Page 73 of The Mistletoe Makeover

I know how nervous he is about this performance, and if we’re going to be seen together around town, people will expect me to be in the audience. It won’t matter if I’m there with the winner of the auction—no one will consider that a threat to Jace. But I still don’t want to do it.

Mom puts a hand on my arm. “Don’t be mad at him. He’s doing this for the festival... and he values your friendship. He’s trying to give you an experience you could never afford otherwise.”

I shake my head. I already know what would make me happy. And I can’t have him.

* * *

Ella stretches on a ladder, placing a shiny silver Christmas bulb on a tree. The old drugstore building hasn’t been used in years, but we’re dressing up every single shop window with a holiday display so that all the storefronts look full of life. It’s part of my friends’ collective genius. Fill the town with so much Christmas cheer you don’t see the empty buildings.

I’ve hardly seen Jace this week, which is probably for the best. Since he’s been practicing nonstop for the concert, I haven’t had to avoid him, which makes it easier to pretend I don’t have feelings for him.

The door opens and Brax carries in a box that’s filled to the top with decorations and sets it next to Jaz.

“Are you still mad at me for beating you last weekend?” she asks, looking at him under lowered eyelashes.

I nearly drop the Christmas bulb I’m hanging. “What happened last weekend?” I glance between them.

“Oh, nothing.” Jaz bites down on her lip, hiding a grin.

“Wait, what’s going on here?” I demand.

I’ve seen this shy smirk of Jaz’s before. I just didn’t think I’d see it now—with my brother, of all people.

“A late-night game of pool at Charlie’s,” Jaz admits.

“She totally cheated,” Brax interrupts, not taking his eyes off her. “We need a rematch.”

If I didn’t know better, this banter would almost sound like...flirting. I can’t believe I’ve been so consumed by the festival that I didn’t see this coming.

I frown. The way they’re both smiling at each other is sickening. “Brax, don’t you have something better to do?”

He glares at me before turning back to Jaz. “Tonight at seven?”

“She is not available tonight,” I interject. “She’s filling in for me so I can help Jace.”

“Again?” Brax frowns. “You spend a lot of time with him.”

“Because I’m working for him,” I argue and dig through the Christmas decorations. Brax saw my unfiltered reaction when Jace fell on top of me on the ice. He knows something is going on.

“You heard how he cheated on his ex, right? It was all over the internet,” he says with a warning.

Something pinches inside me. “You can’t believe everything you see online,” I mutter, not looking at him. Even though I’m a grown adult, my brothers still want to protect me.

I look up at him, my jaw set. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping Nolan?”

“I feel like you don’t want me here,” he says.

“Then your instincts are correct.” I take him by the shoulders and lead him to the door. “Now, go.”

On his way out, Brax waves to Jaz through the store window, and her face lights up.

I smack her on her arm. “Stop staring. It makes me want to throw up.” Even though my twin brothers are only two years younger than me, I can’t tolerate them flirting with my friends.

“I’m having fun. You should try it.”

“Well, find someone else to have fun with.”

“Who? His twin?”

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