Best Friends Don't Kiss(64)

Trust me, I know. I’m a fucking asshole coward.

“I think it’s time for Teddy 12 to have a friend, though,” I suggest, and she mulls it over for a moment, even reaching out to take the cactus into her own hands.

She inspects it carefully, turning it from one side to the other. “You know, he probably does get lonely sometimes…” She pauses and smiles up at me. “You think we can get him on the plane without too much trouble?”

I nod.

“Okay,” she says, and her responding smile is magnificent. “You’ve convinced me. Let’s bring Tom home.”

Tom.

Figures it took her all of two minutes before naming the prickly bastard.

Yeah, and it’s shit like this that you love about her the most.





Ava



“For two people who don’t really like to drink, we sure end up at bars a lot, huh?” Luke whispers into my ear as he opens the door to The Pub, a staple in my hometown.

I grin up at him as he places a hand to the small of my back and guides us inside. A rush of warm air hits me in the face, unthawing my cheeks and nose and ears from the blistery air.

Any day now, it’s going to snow. I just know it. Vermont will have a Christmas that’s so white, even Bing Crosby would be jealous.

“There they are.” I spot my sisters, Em and Kate, standing in the back corner, drinks in hand and music urging their bodies to move to the beat. Landon and Zach, their respective men, stand beside them, drinks also in their hands and chatting animatedly with each other.

Luke leads the way, and even through the thickness of my winter coat, I can feel the warmth of his hand pressing gently against my lower back.

But I try not to think too much about it. Or how acutely aware I am of it.

Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that.

“Ava! Luke!” Em is the first one to see us. A lazy smile spreads across her face, and she awkwardly wraps us both into a hug, one arm on my shoulder and one arm pulling Luke into the mix.

“Yay! You guys finally made it!” Kate is next, joining in on the group hug, the force of her giddy presence pushing my face to smash into Luke’s.

I burst into laughter, and he just grins at me out of the corner of his eye, his cheek literally smushed against mine.

“I think we’re behind in the drink department, Ace,” he whispers toward me once we’re released from the jaws-of-life hug

“You guys definitely are,” Zach comments and reaches out to shake Luke’s hand and offer me a friendly hug.

“Hey, guys.” Landon does the same.

“So, how was shopping?” Em asks, taking a sip from her red wine with already red-stained lips. My guess is that my sis is on glass number three for the night.

“Horrible,” Luke teases, and I nudge him in the stomach with my elbow.

“It was not that bad.”

“Nah, it wasn’t that bad.” He smirks. “We just hit every store in the mall. Twice.”

“You’re such a drama queen.” I snort. “You had fun.”

“You’re right. I did.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and presses a kiss to my forehead. I falter a little when his lips touch my skin but remind myself this is part of the game. This is why he’s here. To make everyone believe he’s my boyfriend.

It’s actually a good thing that he’s able to do boyfriend-y things like that with a naturalness that keeps surprising even me. It’s good that, to an outsider, it seems like we’ve been in a relationship for years. Like we’re always this way. Touchy-feely, affectionate, in love.

Too bad, deep down, you’re starting to wish it wasn’t just an act…

Internally, I shake off my insane thoughts, shrug off my winter coat and hang it on the back of a chair, and proceed to tell Kate and Em a little more about my shopping trip, while Luke heads to the bar and grabs us a drink.

All in all, it was a successful trip. I was able to get our mom and two aunts Coach totes. Ones that should be perfect for their Bruce dog-park days. You know, the ones where they spend most of their time taking unsolicited pictures of strangers.

I got Guy Lucie—the man, the myth, the holiday legend—a few new Christmas decorations to add to his collection. Ones I’m certain he doesn’t have yet.

I found the perfect white silk robe that I had embroidered with Bride on the back for Kate to wear while she’s getting ready on her wedding day. And I got Em a gift card to finally get her eyelashes done. It’s something she’s been talking about for the last year and still hasn’t done it. Now, she won’t have an excuse.

Of course, those last two gifts aren’t mentioned.

“What did you end up getting Luke?” Kate asks.

I shrug, and a giggle pops from my lips. “Something I hope he’ll like. I’ll be honest, men are not easy to buy for.”

Em laughs. “I can vouch for that, sis. Every year it’s a struggle to find Landon something.”

Frankly, Luke was my biggest challenge while shopping. I had no idea what to get him, and I’m still wondering if it’s too simple, but when I came up with the idea, it just felt…right.

Now, I guess I have to wait until Christmas for him to open it…

“What are you ladies giggling about?” Luke asks, a handsome smile kissing his lips.