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Chapter 12
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I raised an eyebrow. “Did you just wake up on my ship?”
“No,” Jack replied, “I’ve been running the station.”
I frowned. “I thought we already decided to… oh. Oh right. You do that.”
“Yeah,” he said with a slight shrug, “take a break every now and then, huh?”
I laughed a little and nodded. “Yeah, okay,” I replied, “better you than me, I’m still getting used to being a commander.”
“Same here,” Jack grinned.
“Is the kid here?” I asked, turning back to Winger.
“The guy in the suit?” She asked, pointing at me.
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s Jack. You wanna watch him for a little bit?”
“You’re kidding me?” She asked, her eyes lighting up.
“Nope,” I said, “he’s gonna help us.”
“Really?” She asked with a grin, “so do you think he’ll be able to handle a little democracy?”
I rolled my eyes. “Of course he will,” I said. “He’s not really much of a ■■■■■.”
“He’s a ■■■■■,” Jack muttered.
“A cute ■■■■■,” I replied.
“Well, he’s not my type,” Jack said.
“Jack,” Winger said, “I have never seen him look at another woman before. Not once. He hasn’t even spoken to one of them.”
I frowned. “That’s not true,” I said, “I’ve seen him do it, believe me. I’ve never known a woman who has been immune to his charms.”
Jack groaned. “I don’t care,” he said. “What are you going to do? He needs to be watched.”
“Jack, I’ll be here.”
“Racie!” Jack shouted. “I need you!”
“Here, Jack,” I said, picking up my gun and making my way over to him, “see what you can do with it.”
Jack grinned at me. “I can make this shot three times in a row.”
“Two?” I asked.
“Three!” He said. “If I have to.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, I’ll meet you back here in a bit.”
“Perfect,” he replied with a wink.
Winger and I watched as Jack walked over to the weird group of men, waving at them excitedly.
“Oh my god,” Winger said, “what is going on here?”
“Not much I guess,” I said, “but he sure is cute.”
“Oh, he’s not,” Winger said, nudging me in the side.
“Oh, yeah?” I replied, “that doesn’t sound like the Jack I know.”
Winger rolled her eyes. “He’s such a dork.”
“Yeah,” I said with a grin, “I know.”
“Oh,” Winger said, “you’ve seen him? What is he, 10?”
“Fifteen, actually,” I said. “He’s actually a lot older than I am.”
“I’m glad I don’t have to deal with him,” Winger said, “it’s so much less trouble that way.”
I nodded. “Yeah, him or Nick.”
Winger laughed. “I feel like we’re forgetting someone,” she said.
I groaned.
“I know,” she replied, “you’re forgetting Julie.”
“Oops,” I replied.
“And how’s that for forgetting,” Winger said with a smile.
Julie walked up to Winger and me. She gave Winger a big hug. “Winger,” she said, “isn’t it great that you finally got a cell phone?”
Winger laughed. “Yes, it is.”
“You know, I’m pretty sure we’re already halfway done with all of my Christmas shopping,” Julie continued, “I just need a couple more things.”
Winger rolled her eyes. “Okay, Jules,” she said, “you’ve got plenty of time. Go get those last few gifts.”
“Okay,” Julie said. “But I’m warning you, if I don’t see some lovely new shoes under the tree tomorrow, I’m coming over there and picking something out myself.”
Winger groaned. “It’s only $17.99.”
“I don’t care,” Julie replied. “I’m your mother. You can’t let me pay full price.”
“Alright, alright,” Winger said, putting her hands up. “Have it your way.”
“And you won’t even get in trouble for being late, right, Mom?” Julie said with a smile.
Winger rolled her eyes. “Would you two please stop calling me that?” she asked, putting her hands up. “My name is Winger, not Mom.”
Julie started to laugh. “Oh, Mom.” She then went to hug me. “And I’m sorry about when I called you that, too.”
“You know, I’m actually really glad that you and Julie get along this well,” I said, leaning in to hug her. “It makes our lives a whole lot easier.”
“Me, too,” Julie said, resting her head against my chest. “Do you want to stay here tonight?” she asked.
I looked at Winger. “No way,” she said, “we have to get up early, or we’ll be way behind.”
“I know,” I replied, “but I thought…”
“We don’t need to think,” Julie interrupted. “I’m going to stay with Katie for a while. You guys go ahead.”
I groaned. “She didn’t seem very happy that you were going to be there,” I said.
“Well, she’s always like that,” Julie said with a shrug. “She gets mad when we try to mess with her little routine.”
“Not surprising,” Winger added. “Look, we’ll talk to her tomorrow.”
“Not before we get all of the gifts wrapped,” I said, pointing at Winger.
She rolled her eyes. “Good luck with that,” she said. “I don’t even know what half of those gifts are.”
“Comes with the territory,” Julie said, giving Winger a quick hug. “I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow. Have a Merry Christmas.”
I watched as Winger and Julie walked away. I felt a lump in my throat as I watched them leave, and for a moment, I let myself actually feel what I was feeling.
And that’s when it hit me.
Christmas Day was only two days away
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