Page 3 of Shut Up and Jingle Me
Max blinks at him. “Tests well? What am I, a protein bar?”
“A hot one,” Daniel calls from his bench, earning a round of laughter.
Max’s eyes narrow, but then he sighs, leaning back against the doorway again. “Perfect,” he bites out, the grimace on his face says the word tastes bitter in his mouth.
I, however, am grinning so hard my cheeks hurt. “Oh, this is going to befun.”
Max’s only response is a long-suffering sigh, but I swear there’s the tiniest twitch of his lips. He already knows I’m going to make this his most memorable holiday yet.
I sling my towel over my shoulder and saunter toward him, still riding the high from practice and the fact that fate—or Todd—has just handed me the perfect holiday gift. A sexy calendar shoot with one of the hottest men I know. It’s like winning the lottery.
“Calder,” I say, drawing out his name like I’m unwrapping it. “Don’t tell me you’re going to chicken out before we even get the twinkle lights plugged in. Are you scared?”
His eyes flick to mine, flat and unimpressed. “I don’t chicken out, Starling. I just don’t…volunteer for public humiliation.”
“Public admiration,” I correct, leaning one shoulder against the doorframe beside him, completely invading his space. “It’s for charity. But I get it if you’re too scared.”
“Yeah, still not scared.”
“I bet you’ll back out,” I say with a grin while I finger a string from his hoodie.
“I’ll take that bet, Starling. I’ll be there even if I’m dreading it.”
I bite down on my lip to hold back a grin that is even wider at getting exactly what I want. “People are going to swoon. Probably faint. The ambulance service should be on standby. Because together, we are going tobeChristmas under the tree.”
Max blinks once. “That’s supposed to make me feel better?”
“It’s supposed to make you feelfestive.” I chuckle. “Me, you, strategically placed fairy lights—maybe a little fake snow?”
“Starling—”
“Hot cocoa props?” I cut in. “Matching hats? I think you’re a ‘naughty list’ guy, but we can workshop it.”
He finally exhales a laugh, more like a short huff of disbelief than anything else. But it’s a win. “You’re relentless.”
“It’s called holiday spirit,” I say, patting his bicep. “Don’t worry. I’ve got enough for both of us.”
“Unfortunately for me,” he mutters.
I pause mid-step and look over my shoulder. “Not unfortunate. Think of it as…character development. By the time I’m done, you’ll be humming carols in your sleep. Your heart will even grow three sizes.”
His mouth twitches again, and it’s so close to a smile I can practically taste the victory. “If I wake up singing, I’m blaming you.”
“That’s the goal, Calder,” I say, winking before I head for the showers. “That’s the goal.”
Behind me, he says something low I can’t quite catch, but when I glance back, he’s watching me go with that same unreadable expression, half annoyance, half…something else.
TWO
MAX
It’s notthat I’m afraid of the calendar shoot. I just don’t like being roped into stupid things I didn’t sign up for, and anything involving Starling is guaranteed to be stupid. Loud. Glittery. Possibly sticky.
Sure, it’s for a good cause, that part isn’t stupid, and it will probably earn that charity a ton of money. I’ve seen the guys shirtless, and they will sell whatever they are trying to sell. It’s Starling.
The guy is obsessed with Christmas. It’s barely November, and all he does is sing carols at every practice. He could at least let Halloween have its victory lap. Sure, it’s been a week, but when I have to wait an entire year for my favorite holiday to come back, I need time to grieve.
But the second he threw down that bet, I knew I wasn’t walking away. Call it pride, call it not wanting to give him the satisfaction, but I’m not backing out.
