Chapter Thirteen
When Kristen went down for breakfast, several of her cousins—especially her female cousins—raised their brows at her engagement ring, but no one said anything. They had a loud, boisterous breakfast, as with every meal whenever the entire clan was around.
She glanced over at Spencer and Esther, glad that they were laughing at the jokes and joining in on the conversations.
Her family had always been welcoming, but Alvin had always thought they were too loud, too energetic. They were, but that was why she loved them so much.
After breakfast, she returned to her room and took off her rings before heading back down to join the games Ben had arranged.
“Where are your rings?” Spencer asked.
She smiled at him. She hadn’t thought Spencer would notice or care. “We’ll be playing out in the field, and things can get a little crazy. I’d rather not have to spend the next few hours playing treasure hunt for my rings. Besides, I’m afraid I’d scratch someone with the rings. I’ll put them back on later. I promise.”
She lifted her hand. “I’m not wearing Emma’s bracelet either.”
“You two need to stop sticking together,” Ben said. “You’re making the singles very jealous.” He pointed to Matt and Jocelyn. “You two. You’re on separate teams, too.”
Kristen pouted and waved before following Jocelyn over to the other side.
Ben explained the rules of their special football match. The team that carried Emma—unharmed—across the cones set up on opposite ends would score a point. “The only rule is that Emma shall not get a single scratch on her.”
“All right.” Her father clapped his hands. “Let’s get started.”
Emma screamed, giggled, and laughed throughout the whole game.
Kristen’s family had always been really into games. The guys tackled each other to the ground, no one caring that Spencer was one of Hollywood’s hottest stars. Even Kristen’s mom took Esther down once.
When Ben got in front of her, he rubbed his hands together. “I’ll take you down if you try to stop him,” he said with a glance over at Matt running with Emma on his back.
She narrowed her eyes, then ducked to the side and ran toward Matt. She gasped when she suddenly ended up on the ground with Spencer on top of her, his hand against the back of her head.
“Are you okay?”
Matt’s team cheered when he and Emma crossed the cones.
“I can’t believe you tackled me.”
“Matt tackled Jocelyn, too.”
Kristen nodded slowly. “Fine.” Spencer shadowed her for the rest of the game, and his arms always found a way around her. She didn’t mind it at all. She loved how he couldn’t seem to stop holding her. And when he did tackle her, his hand was always on the back of her head, an arm over her back to make sure she didn’t smack right into the ground.
“You two there,” Arnold shouted at them. “Stay at least a foot away from each other.”
She laughed and dusted her sweatpants off as Spencer helped her back to her feet. Her team lost the game, so they were eager to win the next.
Emma was the judge for their next game—a relay. Kristen easily convinced Emma that everyone on the other team was being too rough so she would foul them for cheating, so Kristen’s team won.
“Esther, are you all right?” Kristen asked when she got to Esther. She was afraid her family’s enthusiasm for the game would be too much for Esther.
“Your family takes games very seriously.”
Kristen laughed. “Yes, we do. It’s like gladiators out here, isn’t it?”
Esther laughed and nodded. “Oh, but this is so much fun. I’m so glad I decided to come.”
“If you need to rest any time, just say so.”
“That’s not fair,” Neil said.
Kristen’s mother shoved Neil away. “The only rule is that Emma doesn’t get hurt. Emma, darling, are you hurt?”
“Nope.”
“I love you,” Kristen said to Emma and took her small hand.
Just then, her mother waved her hands in the air. “I’m sitting out the next game. I’ll get some lemonade.”
“I’ll help!” Esther said and joined her mother.
“Next game!” Ben yelled.
Spencer was walking behind Kristen when she told Emma yet again that she loved her, and something in his heart stirred. Gosh, he wished Kristen would say those words to him, and he would say them right back.
He loved Kristen?
He shook his head. He was going nuts.
Kristen turned to him, her face flushed from the games. There was mud on her arms and sweatpants, her hair was tied back in a messy bun. And she looked gorgeous.
He frowned.
“Are you okay?” Kristen asked, her brows together. “Do you need something to drink?”
“I’m fine,” he said. He wasn’t. He was seriously losing it.
“I’ll get you something to drink.” She half jogged back into the house.
“So.” Matt came up next to him. “Jocelyn said Kristen was wearing a ring that seems to be an engagement ring. Is that from you?”
“Yeah,” he said.
“For the show?”
“I just wanted her to have one.”
“So it was your idea.”
Spencer nodded.
“Not the producers’.”
“They have no idea I bought it.” He’d spent several days looking around for one, and finally decided to get it custom-made from a store that specialized in gems.
“Here.” Kristen came back out with a glass of water and watched him down it. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay. I’ll put this back,” she said.
“Don’t waste time.” Matt gave her head a light shove. “I’m going to get you in the next game.”
Kristen scrunched up her face. “It’s just too bad Emma loves her Aunt Kristen more than you.”
Matt pretended to lunge toward her, and Kristen ran back into the kitchen.
“Is there some sort of prize at the end?” Spencer asked. They were so serious about games.
“Gloating rights,” Ben said, “until the next round. Six months. So will you be joining us for Christmas? Hannah makes the best turkey. You should ask your mom to join us. Maybe you can tell Kristen to send us a list of presents that your mom would like.”
Matt turned to him. “I’ve limited Kristen to buying at most two gifts, each has to be below a hundred bucks, for Emma. The same rule applies to you.”
It was strange to be included in Kristen’s family’s plan like this. He’d never been involved in any family plans. His Christmas had always been simple. He would have dinner with his mom, spend a few days with her, then jet off to a tropical island for a round of parties.
“I need to give you my number,” Ben said. “You have to let me know what Kristen wants. She’s always getting me great stuff, and I never know what to buy for her.”
“I told you, just get her clothes,” Matt said.
“Because you have Jocelyn to pick out the clothes for you.”
“Ben, next game!” Arnold shouted, and Ben jogged ahead of the entire group.
Spencer turned when Kristen got back to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’ve been invited for Christmas.”
“Oh? Do you have plans for Christmas?”
“I plan to spend it with my wife.”
Kristen shrugged. “Then I guess we’ll both be here.” She grinned and leaned on his shoulder.
“Tired?” he asked.
“Exhausted.”
“How many more games do we have?”
“Two, I think. Then one more if we tie.”
“So it’ll be better if we don’t tie.”
She blinked at him with a bright smile. “You could always throw the game.” She hooked her arm around his. “Your wife doesn’t have the strength for a tie-breaker.”
He laughed and bent close to her. “Kiss me, and I’ll do whatever you say.”
She hooked her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “So?” She pulled her lower lip in.
Spencer ran his thumb across her lower lip. “I’m beginning to think you’re doing that on purpose.”
“Hey!” Ben shouted at them. “Let’s get moving!”
Spencer hadn’t even heard what game they were supposed to be playing. Kristen detached herself from him and ran over to her team.
“What are we doing?” Spencer asked Matt.
The teams were standing on opposite ends with Emma standing in the middle.
“We’re supposed to get Emma and keep the other team from taking her. Or, we’re supposed to steal her from the other team.”
“Ben’s very creative.”
“That’s why he’s always in charge of the games.”
Emma blew the whistle, and the next half an hour was insane. People were rolling on the ground, Emma was screaming and laughing at the same time, and everyone was dashing around.
Spencer wasn’t sure how he ended up with Emma in his arms and Kristen in front of him.
“Emma, sweetie, come to your favorite aunt.”
Emma reached her arms across to Kristen.
“No!” Matt shouted, and Spencer laughed again at how serious Kristen’s family got over a few games.
Spencer took a step to the side, and Kristen clung onto his arm.
“Please, Spence.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, and Spencer handed Emma over to her with a laugh.
“What are you doing?” Neil shouted.
“Run, Kris!” Hannah waved her hand toward where Jocelyn was standing.
“Emma wanted to go with her anyway,” Spencer said when Ben glared at him.
“Next time, put the couples on the same team,” Neil complained when an alarm rang, and Kristen’s team cheered.
She ran over and flung her arms around Spencer’s neck. “Thanks, honey.”
“Upgraded to honey? I should let you win more often.”
“What else would you like me to call you?”
“All right. All right.” Ben clapped his hands. “So the winners of this round are …”
Kristen and her team cheered again while Matt’s team booed.