Page 29 of Winter Break Up

I almost choke on my tongue. “Zoe, be fucking for real, you were not going to create that.”

“Um, yes, I was. When will I ever get the opportunity in the right setting to make a vulgar Christmas tree ever again?”

“Seems kind of sacrilegious.” A chuckle ripples out of me.

My roommate slings her arm around my neck. “Probably, but it would be fucking cool. And people could pluck the sex toys off to use together, solo, whatever they wanted.”

“There has to be some pleasure shop out there selling trees of that nature.” I’m joking, but my best friend’s face is dead serious.

“If not, they’re missing out on a real business opportunity. Lord knows your parents’ farm isn’t selling that kind of merchandise.”

I think my mother would keel over if she so much as saw a vibrator on one of our trees.

“But hell, then I realized we probably didn’t even need that. This is a ski trip with a bunch of college kids. We’re horny, in the hot tub, and there is enough spiked apple cider to get an elephant drunk. We’re all going to get down and dirty without any added innuendos.”

I roll my eyes at her ridiculous antics.

“Oh my God, is that a mini shot tree?” Gen bounces over to the two of us and hugs her arms around my neck.

“You know it.” Zoe winks at her.

“We have to do one now!” my childhood bestie cries.

“We haven’t even brought our bags in yet,” I point out.

Gen waves me off. “The boys will get them.”

Mercer might throw mine out in the snow, but sure. “Okay. But I refuse to do a tequila bottle.”

“Remember when you drank half a bottle of Jose Cuervo and nearly died?” Zoe teases as we make our way over to the tree.

Gen circles the pine to select her drink of choice as she giggles. “God, you never could hold your margaritas.”

I wish I could throw a snowball at both of their heads. “You two better not gang up on me this whole trip. And thank you for practically making me throw up in my mouth. Just the smell of tequila makes me want to vomit.”

Pretending to dry heave, I pluck a tiny bottle of cinnamon whiskey off the death tree and meet Gen and Zoe to form a little circle.

“Cheers. To a weekend of debauchery.” Zoe holds up her bottle.

“To heating up in the snow.” Gen smirks.

“You two are going to get me killed, aren’t you?” I groan.

“Or seriously drunk. And maybe naked in the hot tub.” Zoe grins gleefully before slamming the shot back.

The minute I gulp mine down, my eyes go to the stairs.

Mercer is watching me like a hawk, and even if he hasn’t given me the time of day recently, my traitorous heart buckles under his gaze. Those aquamarine eyes assess me, sliding down my body, and I can’t help the way my teeth dig into my lower lip.

This trip is going to make or break us, and every cell in my body vibrates with the knowledge that he’ll be sleeping in the room right next to mine.

Who the hell said it was worth it to play nice with your ex?

13

MERCER

Getting on a snowboard less than a year after fucking my entire knee up and risking my future is probably not the best idea.

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