Page 150 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Is too fair.” He nods to the paper in my hands, smirking like a damn Cheshire cat. “Go on, then. Let’s see yours.”

Reluctantly, I unfold the paper, all my hope dwindling when I read the number I received out loud. “Five.”

Theo laughs. Heactually freaking laughs.

“Don’t you dare patronize me,” I hiss, narrowing my eyes at him. “I call a redraw!”

Harvey laughs. “No redraws. We play this fair and square.”

“Yeah, baby. Fair and square,” Theo taunts.“Amiably.”

“Fuck you,” I whisper into his ear before plopping back down between his legs.

“Later, baby,” he says against my neck, his voice low and gruff.

I snatch the beer bottle out of his hands and steal a few gulps, hoping it’s enough to quell the goosebumps coursing along my skin.

When the order of draws is established, Theo is the first to pull from the small bundle of presents beneath our small Christmas tree. He brushes golden tinsel out of his hair as he returns to our comfortable corner and unwraps his gift.

“What the—”

In one hand, he dangles a lacy pair of hot pink panties between his fingers while he fiddles with the buttons on the black, palm-sized remotecontrol they came with in the other. A buzz emanates from the risque lingerie, and we all bust out laughing.

“Remote-controlled vibrating panties?!Evie, what the actual fuck!”

“Evie?!How do you know that it was me?”

“Because who fucking else would it be,” Theo laughs, examining the underwear further. “Bloody hell, these things wouldn’t make it past my calves!”

“I’m starting to think someone chose their present for themselves,” Connor teases.

She winks at him. “Want to test them out?”

Connor ignores her baiting with a bashful shake of his head.

It was entertaining to see their personalities interact with one another. Where one was unapologetically extroverted and blunt, the other possessed a subtle reserve. Watching them intertwine was like watching a dance you couldn’t seem to peel your eyes away from.

We continue taking turns choosing or stealing gifts until there’s only one left beneath the tree, and I’m the only one in the group without one.

Scrambling on my knees, I snatch up the polka-dotted wrapped present waiting to be chosen. Everyone’s eyes are set on me as I tear open the box beneath the wrapping.

“It’s a Polaroid camera!” I shriek, frantically assessing the beautiful, bright yellow camera now in my hands. “I’ve wanted one of these for so long!”

“Ehem.” Theo pokes my side and waves the novelty underwear in my face. “I still get one more turn, Nora.Remember?”

I clutch my present tighter, guarding it beneath my arms as I send him a threatening glare. “Don’t you dare.”

“But you see, these things are useless to me…”

“Don’t mess with me.”

“And if I choose the camera–”

“Theodore Pearson.”

–I’d be able to capture the look on your face when I steal it from you.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep my smile from slipping. “You do this, and I swear, you’ll never see me in a pair of panties again. Is that clear?”

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