Page 101 of Holiday Hostilities

His smile is like sunshine. “Thanks, Livvy.”

Just then, the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it,” I say as I finish washing a serving dish and stack it on the drying rack. I pad into the hallway and open the front door.

I blink in surprise at the couple standing on the doorstep.

“Jake! Sofia!” I cry, unsure why they’re here, but delighted to see them.

“Olivia.” Jake’s looking at me like I’ve lost my ever-loving mind for some reason, which might be related to the festive snowmen earrings I’m wearing and my Christmassy elf-print socks (also courtesy of Nonna). Then, he looks right past me to where Aaron is walking down the hallway, and his expression becomes carefully neutral. “Aaron.”

Sofia and I hug as Aaron comes to stand beside me.

“Hey, guys. Merry Christmas.” Aaron’s gaze flickers to me, then back to Jake.

“I thought you were in Jersey,” my brother says instead of repaying the greeting, and I hypocritically flick my eyes heavenward. Like I’m not an ex-disgruntled-Grinch person myself.

“Last minute change of plan,” Aaron says.

“Very last minute!” I tack on quickly, feeling strangely guilty, like I’m a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Which is dumb. I haven’t done anything wrong.

Jake frowns. “Okay, what’s going on here?”

“My mom and Nonna showed up unexpectedly after our game two nights ago,” Aaron explains casually, running hisfingers through his hair. “They wanted to spend Christmas in Atlanta.”

“Did they now?” Jake’s voice is… off. He’s always a little grouchy, but right now, he sounds like a grumpy freaking robot.

“Well.” Sofia’s calm tone fills the slightly awkward silence in the hallway. “We came over because my parents are having a post-lunch siesta, and we thought you, Olivia, were alone and might want some company. Jake’s idea.”

My gaze lands on Jake. “Really?”

“It’s been a long time since I spent Christmas with my only sister.” Again, with the robot voice.

“Come on in, then.” Aaron’s cheery voice sounds almost forced as he ushers Jake and Sof inside. “Mom and Nonna are in the kitchen. They’re gonna be so happy to see you.”

As Jake and Sofia walk ahead, Aaron falls into step with me.

“Hey,” he says softly. “I’d like to talk to Jake about us. I don’t want to keep him in the dark, or make him think that we’re trying to hide anything or go behind his back. I also want it to come from one of us before Mom or Nonna puts their foot in it. But I wanted to ask you if you’d prefer to tell him yourself or if I can?”

Always so considerate.

“Tell him,” I say with a shrug. “We’re all adults here. He can deal.”

“Right.” Aaron looks a little unconvinced. “You’re right.”

When we reach the kitchen, Natalia and Nonna are fawning over Sofia while simultaneously chatting Jake’s ear off. He’s nodding along politely, but his eyes are fixed on Aaron and me.

Slightly annoyed, I sidle over to him and tug on his sleeve. “What, Jake?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

I roll my eyes. “I mean, why do you look like someone shoved a stick up your ass?”

He huffs a laugh that has zero humor and folds his arms. He then completely ignores my question, and instead says, “Aaron, may I have a word?”

A word?

Who does he think he is, Marlon Brando in the freaking Godfather?

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