Page 20 of My Secret Santa Daddies

“Half hour.”

“Are Wyatt and Griffin going?”

“Yeah, I think so, but they’re probably going to be running late. Why?”

She shrugs, but I can see a blush creep into her cheeks, and she looks slightly nervous—a sight I haven’t seen in a long time.

“No reason. Just curious, that’s all.”

“Right,” I say, mirroring her casual tone. “Well, I’ll wait for you in the living room.”

“You do that.”

I kick back on her couch, studying the picture frames on the mantle. She still has one of the four of us from the night before graduation. Sierra’s got her arms slung over Wyatt and mine’s shoulder with Griffin standing behind, all of us sun-tanned,overly tired and too excited about living life. We look so young and innocent.

I can still remember the night vividly, the senior skip day spent at the lake, skinny dipping, sipping beer and laughing till our sides hurt.

So damn young.

I’m jolted out of my memories when Sierra emerges from her room, and I have to force my jaw not to drop.

She’s wearing a dark red knit dress that clings to her curves, accentuating every inch of her toned body. Her hair falls in loose waves around her shoulders, framing her face beautifully. Sierra always was a knockout, but right now?

She looks like a damn goddess.

“Y-you look...” I trail off, unsure of what to say next.

Her cheeks flush again, but this time it might be due to the temperature in here, or maybe it's just me?

“Shut up, Cody.” She blushes again, but I can see the corners of her lips pulling upward. “Let's just go before I change my mind.” She shoves her arm into a massive old Carhartt jacket.

“Your wish is my command,” I say, standing up and following her out the front door. I open the door to the truck and she hops in.

I rush to the driver’s side to get that heat blasting over us.

The truck hums along the snow covered roads, and I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead, trying to focus on driving andnoton the fact that Sierra is sitting next to me, arms crossed, staring out the window with that stony expression of hers. The radio plays some soft Christmas tune.

I fiddle with the volume knob for a moment, hoping the music will kill the awkward silence.

I clear my throat, drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, searching for something to say—anything to break this silence. But there’s only one thing on my mind, and I know I’mprobably an idiot for even thinking about bringing it up. But it’s been gnawing at me, and I can’t let it go.

I take a deep breath,glancing over at her. “So, uh... about earlier...”

Sierra’s head whips toward me so fast I almost miss the glare she throws in my direction. “Cody,” she snaps, her voice sharp and warning. “Don’t.”

I raise my hands off the wheel for a second, surrendering. “I’m just saying, it was?—”

“I said don’t. We’re not talking about it.”

“Right. Got it. But just for the record, it’s a totally normal human thing?—”

“Cody.” Her voice drops, icy and dangerous. “If you don’t shut the hell up about it, I will throw myself out of this truck and walk the rest of the way.”

I glance over at her again, catching the fire in her blue eyes.

“Okay, okay. Consider it forgotten,” I say, trying to sound casual as I grip the steering wheel tighter. But the image of Sierra, half-naked, touching herself, lost in the moment—has been burned into my brain. I’ve tried to shove it out of my mind, really, but... yeah, good luck with that.

Sierra rolls her eyes and turns back toward the window, clearly hoping this was the end of it. “Good. Because it never happened.”

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