Page 52 of Demise

We hit three different shops just for all the Christmas decorations Liam wanted. We went to the grocery store first and got practically every item off the snack aisle, all Wesley’s fault on that one. Then we got enough supplies for breakfast, lunch and dinner while we’re here since you can’t exactly order delivery where the house is. Don’t know who will be cooking them, though. Let’s be honest, probably Ronan.

After that, the first store we went to didn’t have the right lights Liam wanted. Then the next didn’t have enough variety of wreaths for the inside of the house. Finally, the last was able to give us, or rather him, everything he was searching for. I love Christmas time, or at least I thought I did. Compared to Liam, though? I’m Mrs. Grinch, right alongside Asher.

We’re heading back to the car, Liam quite literally skipping in front of us as he hums “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” To be fair, the song is like an earworm, and for some reason, being played on loop in every single department store. I’m not sure if it’s just an American thing because, while of course I’ve heard the song, I haven’t heard it fourteen times in three hours before.

When we get back into the car, Wesley begins driving when Liam sighs dramatically.

“Shit! We forgot presents. You can’t have Christmas without presents.”

“Says who?” I ask.

“Says…everyone,” he counters like it’s common knowledge.

I shake my head and smile as I look out the window. The snow covered grass is so pure, so untouched. It’s like a snow globe moment. A picturesque perfect moment frozen in time.

Wesley reaches over the center console and intertwines his fingers with my own. That grabs my attention as I look to him and smile. He lifts my hand and places a kiss to the back of it as he takes the next turn.

“I don’t think materialistic presents are what makes Christmas, Christmas, Liam,” I say as I turn to look at him.

Wesley takes another turn, sending a four-foot-tall snowman Liam insisted on getting slamming into him. He shoves it off himself quickly as he speaks.

“You’re right, sexual favors should do just fine. What do you say we all swap coupons?”

“Like ‘good for one blowjob?’” Wesley teases.

“Exactly! See, Wes is on board. I’ll even make an extra one just for you.” Liam flirts with an exaggerated wink.

Wesley raises his brows in intrigue as I interject.

“I don’t know, I think he’d rather have Ronan’s coupon.”

Liam’s mouth parts in surprise as Wesley fights back a smile and shrugs.

“No fucking way. You and Ronan? Since when?”

“It’s not like that,” Wesley deflects.

“Yeah, they don’t have feelings for each other. They just like getting each other off,” I say with a waggle of my brows.

“Fuck, that’s hot. Can I come next time? I promise I’ll just watch from the corner!” Liam says as he lifts his hand in a scouts honor gesture.

Wesley chuckles at that as he looks at Liam in the rearview mirror.

“I always say the more the merrier, but good luck getting Ronan on the same page.”

“Fucking Putnam men, am I right?” Liam agrees with a clap on Wesley’s shoulder.

I can’t help but snort because, oh my fucking God, there is no way they are bonding over the difficulty to get fucked by their best friends. How is this my life? Honestly, don’t answer that because it’s too good. I don’t want to question it.

Chapter Nineteen

Asher

After Ronan and I chopped over two dozen logs and stacked them in the house, we went in search of Vincent. He was gone for over an hour and a half, and we found him deep in the woods, hacking away at a monster of a tree. I asked him how the fuck he thought that was going to fit in the cabin, but he said he’d make it work. Said that Skyla would want the biggest one we could get. Whatever.

It took all three of us just to get the fucking thing inside, and when we did, he came to the acceptance that we needed to hack off over four feet of the trunk just so it would stand up inside. We were able to find an old tree stand in the garage, and while it isn’t the sturdiest thing, it works.

Several hours after we finished, Skyla, Liam, and Wesley finally showed up. I was starting to think we’d need to go find them, which would have been fucking hard since we all took one car to get up here.

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