Page 10 of Inherited Holiday

“Yeah.” I nodded. “This is my home. Now, why are you?—”

The instant grin on his face was enough to cut me off. “Meet your new neighbor.”

As soon as the last word left his lips, my mouth dropped open, and it felt like he just dumped a bucket of ice-cold water on top of my head. It was horrible.

“You’re renting the Buller house?”

Nicholas smiled. “It appears so.”

“Ugh,” I sneered, beyond frustrated with how my life kept shifting in every direction as if Ebenezer himself had taken the wheel. “Why wouldn’t you stay at your parents' hotel?”

Without letting him reply, Felix answered for him, “Because Mr. Big Shot thinks he’s better than us, that’s why.”

“That’s utter bullshit,” Nicholas defended. “And you know it.”

“Then why haven’t you visited all these years? Why didn’t you come to Grandfather’s funeral? We all know you’re only here because you have to be, so let’s not beat around the bush and call a spade a spade, shall we?”

“Listen, you condescending dick. You think this is easy for me? I’m the first person to agree with you that I don’t deserve Mistletoe Town, and quite frankly, I don’t want it.”

Felix shook his head in disappointment. “That’s a damn shame.”

“You need to stay out of this.”

“Stay out of what exactly? The fact that Noelle can’t stand you?”

Nicholas winced, and for some reason, his reaction pulled at my heartstrings.

“I know, little brother. The truth hurts, right?” Staring himdirectly in the eyes, Felix kissed my cheek again, and I could’ve sworn I heard Nicholas growl from behind me.

At that moment, there was no denying my lingering feelings toward my ex-best friend.

Now, only looking at me, Felix smiled. “I’ll be back to check on you two tomorrow, and I’ll fix your fence forournew baby.”

Nicholas scoffed, “Baby?”

I chuckled a little at his dismay before I lifted the puppy in the air. “The furry kind.”

His eyebrows pinched together. “You bought a puppy with my brother?”

Felix didn’t hesitate to piss him off. “And what if we did?”

CHAPTER 4

NOELLE

“Okay…” I stepped between them, breaking up whatever pissing contest this was over me.

They did this growing up too. They always had some sibling rivalry over the dumbest things. I think it had a lot to do with Nicholas being the favorite grandson despite his hate for such a special holiday and sacred town to all of us.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Felix.”

With his stare focused on his brother, Felix reluctantly nodded, stepping back as he made his way toward his car. At the last second, he added, “I’ll clean up your driveway and fix your garbage disposal too.”

“You’re the best,” I thanked him.

In one final punch to the gut, Felix antagonized, “I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow morning then, right, good ole Saint Nick? Or is the prodigal son not going to grace us with his honorable presence?”

“I’ll be there with bells on,” Nicholas mocked.

---