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introduce you two,” Jackson said. “We’re having a Christmas special at Eaven. You guys should come by. Vegas is making his candy cane chocolate silk pie for the party. On the house.”
    Ennis cracked a slow smile. “I saw something on TripAdvisor about his pies. That’s you guys?”
    Jackson laughed, and Jeshebet giggled with him. “That’s us. Vegas always makes something deadly. Lately, it’s baby food for this one.” He swayed the basket, and Jeshebet clapped her little hands.
    “You guys raising her?” Ennis asked as he leaned against the Bug. “I’ve seen you guys together. He seems like an awesome dad.”
    Jackson sputtered. “Oh!” He blushed before he could control it. “Vegas and I aren’t together . We’re just roommates.”
    It was Ennis’s turn to spit a laugh. “Fuck. I haven’t heard the roommate thing since college.” He clapped a hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “I get it. Conservative town and all. Open relationship, I guess? Not my speed, but it’s cool.”
    The hair on the back of Jackson’s neck stood up. “No, no. We really are roommates,” he insisted. “We’ve lived together for years.”
    Ennis narrowed his eyes and made a smarmy grin.
    “I’m not helping my case, am I?” Jackson asked.
    “Nope.”
    “We really are just roommates.” Jackson scowled.
    Ennis scratched his chin. “Sure, sure.”
    “Anyway.” Jackson made a valiant attempt at changing the topic. “Come to the party this weekend. We might even be able to wrangle a tree from Santa Fe that won’t fall apart in transit.”
    “Have you thought about a Christmas cactus?”
    Jackson grinned. “I’d settle for a tumbleweed at this point.”

Chapter Six
     
    J ACKSON STRAIGHTENED his Santa hat in the restroom mirror, the word “Naughty” emblazoned into the fluffy lining. He smirked, thinking that no one would get the joke of just how naughty he could be.
    He stiffened when he heard a knock on the door.
    “How long you gunna be? Jeshebet’s getting fussy,” Vegas said through the door.
    Jackson nodded to his reflection. He could do this. A full diner and a grumpy baby. He had this down. It would do good to take his mind off losing the bet. Jackson didn’t expect the tranquility of realizing he lost, and he had been selfish by trying to win at all costs.
    He had Jeshebet to take care of, and the responsibility brought him peculiar comfort. Maybe she was his little Christmas miracle. It ate him up inside that after New Year’s he’d have to give her up. He’d never forget how a tiny, wiggly, stinky human could make him understand what it was like to care for another.
    He stepped out of the restroom and found Vegas waiting at the door. Jackson hesitated, noting the completely flustered expression on Vegas’s face. Was he blushing? Or was he just hot from working in the kitchen?
    Vegas averted his eyes and took a chug from his water bottle. He coughed into his fist.
    “You okay?” Jackson asked.
    “Y-Yeah,” Vegas said, and Jackson arched a brow, noting his timidity. Vegas was many things, but timid was never one of them. “Cillian’s here to help out.”
    Jackson breathed deep through his nose, letting his chest fill completely before letting it go. That name on Vegas’s lips would take some getting used to. It wouldn’t be the first time Vegas passed him over, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
    He smiled, and this time didn’t have to force it. “Jeshebet probably needs changing. I hope Cillian can man the front of the house for a little bit.” He started to head off to the manager’s office, where they had jury-rigged yet another bassinet for the baby out of printer paper boxes. But Vegas took him by the wrist, halting him. Jackson turned, curious, as Vegas gulped down another large swig from his bottle.
    “Listen,” Vegas began, and then swallowed dryly. “I really need to tell you something.”
    Using Vegas’s grip on his wrist, Jackson jerked him closer and then hugged