Page 211 of Piece Us Together

Hunter bites his lip, but it doesn’t help him contain his smirk. I glare at him and his stupid smirk. When Nolan says, “I mean… it’s a unique decision, but I respect it,” I turn my glare on him. He pats me.Patsme. On the head. Like a toddler.

“It tastes great,” Carter says around a mouthful. “Yellow stockings are delicious.”

I put a hand out as if he’s proven my point. “See? Thank you!”

“Why are you thanking him?” Nolan teases. “The compliment was for me. I’m the one that made them taste good. You’re the one who chose to make a yellow stocking.”

“Be nice,” Hunter chides, but he’s still smirking, so I continue glaring. “Maison provided excellent moral support for those cookies.”

“And I did the cookie shape cutter things,” I add, not realizing how ridiculous I sound until after I’ve said it. I’m in this now, though. I have drawn a line. I will live or die on this yellow Christmas stocking cookie whether I like it or not.

“Yes, babe. You did great with the cookie shape cutter things.”

“I hate all of you.”

“Awwww, but you really don’t,” Carter says, coming around the counter to give me a hug. He even does grabby hands to telegraph his intentions.

I’m a fool, letting go of the cookies in order to receive the hug. I’m in the middle of an eyeroll when Bryce darts forward and snags the plate before hurrying back to Max where they each immediately take two.

In my brother’s defense, he seems just as surprised as me, his hug more of a fall forward than anything. I catch him with a laugh and squeeze the shit out of him. Well, squeeze him untilhe squeaks and then let him go and ruffle his hair until he grumbles, “Stop it,” like he used to as a kid.

“I really don’t hate you,” I promise him before narrowing my eyes at the others, lingering extra-long on Bryce. “The rest of you, though…”

Hunter tilts his head as he walks toward me. It’s this tilt he does when he’s considering me or Nolan. Usually in bed. The tilt that means he’s calculating, figuring out what to do with us next, figuring out the best way to take us apart. I gulp. He smiles.

He leans down, lips brushing the shell of my ear. I stare at the counter, my cheeks hot, as he whispers, “I’m not too worried, kitten. I’ll earn it back later.”

Suffice to say, I’m ready to fucking leave already.

Hunter is bossy the moment we get home, sending Nolan into the kitchen for snacks and drinks and me to the fireplace to get a fire started. He spends the time collecting blankets, creating a fluffy pile for us to sit on before sitting a little off to the side. I use the lighter to catch a few more pieces of newspaper on fire before taking a seat beside him. The logs softly crackle as they catch and ignite.

I cross my arm over Hunter’s where we have them placed behind ourselves to prop up our weight. He rests his chin on myshoulder and kisses the side of my neck, just below my ear. My eyes fall closed, a happy sigh slipping free.

I catch Nolan coming toward us and smile at him. He smiles back. Beams, really. He has another blanket draped over an arm and a little serving tray with three mugs and a plate of the Christmas cookies on it. He sets the tray down in front of the fire before lowering himself halfway and wiggling his butt until Hunter and I adjust our legs so he can settle between us. We keep our torsos pressed closed though, letting him lean his back against the two of us. I press a kiss to the top of his head when he’s settled. Hunter goes to do the same, bumping my forehead. We laugh together as he takes my place to kiss Nolan’s hair while I kiss his forehead better.

Nolan reaches an arm out and wiggles his fingers toward the tray he clearly can’t reach. I roll my eyes at him, but I’m a sucker for him so I leave our cozy bubble. There isn’t a good place to put the trays, so I just hand them each a hot chocolate - with a little too many marshmallows, but I doubt Hunter will point that out for the same reason I won’t be - and set the plate of cookies on Nolan’s lap.

“Tonight was nice,” Hunter says once I’m resettled. “Thank you for letting me come along.”

“Even with our crazy friends?” I tease.

He chuckles. “I’m sure you’ll get plenty of craziness from my crew at our party. It’s only fair.”

“Oh my god, speaking of craziness!” Nolan turns to look at me, then at Hunter, then at me, then at Hunter, before sighing, setting the plate of cookies and his mug down on the fireplace ledge and turning around so he can look at the two of us at the same time. “I have to tell you guys something really juicy.”

“Who says juicy anymore?” I ask.

He doesn’t deign my teasing with a response. “Ace and Matt kissed.”

Now, see, thatisjuicy.

We all knew that Ace was weak for Matt and that Matt felt safe with Ace, but the more time that passed, the more we all started to think that maybe they were just friends. Just a safe place for each other. Which was fine. Shit doesn’t always have to get romantic.

But now they’re kissing.

I need much more information, and Nolan’s shit-eating grin tells me he’s fully aware. He makes me ask for it. “When did this happen? How did it happen? Did he just tell you tonight?”

“It happened when I went to go find him to tell him we were leaving.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “I found him. In the back hallway. Being kissed by Ace.”

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