, they were her family. They were who she had.
“I miss her, too, kiddo.” Wes grabbed his cell off the nightstand. He didn’t let himself think about what this meant for him. The step he was taking, or the fact that this made it more real. All he knew was Jessie needed them, and he’d do anything to give her what she needed.
And he knew Braden would, too.
Jessie needs you, he texted. A minute later, there was a knock at the bedroom door.
“That’s Braden,” he told her. “I’m going to set you down and let him in.” He knew it was a precaution he didn’t need to take, that Braden wouldn’t think twice to give them what they needed. Her. Give her what she needs, I mean.
He opened the door and peeked his head out. “She’s having a hard time. She misses her mom. She wants...”
“Let me in, Wesley. You know I won’t walk away.”
Wes opened the door and Jessie ran to him. Braden picked her up and held her. “Santa won’t find me.”
“He knows you’re here, Squirt. I already talked to him. He wanted to come, but I told him you were still awake. He said he’ll be back in about an hour, but we have to be sleeping by then.”
“Can you sleep with us, too, Uncle Braden?” Wes and Braden both froze at her words—at the name she called him. Braden’s eyes sought his, a pleading that Wes had never seen from him. He gave the man a single nod.