MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

Chapter 306 Christmas II

Damon's heart felt warm and flattered.

Even so, he still had another present for Svetlana, one he didn't show her yet.

He had planned to give it to her later that night, when the time felt right.

For now, he glanced at her and smiled. "Come on, let's get inside. It's a bit chilly out here."

She nodded, still holding the sweater he had gifted her, and they turned toward the door.

It wasn't freezing or anything, this was Santa Monica, after all.

Snow wasn't part of the scene, but there was a cool breeze in the air.

The chill was sharper here, given how close they were to the beach.

Damon tucked his hands into his pockets as they made their way inside, eager to join the others and start celebrating.

Damon and Svetlana stepped into the grand house.

The last time he had been here wasn't too long ago, he and Svetlana had been hanging out more often lately.

As they walked through the fancy lobby, Svetlana reached out and wrapped her fingers around his. "Come on, the guys are in the living room," she said with a smile, leading him down the hallway.

Damon followed, though he couldn't help but gawk at the place.

No matter how many times he came here, the Steele mansion always felt unreal.

When they reached the living room, Damon spotted Ty, Victor, and Edward sprawled on the massive sectional sofa, their eyes glued to a large mega screen as they played a game.

Ty's presence wasn't surprising, his family was close to Victor's due to him helping Ty during a difficult time, so it made sense he'd be here.

Edward, though, was a bit of a mystery. Damon knew Edward had a tight-knit family.

He often talked about his baby sister and father, and how important they were to him.

Damon wondered why Edward wasn't with them tonight.

As for Joey, Ash, and Ashley, he already had an idea. Joey had mentioned that Ashley invited him to a family dinner. Damon figured Ash might be there too.

Though Joey hadn't confirmed anything, Damon had a feeling his suspicion about Ashley being pregnant was spot-on.

Damon kept his attention on the people in front of him.

As they fought on the screen, Ty, Edward, and Victor were deeply involved in the game. They yelled taunts and laughed.

The mood was calm, but full of warmth and energy, and Damon could feel himself settling in.

This was exactly the kind of Christmas he hadn't had ever, a house filled with people who felt like family.

The two had a natural chemistry, an easy rhythm as they moved around the kitchen, chopping, stirring, and laughing.

Despite being very different people, they worked well together.

Aoife, coming from a humble background, never tried to flatter or impress anyone unnecessarily.

She was straightforward and spoke her mind, which Macey respected and appreciated.

Macey, on the other hand, was more polished and accustomed to a different lifestyle, but she wasn't pretentious.

She valued authenticity, and Aoife's candid nature made their friendship genuine.

Svetlana, meanwhile, stood nearby but didn't fully join in.

She wasn't confident in her cooking skills, so she only stepped in to help when one of the experienced asked.

Whether it was fetching an ingredient or holding something steady, she played her part quietly.

Macey glanced at her daughter, noticing the bag she had been holding onto.

It looked like a gift bag, one Svetlana had been avoiding acknowledging.

But now, Macey's curiosity was piqued.

"Mm, what's in there?" Macey asked, her tone teasing.

Svetlana glanced at the bag, hesitating. "Oh... nothing," she said casually, though her slight blush gave her away.

Aoife chuckled knowingly from the counter. "Is that the sweater Damon got for you?"

Macey's eyes lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Oh, come on, let's see it!"

Svetlana sighed, realizing she had no way out of this.

She knew her mom too well, Macey wasn't going to let this go without seeing the sweater.

Begrudgingly, Svetlana reached into the bag and pulled it out.

The sweater was exactly like Damon's, with the same goofy reindeer design.

"That looks adorable," Macey said, beaming. "Come on, put it on!"

Svetlana hesitated, holding the sweater in her hands. It wasn't that she didn't like it, she loved that Damon had thought of her.

But putting it on meant matching with him, and... well, she wasn't sure she wanted to do that right now.

Their parents were here.

It felt a little embarrassing, even if the sweater itself was harmless.