Page 29 of Filthy Rich Santas

I flip the shower on, biting my lip as I adjust the water temperature. I have no doubt at all that my family will see lupus as just one more of my personal failings, just like Wade did, if I were to bring it up during this visit. So I won’t. Just like I obviously won’t bring up my interest in exploring kink, or admit that I still love to draw, or share any of the other things I’m learning about myself the more time I spend away from their oppressive, judgmental expectations, either.

I laugh wryly as I step under the spray of water. At this point, I’m keeping so many secrets from my family that there won’t be a lot Icantalk with them about over Christmas… so I guess it’s lucky for me that my folks aren’t big on heartfelt conversations.

I hear my phone chime with an incoming text just as I’m stepping out of the shower, and as I go to check it, I take a cleansing breath.

The hangover, thankfully fading now, stole some of my natural optimism this morning, but it’s time to shake that off and remember who I actually want to be. And that’s definitely not a cynical Grinch.

The text is from my brother, and I grin at the screen. I may not be looking forward to this holiday visit, but Iamlooking forward to seeing him.

CALEB: Hey, sis! I hear the guys decided to drive out with you this year. I’m glad you’ll have the company. Can’t wait to see all four of you!

I smile, my heart already lighter as I type out a reply.

ME: I’m excited to see you too!

ME: Almost as excited as you looked when you scored that winning goal against the Bruins last weekend. I hope you know your victory shimmy is a trending meme now.

He sends back a row of laughing emojis, then a three-second video of him, which he must have just recorded, given the bad case of bedhead he has. He’s shaking his hips the way he did on the ice after that goal, and it makes me laugh out loud for real.

It’s not until I’m dressed and headed out of the hotel room to find the guys that it occurs to me they must have reached out to Caleb last night to tell him they’re on this road trip with me.

Oh shit. I hope like hell that’sallthey told him.

I know all four of them are still really close, and I’d die of embarrassment if Caleb knew what I said to the three of them last night. Although I also can’t imagine a world in which they told Caleb and he didn’t lecture me about it instead of sending me a silly video, so maybe I’m safe.

The guys are all waiting for me near the hotel’s buffet-style breakfast offerings, and to my horror, I feel myself blushing all over again at the sight of them.

“Good morning, love,” Ryder says cheerily, as if I didn’t imply last night that I’d happily climb any one of them like a tree if given the chance.

I mumble an awkward reply, not sure what to say to get things back to normal.

The guys don’t help. Beckett is his usual gruff self, Tristan looks completely engrossed in waffles and coffee, and while Ryder has always been able to carry a conversation all on his own when needed, I can’t seem to shake the dread that they’re all secretly looking at me with pity now, knowing how badly I want them.

By the time we finally head out to the SUV, I can’t stand it. I have to saysomething.

“Thank you guys for coming to rescue me last night,” I blurt, my cheeks warming.

Beckett grunts something unintelligible and takes my suitcase from me, tossing it in the back, and Tristan gives my shoulder a friendly squeeze.

Ryder is right next to me, keys jingling in his hand, and he tips my chin up so I have no choice but to look into his warm brown eyes.

They’ve got little flecks of gold in them, and when he smiles enough for them to crinkle at the corners, it takes him from gorgeous to unfairly attractive.

“We’ll always come rescue you,” he says softly, making it sound so sincere that it banishes some of my awkwardness.

“Thank you,” I say, letting out a little breath as the knots in my stomach unwind a little. Then, before he can react, I snatch the keys out of his hand and slip into the driver’s seat. “I’ll take the first leg of driving.”

Ryder leans in through the still-open driver’s door, shaking his head. “You don’t have to do that, love. We’ve got this.”

“No,” I insist. “I want to pull my weight.”

He almost looks like he’s going to argue again, but then Beckett slips into the passenger seat next to me and growls something under his breath that sounds likelittle menace, and Ryder laughs and backs off.

I press my lips together to hold off a smile as he slides in next to Tristan in the back and we hit the road. It’s nice to feel like Beckett has my back.

I mean, it’s also nice that Ryder wants to coddle me a little, but while I like the idea of being spoiled by hot men as much as any woman would, feeling competent—and liketheyknow I’m competent, especially after the fool I made of myself last night—feels even better.

GPS guides me as I navigate away from the hotel, and just as I hit the freeway, Tristan chuckles from the back seat.

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