Page 182 of Snap Shot

“They don't even know me.” I step back, cutting the temptation of touching him by another foot of space. The wall behind me doesn't give me any more room.

“Whatever they know, they like. Same goes for me.” Landon closes in, propping his arm over my head. “And I want you to stay.”

“Okay.” I glide my eyes to the shelves on the right. “Whoa. This is a nice pantry. “

“We can't mess around in here, my family's right outside.” Landon teases out a smile. “Indira,” he chides, “you have such a dirty mind.”

“That's not what—I donot.” I totally do.

His gaze flicks to my burning, stretched cheeks. “Then why are your dimples out?”

“I like when you say my name.”

“But I say it all the time.”

My teeth snag the corner of my lip. “Not my full name. Almost everyone calls me Indi, but only those who I'm closest to call me Indira.”

Landon takes another step, straddling my feet with his own, the heat from his body enveloping mine, but he doesn't let us touch. “No one’s gotten closer than me, hey?” Someone calls his name in another part of the house, and he laughs, dropping his head back and pushing off the wall. “Guess we should get out there.”

We emerge and wander toward the living room. “Hold it right there, Landy! Caught under the mistletoe, bud,” his cousin—Gary, I think—baits us.

We both look to the ceiling at the green sprig hanging in the entryway.

“Rules are rules. You gonna man up and kiss her, or what?”

His eyes land on my lips and mine on his, my face heats again. For the first time, I don't feel like it's a bad idea. But when our breaths meet, Landon tears himself away, slicing the tension away. “Fuck off, Gare.”

“Why don't you make me, eh?”

Landon turns to me for a moment. “'Scuse me. Gary here has chosen violence today.”

They take off and chase each other around until Landon catches him. His cousin is taller, bigger, but slower. A couple of the others move the coffee table aside in time, before the two wrestle each other to the living room floor with a loud thud. Sadie and Gunnar stand by the ten-foot-high Christmas tree in the corner and cheer them on.

Babi sighs and shakes her head at the ruckus. So does Daisy. “Every year. Without fail.”

Delaney waves me over and hands me a glass of wine. “Welcome to the shit show.”

“Thanks.” I laugh away the nerves through my first sip, clasping the edge of the counter where I lean. “I didn't want it to be weird, but I remember when you used to pick Landon up from practice. I know it was a really long time ago, but—”

“Oh my God, that's it!” The sudden recognition lights up her eyes. “You were on his team. You two used to sit on the same bench.”

“Yep. That's me.”

She crinkles her nose. “You guys were socute. And now, look at you. Gorgeous, crazy successful lawyer.”

I can't help but blush when Landon's dad chimes in. “We can't thank you enough for your hard work with Landy's case.”

“Of course. It's my job.” I nod. “And you can thank me when Ms. Pall publicly retracts her statements.”

Delaney puts on a mischievous grin. “Now all he has to do is stop sticking his pee-pee where he shouldn't.”

“Laney!” Her parents say in chorus.

“What? We're all adults here. And it's the truth.”

“You're scaring her.” Daisy motions to the dining room. “Wanna get away from the chaos for a second? I'm gonna set the table for lunch.”

It's a nice escape. She holds back a smile every time our eyes accidentally meet. Hers aren't blue like his, but just as warm. And seem to know something I don't.

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