Page 26 of Hostile for the Holidays

“Nothing,” she says.

“I’m going to fire up the grill,” her dad says, turning to head to the back patio.

“Jasper, would you like to join us for dinner?” her mom asks.

“He can’t,” Stella interjects, her eyes widening to relay the message that I’m not welcome at dinner.

I toss her a teasing smirk. “I’d love to join. Thank you.”

Behind her mom’s back, Stella narrows her gaze and bares her teeth in my direction. The softness from before is nowhere to be found.

I wonder if she’d really bite me. I’m so fucking crazy about her, I’m sure I’d like it.

“Oh, and the tree looks wonderful.” Her mom turns back to address us.

“I’ve still got to put the ornaments on,” Stella says.

“I’ll leave you to it.” Her mom walks off into the kitchen.

Stella turns to me. “You don’t need to stay for dinner. Your help with the tree is convincing enough.”

“I better stick around. Daniel will be freshly showered and might get some wild ideas.”

“Hmm, maybe. Do you think it’s weird he’s still flirting with me even though he thinks I have a boyfriend?”

I take the ornament from her hand and hang it high up on the tree.

It’s never stopped me.

“That’s why it’s important we show him our relationship is unshakable.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

A huge smile pulls at my lips, and Stella scowls at me. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Stella turns on her holiday playlist and we decorate to the tunes of Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson, and Britney Spears, our almost kiss gone, but not forgotten.

NINE

STELLA

“Everyone is goingto The Merry Moose tonight to hang out,” Sadie announces as she passes the platter of beef tenderloin to Daniel.

“Who’s everyone?” I ask, distracted as I pull my eyes from where I’ve been staring at Jasper’s lips for the hundredth time this meal.

I’ve been replaying the moment between us by the tree over and over, but it still doesn’t feel like it could have happened. Did I almost kiss Jasper?

His head had dipped low, making his intentions known, and instead of pulling back, I leaned in.

That wasn’t even the most alarming thing.

In that moment, when I was teasing the back of his neck with my fingers, I realized I’m attracted to Jasper. There had been the tell-tale flutter in my belly, the quickening of my pulse, and then to my horror, my underwear was soaked.

After my parents interrupted us, I’d pretended nothing had happened, continuing to hang ornaments with Jasper on the tree, all the while fighting the dull ache between my thighs. Before dinner, I’d escaped to my room to change my underwear,vehemently tossing the wet pair into my laundry hamper to rid myself of the evidence of my body’s traitorous actions.

“Friends from high school, anyone in town for the holidays and the wedding.” Sadie’s response brings me back to the conversation.

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