Page 47 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

The twins nodded. “We’re on it,” they said in tandem.

Julien laughed in surprise. “Do they do that a lot?”

Walter chuckled. “You get used to it. Umm, did you guys work things out in the end?” he asked when the twins had disappeared into the pantry where the wine cooler was.

Julien shrugged. “It’s complicated. I guess I’m staying, though.”

“I’m happy about that,” Wally said. “It’s nice to have a friend here.”

Julien smiled and then said, “Yeah. It really is.” Wally wasn’t the type of guy he usually made friends with, but he wasfriendly and welcoming, and Julien was glad he was there with them. He just hoped he wasn’t hurt about what had been said about him.

“Are you good?” he asked.

Wally nodded. “Yeah. I’m glad we cleared the air. It would have been rough to marry Hailey if her twin didn’t like me.”

“I don’t think he dislikes you,” Julien assured him.

“I think it’s better now that you’re here. Tyler probably felt left out, but how can he with you around?” Wally asked with a laugh.

Julien shook his head and clicked his tongue. “You have got to stop this, Wally. We’re taken, men.”

Wally snort-laughed. “You’re an idiot.”

“Found a rosé,” Hailey said as she returned with glasses and a bottle. She looked between Julien and Walter for a moment, grinned, and thrust the bottle at Julien. “Hurry before Dad sees. If we open it, it’s open, but he’ll try to get us to drink something else if henotices.”

Julien made quick work of the cork, and they poured themselves hefty glasses. It tasted nice. Julien was not a wine guy, but Mr. Ashford had good stock.

“Cheers.” Hailey clinked her glass to everyone’s. “Make sure to make eye contact, or it’s seven years of bad sex.”

“Oh, is that what my problem is?” Tyler asked. His blue eyes were wide over the rim of his wine glass as if to prove to the universe he wanted to make eye contact.

Julien couldn’t help but open his eyes wider and lean in, staring Tyler down. “Yeah. I’m not risking it.”

Tyler giggled.

It was too late by the time Mr. Ashford realized his kids had stolen wine. He decided to pour himself a glass as well.

“Come on, Tyler, Julien. You’re up next,” he said when Cece and her family moved away from the tree.

“Us?” Tyler took a step back. “Oh, I don’t know if Julien really wants—” Tyler was cut off by Mr. Ashford, who grabbed him by the shoulder and led him to the tree.

Julien frowned but followed. “It’s okay.” It wasn’t different from the pictures they had taken a few days ago. Just more lights, more matching, and more just them two.

Mr. Ashford took their wine glasses and smiled as they set up near the front of the tree.

Tyler raised his eyebrows and watched Julien with uncertainty. Julien smiled at him. “You look cute.”

Tyler scrunched his face, but soon enough, the photographer was down to business. He instructed them to move closer, to look at each other, to look away, for Tyler to put his hand on Julien’s chest, for them to smile broader, and then he instructed them to kiss.

Julien watched Tyler swallow nervously, and he grinned. “Come here.” He took Tyler’s chin in his hand and tilted his face up so he could gently kiss his lips.

The same as the previous time, Tyler’s mouth was pliant and willing, opening for him like a teasing promise.

He pressed a few quick kisses to his mouth, enjoying the hesitant way Tyler responded at first, before his mouth moved in kind, opening a smidge more, justenough that Julien could slip his tongue past his lips for the briefest of tastes.

He’d wanted to kiss Tyler again since the first peck under the mistletoe, and this was the perfect excuse to give in to those desires.

Tyler placed his hand behind Julien’s head and pulled him closer for a deeper kiss.

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