Page 26 of The Christmas Playbook
“They’re doing a tree-lighting thing tonight,” Briar says. “We’re all gonna go after dinner. They advertised live music and hot cocoa.”
“Yeah? That sounds fun.” I hastily unlock the door and shove my stuff in then pause.
I came in my briefs like anidiotearlier, and I can’t very well go wandering back to the lodge for lunch wearing my ski boots.
I point at them. “Stay. Two seconds.”
Before they can reply, I lock myself in and lock them out. It takes a minute to get out of the boots, then another to shuck the rest of my lower-half layers. I rush to the bathroom and use a washcloth to clean the waistband of my pants, which collected my mess, and grimace.
Did Mira notice?
Isthatwhy she suddenly seemed more embarrassed?
Of course I’m going to ruin whatever this is. Fake or not, we were getting along. I mean, I wasn’t kissing and fingering her for the hell of it.
Okay, I was. But there’s also an attraction to her that I’m not going to deny. It livesright there, under my skin, and when she’s around, I can’t ignore it.
Her.
I can’t ignoreher.
One of my friends bangs on the door.
I pull on fresh boxers and jeans, socks, and my winter boots. They’re both exasperated by the time I re-emerge.
“Finally,” Thorne mutters. “Would’ve been nice for you to invite us in.”
“But then you would’ve seen all my sex toys.” I frown. “Some things are meant to stay private.”
Briar chokes on her laugh. “TMI, Anderson. No one needs to know what you get up to at night.”
I snicker. “Sure thing, B.”
“Back to the conversation we were in the middle of… You’re going to join us tonight? It’s Christmas, after all.”
“Well, it’s not quite Christmas,” I hedge. “We’ve got three more days.”
Guilt worms through me that I’m not celebrating with my family. I sent their presents home before we left, so the giant box of wrapped goodies should be arriving any day now.
“Plus,” I add, “you guys are too busy fucking to notice my absence.”
Briar turns red.
Gotcha.
“Okay, okay.” Thorne shakes his head. “You hungry? We were gonna meet up with everyone and grab lunch then either hit the slopes or do the music bingo thing.”
“Music bingo? Are we on vacation at an assisted living facility?” I grimace. “I’m starved, but I’m not playing music bingo unless it’sstripmusic bingo.”
Their easy laughter is a welcome change from Mira’s uptight family.
“But you already went snowboarding?”
I focus on Briar as I herd them off my porch and back up the road toward the main lodge. “Um, yeah, early bird gets the worm or whatever. I was eager to test out the new board. It’s great, by the way. Thanks for asking.”
“I told you he was going to be lonely,” Briar mutters, elbowing her boyfriend.
Thorne shoots her a look.
