Page 81 of Deadly Secrets

Within the crimson velvet box rested a golden necklace with a locket pendant. The necklace concealed two pictures, one on each side: my dad and my mom. I tried to swallow a sob that got caught in my throat.

“Zayn…” I couldn’t speak. Tears pricked my eyes. This beautiful man was not only good at listening and sex, but he also had a beautiful soul and remarkable gift-giving skills. “It’s beautiful. I…I love it.” I turned to face him and gently placed a kiss on his cheek, lingering for a few seconds longer than necessary.

“Okay. Now mine.” Ander stood and took a box from under the tree, placing it in front of me. “I hope you like it as much as I did when I put it together.”

I frowned, unsure of what he meant. Was it a DIY present?

I opened the box.

As soon as I realized what it contained, I gasped in surprise. Inside, I found a Pride & Prejudice DVD Special Collection, a pink hoodie with the phrase “Most ardently,” Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars (my favorite), and various other items that stirred memories of our shared childhood. Yet two items stood out among the rest within that box. There was a stack of letters, four, neatly bundled with jute twine, accompanied by a note that read, “To read on January 1st. You need to know the past to understand the present and face the future. With love, Ander.” Those two words—with love—sent my heart racing. Trying not to make eye contact with him, I picked up the other object that had piqued my interest. A young Sienna and Ander gazed back at me when I flipped over the frame. I vividly recalled that trip to Hawaii in the summer of 2008. I was missing my front teeth, and Ander couldn’t resist poking fun at me during the entire trip. I gently traced my fingers over the photograph. In the picture, he carried me on his back along the shoreline in Maui. I crawled on my hands and knees to where he was seated, planted a tender kiss on his cheek, and whispered in his ear, ensuring our words were for our ears alone, “Thank you, Ander. You’re my Christmas miracle, and I’m never letting you go.” Then I retreated, locking eyes with him briefly before we resumed unwrapping our presents.

* * *

It was snowing.

I sat outside, protected by a thick blanket wrapped around me, cradling a hot latte in my hands. I always loved Rye during the winter season. It looked magical.

At last, everything was quiet, and I enjoyed the simple pleasure of listening to the snowflakes fall. All morning, trucks came and went, bringing furniture and stuff to decorate the New Year’s party salon.

I reached into my sweater, pulled out the locket, and opened it. Zayn had printed two pictures from my Instagram account so I could always carry my parents with me. It had been one of my favorite presents ever.

The sound of a vehicle pulled me back to reality. I smiled when I noticed a Ford F-150 coming into view.

Noah.

Ander had confirmed with him that he would be joining us for a few days before the party. Noah quickly exited the rental car, retrieving a suitcase from the trunk, and then hurried toward the entrance, where I stood waiting.

“I’ve missed you, princess,” he confessed.

Placing my coffee mug on the bench, I outstretched my arms, and an excited Noah lifted me into the air, spinning me around.

There was an indescribable feeling of completeness, knowing that all three of them would be under the same roof. It was hard to put into words, but my heart overflowed with happiness now that Noah was here with us, with me.

“I’ve missed you too, golden boy,” I replied as Noah brushed my hair aside and tenderly kissed my neck, sending a wave of butterflies dancing in my belly.

“How was Christmas?”

“I had an amazing time. If you had been here, it would have been perfect. How’s your family?”

Noah put me down but quickly grabbed my hand, interlacing our fingers.

“They’re good. My parents had some friends over. Nothing formal, which was great, and my obaachan came over from Tokyo. I dropped her this morning at DCA before driving here.”

“Who’s your obaachan? And you drove all the way from Washington? You must be exhausted, Noah! It’s a long drive…come, let me help you with the luggage.” I attempted to grab the suitcase, but Noah pushed it farther away from my reach.

“Obaachan means grandma in Japanese, and I’m far from tired,” he mentioned, using the hand that held mine to push me closer to him. Noah lowered his face until his lips were mere inches from mine. His gaze dropped to my mouth, and he asked, “Do I need to show you how far from tired I am?”

I hoped that the redness in my cheeks and nose from the cold would conceal the blush that slowly spread up my neck.

Confirmed.

I was horny as fuck and trapped in a house filled with gorgeous men.

“Let’s go inside, princess, but before that…can you explain to me what the fuck is ‘Christmathon’ and why Maggie has been texting me nonstop about it for the past forty-eight hours?”

* * *

“I say we take a shot every time someone says Kevin.” Maggie’s suggestion was practically a suicide attempt.

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