Page 84 of Tell Me Lies

For so long, I wrote fairy tales because I wanted to get as close as possible to feel the magic of them, knowing it was far-fetched to ever land myself a happily ever after in real life. Yet here I stand. And I can say, without a shadow of a doubt … this fairy tale is greater than any words I could ever write.

Maci shows my family her ring, and I am loving the smile that spreads from ear to ear on her beautiful face. This Christmas is one for the books for sure.

“My big brother finally found someone to marry his ugly ass!” Link says, throwing his arm around me. “I guess it’s true what they say. There really is someone for everyone, huh?”

“Har har.” I pretend to laugh but shove him off of me. “Everyone knows I’m the hottest Sterns man. But whatever makes you feel better, by all means, Linky Dinky, go ahead.”

“Don’t get too carried away, little brother. Trav just landed a modeling gig,” Carter says, holding his beer up toward Travis. “I don’t see any of us getting approached by big-time photographers. Well, aside from the two of you with those underwear campaigns.” Carter frowns. “Those make me uncomfortable, FYI.”

“Yeah? Think of how we feel. We have to sit there with our junk poking through the thin fabric while a room full of people stare at us,” Link says, rolling his eyes.

“I, for one, don’t give a f—crap,” I say with a shrug. “Liberating, to be honest.” I point at my baby brother. “So, you’re a famous model now? Is that what you’re saying? What happened to being a doctor?”

“Well, first off, med school is expensive. I gotta pay my debt somehow,” he answers matter-of-factly. “And second, I wouldn’t say famous.”

Maci walks beside me, putting her arm around my waist and grinning. “Actually, I’ve seen his pictures floating around social media, and I’d totally put him on a cover.”

My mouth hangs open. “You haven’t even put me on your cover.”

“Duh, because you’re too ugly,” Link chimes, taking a chip and dunking it in the dip.

“Don’t be an ass,” Tate says, driving her finger into his side. “Also, save some chips for the rest of us, would you?”

Link freezes for a second before he shoves the entire thing in his mouth and reaches for another. “I can’t help it; I’m hungry, and smelling that prime rib cooking is making my stomach growl.”

Ignoring everyone else, I look down at my fiancée again, putting on my best pouty face. Because hell no am I accepting that she’d put Travis on one of her books before me.

“You’d put Trav on your cover and not me?” I wave my hand at my face. “Is this not a money shot?”

“Face it, Logie. You’re getting old,” Carter calls out nonchalantly. “You and Link are too washed up now.”

“Fuck did I do to get brought into this?” Link mutters.

Maci giggles, putting her hand on my chest. “You aren’t too old. Well, maybe for some of my stories, you would be. But, Logan Sterns, if I put you on my cover, there’d be thousands of people around the world reading those spicy scenes and imagining you—akamyfiancé.” She wags her finger. “Nah-uh-uh. I don’t think so. I’m not having you in my readers spank banks.”

“But you want me in a spank bank?” Travis says, sounding offended. “I don’t know how I feel about that. I mean, just how dirty are your books, Mace?”

“Yeah, Mace, how dirty are these books?” I say, raising an eyebrow and dropping my voice down. “And how on earth do you come up with the inspiration for them?”

Ignoring me, she glances at Travis. “They aren’tthatbad,” rushes from her lips. “You know what? Just forget I said anything.” She cringes. “Anyway … modeling, huh? So exciting.”

“Someone’s nerrrrrvous,” I utter into her ear.

Suddenly, Crew and Amelia run into the kitchen and rush in front of Maci.

“When are we doing the cookies?” She puts her little hand on Maci’s knee and bounces up and down with excitement. “I’m doing a reindeer cookie.” She looks at Crew, grabbing his hand. “Which one are you going to do, Crewy?”

“A baseball one,” he says instantly. “With sprinkles.”

“We don’t—” Amelia starts to say, but Maci sweetly takes over.

“That sounds great, Crew. And I bet it’ll taste good too.”

As Crew turns toward Tate, a grin spreads across his face. “Mama, did you hear that? I can do a baseball cookie.”

“Awesome. How … festive.” She smiles, cringing slightly before she scoops him up.

Amelia looks at me, frowning. “It’s Christmas, Daddy. We’re notapposedtomake baseball cookies.”

---