Page 21 of Stuffing His Stocking

But before I can explain, the two girls come into view. “Here we go,” I grumble under my breath.

“Olivia, is that you?” The blond one feigns pleasant surprise. It’s Becky Martin, along with her evil sister Penny. I cringe at the sight of them. It’s been years since we last saw each other at our high school graduation, and I was hoping never to see them again. I guess some Christmas wishes just don’t come true.

“Hi, Becky. Hi, Penny,” I greet them with a forced smile.

“Well, look who decided to show up,” Penny says sarcastically. “We usually never make it back here because we’re always off traveling around the world. Who wants to be in this lame-ass town for the holidays anyway?”

“But our parents were begging us to come home.” Becky rolls her eyes. “I can’t blame them for missing us. Their lives are probably boring without us.” The two of them snicker to each other.

“The least they could do was give us their credit card so we could go shopping, even though there’s nothing here worthbuying,” Penny says, and I can’t help but glance at the numerous shopping bags that seem to contradict her claim. “Everything in this town is cheap and ugly.”

Unable to hold my tongue, I gesture toward their purchases. “Well, I guess not everything.”

“Oh, what do you know? You only shop in plus-size stores, and I haven’t seen any of those around here,” Becky sneers, and I scowl at her.

Five years ago, I probably would have stayed quiet and let them make fun of me, but a lot has changed since high school. I’m no longer the chubby book nerd they used to pick on.

My hands ball into fists at my sides until Dylan moves closer to me and intervenes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your names.”

Becky’s mouth drops open in surprise. “Are you with her?” She points a manicured fingernail in my direction.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I’m Dylan Kane, Liv’s boyfriend,” he replies with his signature killer smile.

At the mention of the wordboyfriend, Becky and Penny’s eyes widen to the size of half-dollars. I can’t help but feel a small sense of victory that this gorgeous, wealthy man is pretending to be mine to put these two bullies in their place.

“Olivia Spencer has a boyfriend?” Becky scoffs, then turns to me with cold eyes. “I thought you were too good to date.”

“I never said I was too good to date. I just didn’t want to date the idiots in your little friend circle,” I retort. “I heard what they said about me. That I was too fat to be someone’s girlfriend but good enough to sleep with… in the dark.” A chill runs down my spine when I remember their harsh words.

Becky mutters under her breath to her sister, “Looks like some things never change.”

I start to respond when Dylan cuts me off for a second time. “If you ever call my girlfriend fat again, you won’t like the consequences. I promise you that.”

Becky pinches her lips together while Penny appears to have a sudden epiphany. “Wait, Kane? Dylan Kane? The Alpha Tech guy?”

“That’s not me. That’s my father. But, yeah, I guess I’m that guy’s son,” Dylan replies nonchalantly.

“But you’re rich. Likerichrich. What are you doing withher?”

I can’t hold my tongue any longer and fire back, “As opposed to someone like the two of you?”

“Well, yeah.” Penny snorts. “Look at us. Then look at you. Who do you think guys really want?”

“Obviously.” Becky rolls her eyes.

“You know, I used to envy girls like you,” I confess. “You had money, you were pretty, and you had guys falling all over you.” I laugh, but the sound is bitter even to my own ears. “Now, I just feel sorry for you. You’re pathetic, and you’ve amounted to nothing. But you can’t hide your misery with pounds of makeup and expensive clothes.” I shake my head at them before turning to Dylan. “Let’s go. They don’t deserve another second of my time.”

As I start to walk away, he tugs on my coat sleeve to hold me back. Then, he says something I’ll always be grateful for and never forget.

Dylan looks Becky and Penny up and down with a smirk. “You know why guys like me will always choose girls like her?” He motions to me with a hiked thumb. “Because she’s beautiful inside and out. And no matter how much you dress it up, you’ll still be ugly. Every fucking inch of you.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “I think I’m ready for something sweet now. Let’s go home so I can eat your pussy.”

Both girls gasp at his last remark, and I stumble over my own feet. But Dylan just shoots me a devilish grin as he guides me away from my former tormentors.

Maybe skipping the candied pecans this year won’t be such a bad idea after all.

8

DYLAN

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