Tangled in Tinsel (Holidates #1)(24)

Because we all need something to dampen the sexual firestorm I feel every time I see them. I spin around, eyes locking on the closet. Yep, there’s no point in fighting who I am.

If they want this body, then they’ll have to play by my rules first.





I start toward the bedroom door, then stop again.

Oh, this might be the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever done. I turn to face the mirror on the side wall next to the door, taking myself in as a laugh escapes.

I’m dressed head to toe in mismatched snow gear.

I put on everything I found in Alec’s closet—black snow pants too long, a red puffy jacket that’s already making me sweat, and snow boots too big.

Good god, even the beanie on me looks enormous.

I tug it down again over my hair, the Niners’ insignia almost covered because of the way I had to fold it so that I wasn’t blind.

“This is ridiculous,” I say aloud before reaching down and yanking up the pants again. I do a little jump to help before tightening the belt as much as it will go again.

Oh god. I look like that kid from A Christmas Story who couldn’t lower his arms because his mom put him in a thousand layers. The only difference is his clothes fit.

But this is exactly the cold shower we all needed. There’s no way we’ll think about sex…not with me looking like a jack-off Jack Frost.

I grab the door handle and take a deep breath before swinging it open and clunking through.

Game time.

Their voices echo off the walls. Laughter mixed with all the bass in those deep voices. I’m already biting my lip as I take one awkward step after another, adjusting my jacket. God, Alec wears a size three-hundred shoe compared to my size eight. I might as well be wearing clown shoes.

I bet I know what won’t be clown size, though. The thought has me grinning. Because I keep thinking, what if it was? Clown size. Would it be a grower, not a shower?

Like how a clown car keeps producing person after person even though it’s Tonka sized.

My deep thoughts are circulating as my stomach starts flipping over and over. Because the closer I come to the end of the hallway, the more nervous I get.

This is stupid. What am I doing?

Jace’s voice cuts through the others.

“She’s been hiding for a while now. This is your fault, Reed. Maybe I should check on her?”

Shit. Instinctually I try to spin around, but I go nowhere.

I’m planted, hostage to size fifteen boots. I couldn’t run away even if I tried. I’d break my fucking ankle. My ass almost hits the ground, but I squat, balancing myself as my palms hit the wall, bracing my dignity and myself before I push back to standing.

“No, she’ll come when she’s ready,” Alec levels as I mouth, yep, and ready or not, here I come.

No turning back now. With one more deep breath, I noisily make the last of the hidden steps before rounding the corner and coming into view. I was planning to clear my throat to gather their attention. But Jace notices me first from where he’s sitting on the couch. His eyebrows raise, eyes wide as those dimples indent with his growing smile.

“Oh, wow. That’s something.”

Reed follows Jace’s eyeline as he speaks before almost spitting out the coffee in his mouth and choking out, “What the fuck are you wearing, sunshine?”

They’re all staring, and I’m regretting every bit of this harebrained idea. But I ignore the rational part of my brain and just keep going.

“Just sit down and be quiet,” I rush out, waving my hand like I’m trying to swat away my humiliation.

I steel my spine and start walking toward the couch.

“I needed a cold shower, so to speak. My head gets fuzzy around all your—” I pause, looking around at them before I start walking again. “All your charm. So thirty-seven layers were my best defense.”

Reed’s still laughing as he sets his coffee mug down, staring at me.

I turn to Alec, who’s leaning his elbow on the arm of the chair while running his thumb over his bottom lip as I say, “What? I’d say it almost fits. You did loan me your shirt, so I figured this would be okay too.”

I can’t help myself. I’m flirting. Just a little.

Alec is, too, though. Just not with words.

As I stop in front of the coffee table, his eyes shine with amusement. I glance over my shoulder. Great, right in front of the fireplace.

“Okay,” I breathe out, looking around the room. “Obviously, there’s been a change of plans. So everyone, have a seat on the couch, and we’ll get started. Quickly, before I die of embarrassment and/or heat in this getup.”

“Started for what? Snowboarding lessons?” Jace teases, spanning his arms across the back of the couch and kicking his legs out as I roll my eyes playfully.

Reed cocks his head, a glint in his eyes. “No lesson needed, pal. I was snowboarded once in college.”

Jesus. Christ. My eyes bulge out of my head.

Somehow, I. Of all people. Know what that means. My head swings between him and Jace as my words come tumbling out.

“What? No. I’m not doing that to you—” I shift around, looking between them again. “That’s not what I meant.” I’m chuckling, waving up and down in my outfit. “This was to help me think…not to infer…because I have questions. Just questions. I’m not snowboarding anyone.”