Page 31 of Hostile for the Holidays

“Stella, I told my family we were together and they’re expecting you at the Christmas Eve party.”

“Okay, fine.” She sighs. “I’ll still go to that.”

“I’d like to take you home.”

“We’re fake dating but we don’t need to spend every moment together. And I want to stay and hang out with Sadie.”

“Listen, I’m sorry about Skee-Ball.”

“It’s fine. I already beat your score while you were in the restroom.” She motions toward the game.

I laugh at that, because of course Stella has found her way back on top.

“What I said about your job. If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“And how would you know if I am? All we do is fight.”

“I don’t want to fight with you. I try to stay calm, but then things get heated and you drag me back in.”

“Well, sorry I’m such a bad influence.”

“That’s not what I mean.” I groan at my words being taken out of context again.

From behind us, Tanner pipes up.

“If you two would stop arguing for a second, you’d see you’re under the mistletoe.”

My eyes lift to the sprigs of green hanging from a single hook in the middle of the door frame. I watch as Stella’s eyes find the mistletoe above our heads, before falling back to mine.

“Kiss! Kiss!” Tanner chants, and soon others around us join in.

Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.

They’re probably looking for proof that this relationship is real. Everyone here tonight was a mix of curious and shocked that Stella and I are together.

If Tanner wasn’t doing me a favor with his obnoxious chanting, I’d be inclined to tell him to shut the fuck up.

Stella and I didn’t discuss this part of our fake relationship. Clearly, we’d never anticipated being caught under the mistletoe together, which in hindsight maybe we should have. It’s Christmas after all.

“Are you going to kiss me, Jasper?” Stella’s gaze falls to my lips then quickly flicks back to my eyes, her full lips twitching with amusement. “Or are you too afraid?”

Her teasing words ignite the fire in me.

Does she have any idea how long I’ve waited for this moment?

Every muscle in my body is coiled tightly, but no, I’m not afraid. On the other side of our first kiss, I’m already planning a million more. She’s the one who should be nervous.

“Why would I be afraid, Stella?” I ask.

She shrugs. “Maybe you’re out of practice. How long has it been anyways?”

“Doesn’t matter. All that matters right now is that you want me to kiss you. Do you want me to?”

“Oh, I want it.” She smiles smugly. “I want to know exactly how bad of a kisser you are so I can tease you mercilessly.”

“Okay.”

My right hand reaches out toward her hip, my index finger hooking into one of the belt loops of her jeans and with one firm tug, she’s flush against me.

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