Page 38 of Mistletoe Misconduct

Crossing my arms over my chest, I straighten my spine, fully prepared to take a hit to my pretty face today. For Lea, I refuse to back down to him.

“You don’t think I fuckingknow that? Your sister’s incredible, and she somehow manages to make me smile even on my worst days. She’s so goddamn thoughtful, and always puts others ahead of her own needs, which you’d fuckingknowif you got your head out of your ass.”

He squints his eyes at me, some of his bravado leaving with each breath he takes.

His lips pinch when he looks over at Lea, still lying on the couch, watching the show unfold before her.

“What is he talking about, Lea?”

She waves a hand in the air, remaining as nonchalant as possible before she says, “It’s nothing, Liam.”

“Don’t give me that shit, Lea. You’ve been hiding things from me, and I think it’s time we get it all out in the open.”

Jesus fucking Christ, I hope like hell wedo notdothat.

I see her throat bob as she swallows, finally sitting up. “My migraine meds are just really expensive, and I didn’t want to worry you. I know you’ve been sending money to Mom and Dad since you signed with the Scarlets,” she admits, and my chest heaves a small sigh that she left out the part where she, no,wecreate porn for people online to jack off to so she can afford the simple luxury of not having an ice pick jabbed into her skull.

His eyes swing to me, pinning me with a glare. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”

I roll my eyes. “Lea’s a big girl. She can disclose whatever the hell she wants to you. Or not.” I shrug. “It’s not my business.”

He shoots me another glare before looking back to Lea. “I’m makingmorethan enough money now, Lea. I’m sure I can help with the cost of your meds!”

“They’re twenty-three hundred dollars a month,” she deadpans.

I watch as all the blood drains from his face. “Shit, Lea, I’m sorry. I—” he stammers. “I hadn’t realized it was that expensive, but I promise you,I have the money now.I just got my sign-on bonus, and the money I’m making is literally pouring in. I’m still living in a shitty studio apartment because I don’t want to splurge until I have a fat savings account, butpleasejust let me take this burden on for you.”

Her big, puppy dog eyes are glassy as she stands from the couch, wrapping her arms around her brother’s waist. He squeezes her tightly to him, and she rests her chin on his shoulder before speaking to him in a quiet, watery voice.

“Hey, Liam,” she mutters.

“Yes, Lea?” he asks, his voice weary.

“I think I’m falling for your best friend,” she tells him, but her eyes are on me the whole time.

I hear Liam suck air between his teeth, but I pay him little mind. My chin falls to my chest, a wide grin splitting across my face the moment I recover, and I resist the urge to pump my fucking fist in the air like some clown. I feel exhilarated, endorphins flooding my body, a tingling sensation overcoming each of my nerve fibers.

“Fuck yeah!” I finally say, unable to hold it in any longer, and when my eyes meet hers, I tell her the truth. “The feeling’s mutual, angel.”

“I hate you both,” Liam whispers, and I can’t help the laugh that slips past my lips. Lea releases him, doubling forward and choking on her own laugh. “This really isn’t funny,” he says, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms over his chest. “But it’s Christmas, so I guess I’ll learn to live with yourvery poor decision-making skills.”

Lea recovers from her laughing fit, smacking Liam over the back of the head and waltzing into the kitchen. “Any chance you put a waffle maker under that tree?” she calls out to Liam.

“As a matter of fact…”

Chapter twenty-eight

Lea

My cheeks hurt by the time we’re done with brunch. Liam’s inability to hold a grudge against anyone, especially Kai, works in our favor.

They’d been picking on each other for the last hour, and despite the fact that Kai had his own stack of chocolate chip waffles, which he topped with whipped cream and red and green sprinkles, he still happily ate frommyplate.

If this is what relationships are like, I can understand why so many marriages end in divorce. Whoever I marry better keep their paws off my food.

Though, from the looks of it, that won’t be happening.

The three of us are crammed into the tiny living room, Liam sitting on the floor by the Christmas tree because, apparently, it wastoo soonto see me sit in Kai’s lap so Liam could avoid sitting on the hard floor.

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