Free His First Christmas: The Lonely Billionaire - A Heart-Warming Romance Novel by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter Page A

attempted to recognize what it was.
     
    “Oh!” his dad exclaimed, “You’re humming True Heart .”
     
    He started singing, off-key, “Lookin’ for life, lookin’ for life, lookin’ for life…”
     
    His mother joined in, singing, “Lookin’ for a true heart, lookin’ for a true heart…”
     
    They finished together, “But I ain’t getting any younger!”
     
    They laughed. Jason laughed because he thought it was corny.
     
    “Jason, you should sing too! ” his mom said.
     
    Jason shook his head vehemently. “No way,” he grinned.
     
    “Well you should sing at least the chorus,” his father goaded.
     
    Jason sighed. “Fine,” he relented.
     
    When it came time to singing the chorus, Jason bellowed at the top of his lungs, “BUT I AIN’T GETTING ANY YOUNGER!”
     
    His parents went silent. They blinked, turned, and stared at him.
     
    “Is that how you sing, now?” his mom said, looking at Jason pointedly.
     
    “Yep.”
     
    “Well I think it sounds beautiful,” his dad said, chuckling.
     
    His mom playfully hit his dad on the shoulder. “ Please don’t encourage this screaming banshee behavior.”
     
    Seeing his parents getting along for once, Jason smiled widely. Maybe, from now on, it’ll always be like this, he thought hopefully.
     
    His mother swiveled in her seat and turned to Jason again, as if seeing him for the first time in a long time. “So you and Michael really aren’t friends anymore?” she asked.
     
    “That’s correct,” Jason said nonchalantly.
     
    “But you guys used to get along so well. You were best friends, weren’t you? What happened?”
     
    Jason sighed. “Mom, that was three years ago. People change,” he shrugged. “Also, he thought I wasn’t “cool” enough, so there’s that,” he mumbled.
     
    “Not cool enough?” his dad said, indignant. “Jason, there is no twelve-year-old that’s cooler.”
     
    “You’re a great kid, Jason…” his mom said, reaching out to squeeze his hand. “Your father and I are very proud that you’re ours.”
     
    “ Extremely proud,” his father added, nodding.
     
    “Thanks,” Jason mumbled, embarrassed. He knew it was lame that his parents were trying to convince him he was cool, but he felt warm fuzzy feelings despite himself.
     
    “Do you want some of the sandwiches that Gordon made for us? his mom asked, as the storm outside continued to rage on.
     
    Jason nodded, and his parents also helped themselves to some rations. Thus, the Hawthornes waited out the rest of the storm, eating and chatting.
     
    “This week will be in the first time in a while that we’ve had to cook for ourselves… What are we going to do without Gordon’s amazing cooking?” his mom wondered.
     
    “Not to worry,” Jason’s dad said. “I’ve got the cabin pre-filled with high quality food, and Gordon’s on call in case we have any gastronomic emergencies.” He laughed, before continuing. “I’ve actually taken a few cooking classes in preparation for this trip. You guys are going to be amazed by my new skills,” he said smugly.
     
    Jason’s mom raised an eyebrow skeptically. “Well, I for one can’t wait to see these amazing skills in action,” she smirked.
     
    “What are you planning to make, Dad?” Jason asked.
     
    “Oh, everything,” he said. “Steaks, pastas…you name it.” He glanced at the now-empty sandwich box. “I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.”
     
    “We just ate, Dad!”
     
    His mom looked out the window. “Hey…it looks like the snow might be letting up,” she pointed out. Indeed, instead of the relentless flurry of moments before, the snow was moving in slow, lethargic clumps.
     
    “Yes, it does…” Jackson said. “You know what, I think we can finally get going and get this Christmas started!” he said, starting the car.
     
    Jason looked up as the engine roared into life, just as a huge blue truck up ahead careened out of its lane and started