Page 69 of The Mistletoe Trap
Julie placed her hand on his knee. “Is everything okay? You don’t seem to be shining with the same Christmas spirit as everyone else.”
He ran his fingers over his forehead, bunching and smoothing the skin. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“Well, tell it to take a backseat. This day comes only once a year.”
“Every day comes only once a year,” he retorted, and she frowned at him. She also did her best to stifle the sting his snippiness caused. As she began to pull away, he covered her hand with his. “I’m sorry, Jules. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. Maybe I’m just hungry. I’m gonna grab some breakfast and see if that helps.”
Unsure what else to do, Julie nodded. Last night they’d grown closer than ever, so why did he suddenly feel so far away? Her eyes burned, and if they dared to tear up, she’d stab them right out, Oedipus style.
Eyeballs were super cool to dissect, though, and if she did stab hers out, she’d never get to cut up anything to analyze again.
Two steps toward the kitchen and Gavin abruptly spun back around. She sucked in a breath, and with any luck, the tears vacuumed themselves back into their ducts. Even though nothing in the laws of science made that possible.
“Do you want me to grab you anything? I never did let you eat your plate of food last night.”
If the others wouldn’t overhear, she’d make a joke about being hungry for something else. Surely they’d have time to do it once more before his flight tonight, because as satisfying as it’d been, she doubted she’d ever get her fill. “Thanks, but I ate half the candy in my stocking, so I’m already regretting that. Don’t worry, I’ll forget about the regret in a few hours and eat too much all over again.”
And then we’ll burn it off the fun way.
The right side of his mouth lifted, but the other side didn’t get in on the smile, leaving it less brilliant than usual.
Before she could fixate too much on the flip in his mood, Niki plunked herself in the spot he’d abandoned. “Did you like the present I gave you two last night? All that time to yourselves, and it sounds like you made the most of it.”
“Oh, you wanna hear all about your brother being naked? Perhaps some details regarding how big a certain anatomical part is?”
She pulled a face. “Ew, no. Just let me enjoy the part I played.”
“What do you mean the part you played? Does this have to do with the parent trap comment your mom made?”
“Reverseparent trap,” Niki corrected, as if that were the most important part of the question.
Julie arched her eyebrows. “Explain.”
“I didn’t get it at first. Then mom told me about this old movie, where two girls discovered they were twins. After their parents divorced, each parent took one of them and they were young enough they didn’t remember, or find out about it until they ended up at the same camp.”
“That’s disturbing.”
“Yeah, flawed logic at best. But I made my roommates watch it, and the twins switch places and basically force their parents together. It’s rocky at the beginning, but then”—Niki clasped her hands to her chest—”they realize they’re still in love.”
“Sounds mighty convenient.”
“Maybe a little, but love’s never really convenient, you know?”
Unfortunately, she did. Because ever since waking up this morning, she’d look at Gavin and experience this intense heart-squeeze that spoke to more than friendly feelings, and more than her body enjoying his. Thanks to the madness of the day, they hadn’t had the chance to even have a private conversation.
Not that it’d change anything.
Would it? Last night there’d been talk of future “beeping,” claiming her breasts with flags, and he’d said it was amazing for him, too.Fucking incredible, that was, and along with a flare of heat, Julie’s heart swelled as she replayed the words.
“Girl, that face is proof enough that you get it.”
“It’s just my face, Nik,” Julie automatically said, and then she glanced around the room to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Least of all Gavin, who was obviously not in the mood to discuss any of this with his family. So she quickly turned the tables. “You haven’t mentioned much about the guys at college. Anyone catch your interest?”
“I wish. College guys are so immature. I thought it’d be better once I graduated high school, but nope. If I could choose my sexual orientation, I would go for pretty much any other option. Female, robot, alien—whatever.”
Julie gave a sympathetic laugh. “I’m so sorry. But I get what you mean.”
“Don’t get me started on how they react when I tell them I play basketball.” Her upper lip curled, packing a whole lot of disgust for such a tiny movement. “They’ll say things like ‘oh, that’s so cute.’ Ummmm, no it’s fucking not. I’m a certified badass.”
