Page 20 of Accidentally Under Your Tree

"I'm sorry," he said.

"If you did nothing wrong, why are you apologizing?" Shay challenged.

For just a moment, he looked at her, and I missed the pressure of his eyes. I was such a fool for wanting his attention, but I did. This was messier than meeting a man in a bar. This was messier than a one-night stand. This would only get messier by me wanting him.

"I made her feel fucking terrible." His eyes found me once more, tugging me toward him all over again. "I'm sorry."

The tight string bound around my chest loosened. A little consolation prize that at least I hadn't read him wrong.

I jerked my head toward Shay. "Can he sit with you?"

She heaved a tremendous sigh, then scooted further into her booth.

"Thanks," he mumbled.

He assessed my smeared mascara and pink nose. A muscle flexed in his jaw, and I could read his regret in the set of his brows.

Jerking his chin toward the drink in front of me, he said, “That’s not a vodka cranberry.”

“Last night might have ruined them for me.” I smirked down at the table. “Maybe I’ll only drink them during power outages.”

The corners of his mouth twitched up.

It took a few moments for me to notice Shay and Rose glancing between us, followed by Shay pursing her lips.

Messy, a little voice in my head urged. Even as I relaxed my guard a further.

"So, how did you find us, anyway?" Shay asked.

If I hadn't been sitting so close to Rose, I might have missed the way she tensed. Her voice remained deceptively calm. "We went to your house first."

Shay's lip curled, and I imagined she was fed up with all of us. "You saw Lawrence?"

"Yes, I saw him." Rose looked down at her white, sparkly painted nails. "Don't worry, he's still in one piece."

Just under her breath, Shay mumbled, "I doubt it."

Will sent me a questioning look that flipped my stomach upside down. He took my shrug for an answer.

In unison, the four of us lifted our beverages and swallowed long drinks.

Will

Five nights before Christmas

Being a gentleman was the damned worst. My entire body was sore from sleeping on the floor—but it'd be too weird to share a bed with Rose. So, I'd made a pathetic nest on the carpet with as many extra blankets and pillows as we could sneak into the spare bedroom without her parents noticing.

I stretched my arm across my chest and my shoulder cracked while Rose drooled on a pillow that looked like a cloud. Stepping into the hallway, I resisted shaking her awake out of vengefulness.

I followed the smell of coffee to the kitchen. Only to find Lizzy.

Her hair was in a bun on top of her head, and she wore a burgundy robe tied around her waist. Fluffy slippers covered her feet. Her ankles were bare. So bare…

I didn't think I'd ever been more aware of another person's ankles. I felt like an olden times pervert, lusting over the smooth skin peaking between her slippers and pajama pants.

"Good morning." She swiped a hand over the wild strands of her hair curling around her shoulders.

I cleared my throat, but my voice still sounded scraped with gravel with my reply. "Good morning."

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