Hazey watch is in full effect, peeps. This reporter hasn’t seen our favorite newlyweds together in over a week. Could it be? Has the shine already worn off their union? Or maybe are they just avoiding the spotlight and enjoying the honeymoon period. It’s hard to believe baby Kingston would have willingly skipped every game her hot hockey-god of a husband has played all week. But she hasn’t been to any, home or away. Who knows, maybe she’s got royal princess-level morning sickness happening and can’t get out of bed. I’m not giving up on them yet. #Hazey #bumpwatch #KroyonKroinicles
LINDY
Brynlee
I want a man who’s going to wake me up with a mimosa and call me a queen.
Everly
Bitch - I can’t even get a guy to wake me up with a cup of coffee.
Lindy
Easton woke me up with his head between my legs.
Kenzie
OMG. I just threw up in my mouth.
Gracie
Swallow, sweetie. I’m betting that’s what your brother does.
Kenzie
I hate you.
Everly
Are you and lover boy going to come up for air anytime soon? We miss you.
Lindy
Dramatic much? I’ve been around.
Gracie
You’ve slept at his place for a week.
Kenzie
Still hating you, but need to point out, they’re married. Pretty sure it’s their place.
Everly
So what? We’ve been demoted from roommates to tenants now?
Gracie
Lindy’s right - Dramatic much?
Everly
Somebody’s gotta be.
Brynlee
The family’s been asking about you at the Revolution games this week. Your mom came to both home ones.
Lindy
Yeah. But she hasn’t called me.
Kenzie
Easton said Jace has been better.
Lindy
I think so. He’s accepted it.
Easton and I were thinking about getting a Christmas tree today and decorating it tonight. Anybody want to come over and help?
Everly
I’m in.
Kenzie
Me too. I’m on winter break for an entire glorious month. Halle-freaking-lujah
Gracie
I’ll be there after Nutcracker practice. Tonight’s our first full dress rehearsal.
Brynlee
I’m good. No game and no practice mean I’ve only got a few guys on my schedule today. You need us to bring anything?
Everly
Like air freshener to mask the scent of sex in the air? Or disinfectant for all the surfaces you should probably clean before you put any food out?
Kenzie
Why are we friends?
Gracie
Consider it our good deed. She’s mentally unstable. That makes our friendship kind of like charity.
Everly
Whatever. I’m just saying what you all were thinking.
Lindy
OMG. Bye. I’ll see you tonight.
“Baby. The ceilings in the condo are only ten feet tall. This tree is taller than that.” Easton pulls my white cashmere hat down over my ears and kisses me. “We need to look over there, where the smaller ones are.”
“But I got enough lights and decorations for a big tree.” I fake pout and bite down on my bottom lip until my husband groans. Yup. That always gets him going. His thumb replaces my teeth, and he gets all growly.
“Unless you want me to throw you over my shoulder and drag you home right now, you need to stop doing that.”
I circle my arms around his neck and press up on my toes. “You’re not exactly deterring me, Easton.”
“Aunt Lindy, Aunt Lindy,” my nephews Atlas and Asher call out to me as they run my way. The eight-year-old twins are followed more slowly by their older sister, Saylor, and teenage brother, Cohen, with my brother Jace and his wife, India, behind them.
I drop my arms and turn to hug the boys.
This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing my family. But between the drama still brewing and the intense media scrutiny we’ve been under, laying low has been easier than dealing with everything.
Saylor pushes the boys out of her way and wraps an arm around my waist. The little blonde pixie is the spitting image of her mother, down to her quiet demeanor. “Missed you,” she softly tells me, never wanting to bring any attention to herself. Which works for her because her brothers demand every second of it.
Cohen, who at fifteen is already as tall as his father, wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes. “You getting this tree, Aunt Lindy?”
“I don’t know . . .” I drag out as I look at my brother and his wife. “Easton says it’s too big.”
India shakes her head and kisses my cheek. “They always think it’s too big, but they always make it fit.”
Jace coughs, Easton chokes, and Cohen groans and walks away, declaring he’s getting hot cocoa.
“Hey, why don’t you guys go with your brother? We’ll meet you at the car in a few minutes,” India tells the kids, then watches them walk away before she smacks Jace. “You’re terrible. That is not what I meant. And now my son thinks it’s too big.”
Jace grabs India’s ass. “Come on, pretty girl. You know it is.”
He doubles over when she throws an elbow at his kidneys.
“I’ll stop,” he groans out.
I enjoy the way Easton’s hand lands protectively on my hip as he pulls me into him. “Enjoying the day off, man?” E asks Jace.
“Yeah. Catching up on some family time. How about you guys?” He looks between us, and I’m pretty sure he’s not plotting Easton’s death, so that’s something.
Easton squeezes my hip, and I lean against him. Well, we’ve been to three different stores, getting holiday stuff, and now your sister wants a tree that won’t fit in the condo. So I’m not really sure how the rest of the day is gonna go.”
There’s no heat behind his words, and it might make me sound silly, but I love that he’s teasing me like this. Like this is just a normal day for us.
“Ha. Good luck with that,” India snorts. “Kingstons always want the biggest tree they can get their hands on. It never fits, then half the brothers come over to be manly men and stand around the thing, drink a few beers, and bust out their chainsaws to make it fit in the house. It’s tradition.”
My heart aches because I haven’t seen any of my brothers, except Jace, in weeks.
Easton must sense my sudden sadness because the hand resting discreetly on my hip curls around my waist, and he kisses the top of my head. “Sounds like we better add a chainsaw to our list, princess. If you want this tree, I’ll call Pace, and we’ll make it fit for you.”
“Thanks,” I whisper and turn to my brother. “See you guys later.”
“Lindy,” Jace calls out. “Stop.”
When I raise my eyes to his, anger mixes with sadness and threatens to spill over. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Jace. It’s okay.”