Page 14 of The Merriest Christmas

"Hey!"I clapped to get everyone's attention."It's time to start the games."

"What?" the guy on the couch asked.

I smiled at him."Well, why watch that when you can make a gingerbread house of your own?"

"Nah, too much work."

Seaver tucked his hands into his pockets."I don't know.Could be fun."

I couldn't believe he'd taken my side.I narrowed my eyes.He had to be up to something.Just had to be.

"I'm up for some games," Rose said.

"Me too," Finn agreed even though I knew he'd loathed the gingerbread contest last year.

"Thanks," I said with a roll of my eyes.Then I addressed the room again."Seriously, you guys, it's so fun, and it's tradition.Since you're here, you get to take part in all the O'Brien family Christmas festivities."

Silence.

"You can eat the cookies after," I threw in.

And what do you know?The three baseball players on the couch stood right up.As everyone followed me to the kitchen, I was smiling.

"Just wait," I said."We'll split into pairs, and my mom will choose the winner."

"But you and Finn are her kids," one of the guys argued.

"Yeah, and you're her players.So?"

"Coach will call it fair," another one said."Remember how she was at practice with Baylor and Dex?"

"Ah yeah, you're right.She was always meanest to her kids," the third said with a laugh.

Mom suddenly appeared, stepping out of her office, and sniffed."Sounds like you think I'm not working the team hard enough at practice, Stephens.I'll remember that."

I bit back a laugh as the guy sputtered.

But then I noticed Seaver smiling and frowned.

"What?"

"Just forgot how cute you are when you laugh," he said.

I felt heat flush my cheeks and quickly diverted my attention to the others."Anyway, speaking of pairs, wasn't there one more of you?Another player?Anyway, you're going to love—"

I stopped short two steps into the kitchen.

"What the hell happened here?" I said.

"Emmy, language," Mom said.

"Sorry, but…seriously?"

"Guess we found the other one," Finn said, and I could hear the laughter in his voice.

But this was no laughing matter.

There, at the kitchen table where I'd set up all the things we'd need for the competition, was the missing player.I couldn't remember his name for the life of me.But he'd demolished nearly every piece of gingerbread.He was lying with his head down, and from the snores, I was pretty sure he was fast asleep.

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