A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club #5) (63)

“You got up pretty early.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why?”

He started toward her across the lawn, his feet shin-deep in the snow. His eyes never wavered from hers and sent her heart into a rapid pattern behind her breastbone. Simon stopped at the bottom of the porch steps and looked up at her with an expression that could have melted the ice.

“Because I want to spend Christmas with you,” he said.

“The tow truck is coming today.” It was officially the saddest sentence she’d ever said.

“Doesn’t mean we have to leave yet.”

Chelsea’s feet began to move toward him, drawn by a gravity she didn’t understand. She stopped on the lowest step, which brought her eye to eye with him. “You don’t want to leave?”

“I don’t want you to leave.”

She could barely hear her own voice over the pounding of her heart. “But you don’t even like me.”

His features pinched in remorse. “Is that what you think?”

“What else should I think?” Somehow, they’d inched closer to each other. Close enough that she could make out the mixture of hues in his growing beard. Reds and coppers and light browns.

“The truth is,” he said, reaching for her hand, “I’m falling for you.”





CHAPTER SIXTEEN


“Is he messing with her just to get her to sell that house?”

Colton had no idea what Gretchen was talking about when she climbed into the front seat of his car Saturday night.

“Is who messing with who?” he said, starting the car.

“The book. A Cold Winter’s Night.”

“You’re still reading, huh?”

“I’m getting nervous. You’re sure this is going to turn out?”

Colton picked up her hand from where it rested on the console between them and kissed her knuckles. “I promise. It’s a romance novel. A happy ending is the only requirement.”

“But this is impossible. She lives in California. He lives in Michigan. She still wants to sell that house and he still wants her to keep it.”

“Have faith.”

“I don’t know. I don’t see why he would fall for her. She’s so grumpy all the time.”

“Weird how that can happen, isn’t it?”

She tried to pull her hand away with a disgruntled noise, but he held fast and pulled it back to his lips. “The sunshiny one always falls for the grumpy one, honey. It’s science.”

Vlad’s house was bright with Christmas lights when they pulled into his driveway.

“Are they going to make a big deal out of this?”

Colton’s hand was poised to knock on Vlad’s front door when Gretchen spoke. She stood next to him on the stoop in her practical black coat and the same turtleneck sweater she’d worn on their first date, but it was the way she gnawed at her bottom lip that caught his attention.

“A big deal?”

“Like shriek and yell, Oh my God, they’re here, and pat you on the back and say, It’s about fuckin’ time, and all that stuff?”

“Well, it is about fuckin’ time,” Colton said, bending to kiss her upturned lips. “But no, they’re not going to make a big deal out of it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why? You still embarrassed to be seen with me?”

“I have a reputation to uphold.”

The door flew open, and a frazzled Noah glowered from across the threshold. His hair stood on end as if he’d been trying to yank it out, and red fuzz clung to the front of his navy sweater vest. He wore a flannel shirt under it and was officially the only man alive who could wear an outfit like that and not resemble a Teddy Graham.

“Where have you been?” Noah grumbled.

Colton stepped to the side to let Gretchen go in first. Noah offered her a tight smile. “Hey, Gretchen, good to see you.”

“You too,” she said, shrugging out of her coat. “Are we late?”

Noah turned back to Colton. “You were supposed to be here a half hour ago.”

“We got delayed.” And this time, it was a euphemism. An energetic, quick one that Colton would’ve been happy to continue all night long.

“Well, we need you,” Noah said, shutting the door.

“What’s wrong?” Colton set down the bag of wrapped toys and his guitar case so he could take off his coat.

“Vlad is nervous.”

“Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”

Noah stomped to the stairs and raced up them two at a time.

“What’s Vlad nervous about?” Gretchen asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

“I hate surprises.”

“I know, but this one is great.” Colton pressed his lips to hers again and then— “Oh my God!” A joyous shriek brought them apart. Gretchen whipped around as if they’d just been busted again by her parents. At the end of the hallway stood Liv, a glass in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. On her face was a grin so wide that her cheeks appeared to strain in protest. Then, as if in a slow-motion scene from a horror movie, Liv turned around and yelled, “They’re here!”