Page 76 of Never Sleigh Never
She tilts her head. “Do you like Brie?”
The question hits harder than a shoulder to the ribs. I consider lying, but she’s too smart for that. “Yeah. I do.”
Her grin is pure mischief. “I think you really like her. You get this dorky face whenever she’s around.”
“I do not!” Do I? I never noticed. Then again, I’m too busy staring at Brie whenever she’s near to know what my facial muscles are doing.
“Yes, you do. It looks like this.” She cocks her head to the side. Her eyes go as wide as her grin, and she bats her eyelashes. “Grandma says she hasn’t seen you laugh and smile as much as you have when you’re around Brie.”
“So Grandma said that, huh?”
“Yup, but it’s true. I see it too.”
I groan. “Sometimes I think you’re too smart for your own good.”
She smirks. “One of us has to be.”
I press a kiss to her head. “Go to sleep, Peanut. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
When I close her door and lean against the railing at the top of the stairs, my chest squeezes. I haven’t felt like this since Brooke. And the truth? It terrifies me.
Twenty-Five
Thruples and Quadthruples
Brie
Yesterday was a curveball I never saw coming. Josie inviting me over. Logan cooking dinner. The movie. And that kiss. That kiss. We’re in some strange limbo of is this real or just temporary insanity? Because how do you admit you’ve developed feelings for your lifelong nemesis? Logan today isn’t the Logan from eighteen years ago, that much I know. I don’t know how long this will last, but for now? I’m buckling in and enjoying the ride. Worst case, we go back to hating each other later.
When I step into the Jolly Biscuit, the warm smell of coffee and pastries wraps around me like a hug, but my brain is busy replaying Logan’s lips on mine. A smile sneaks across my face before I can stop it.
“You’re the talk of the town this morning,” Willa sing-songs, wiggling her brows the second I walk in. “And your grin says it all.”
I bite my cheek, fighting it. “What are you talking about?”
“Have you checked the Shenanigans group? It’s more entertaining than any soap opera or tabloid magazine.”
“No.” Curiosity wins. I pull out my phone, scroll, and—yep. There it is. The top post started last night.
Margret: Whose car is this? I haven’t seen this car parked on my block before.
Larry: Isn’t that Brie McKenna’s car?
Margret: I thought her car was blue. This one is black.
Sue: It’s dark out. Maybe it looks black. Go outside and snap a closer picture.
Leslie: Does it have a Holly Jolly Festival sticker on the back?
Margret: *Posts a picture* It does. But why is she parked in front of Finn Whitlock’s house? I thought she was seeing Logan.
Larry: Someone better tell Logan.
Leslie: I thought Finn was with Vana.
Margret: I thought it was Valerie.
