Page 23 of A Jolly Christmas Disaster

I snicker to myself knowing that he is going to get flustered by me asking even when he told me not to. It’s fun to rile him up and I’m not sure why. Usually I would be too worried about his reaction to pick at him. Tali said I let myself be more free around the guys because I trust them, but I’m not totally convinced. I haven’t really known them that long, and my past makes it hard to trust people. I don’t have any more time to think about why I feel so comfortable with the guys because my phone bleats out, letting me know Derek texted me back.

Derek: I said don’t ask! I’ll see you tonight at seven. Text me if you need more time to get ready.

Me: See you tonight!

I go back to my work with a smile on my face. I’m so excited to see what Derek has planned for our date and I can’t help but wonder what it is he’s giving me. I also wonder if one of the other guys plans to crash our date. So far, all of my one-on-one dates have ended up with more than just me and the guy I was supposed to see that night. I’m not at all upset about it either. I like all of them equally, so having any of them around isn’t really a problem.

Nick and Derek are no doubt as close as Cy and Jack are, although, I doubt they are together like Jack is with Cy. Derek doesn’t really strike me as a guy who hooks up with other guys. Not that I think he is against it, I just don’t see him doing it. Nick seems pretty laid back, more of a go-with-the-flow kind of guy, but I just don’t see him pursuing more than one relationship at a time. Still, no matter if they are sleeping together or not, Nick and Derek have a connection just as strong as Cy and Jack. I kind of wish I’d seen the four of them together more so I can see if they are all that close.

My phone goes off and I half expect it to be Derek again. I’m shocked when I see a text from Nick.

Nick: Bring a bag, my date is right after Derek’s tonight. It’ll probably run late, so it’d be better if you just stayed tonight. Only if you’re comfortable with it, of course.

Me: Sure. Sounds fun. See you tonight.

Neither Derek or Nick text back, and I go back to my work. I’m curious as to what Nick has planned, but also super excited. I know that I agreed to go on separate dates with everyone, but having them all together just feels right. I shake off my thoughts of tonight and the guys and really start focusing on work again.

This cover is finally looking like something I would sell, and I’m super happy with it. Right as I finish up the last cover for the series, my alarm goes off to get dressed. Tali knocks on my open door and when I look up at her, she is smiling and holding a bag.

“Time to get ready, Belle. And Lee said I could play with all that hair, so go get a shower, but keep your hair dry!”

I chuckle as I get up and head to the shower. I’m once again hit with the realization that I would be lost without my witches by my side. They support me in so many ways that I’m not sure what I would do without them. Now, the guys are around, and they are starting to fall into the same category as the girls. Important figures in my life that I can’t live without. I just hope they feel the same way about me, because I think I may actually be heartbroken if this arrangement we have has to come to an end.

I take a quick shower and rush out to my room covered in a towel. I know Tali is going to make me get dressed as soon as I get back into the room, but I can’t quite bring myself to go out naked. Tali and I spend the next hour getting me ready for my date with Derek and the whole time, butterflies zoom around my belly. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the feeling of anticipating a date with one of those four guys.

Chapter Eleven

Derek

Mypalmsaresweatingas I pace back and forth in front of Belle’s door. This will be the first time we are alone together, and I’m so nervous that I haven’t been able to sit still all day. Nick gave me a huge order this morning, and I tried to expel some of this energy by working in my shop. I didn’t think about how mindless my woodwork has become. By this point, I can make tables with my eyes closed.

That left plenty of time for me to think about Belle and the date I planned with Nick. Yes, these are supposed to be individual dates, but I needed Nick’s help for my idea. I really hope Belle enjoys what I set up. Thinking she may hate it is what has me freaking out right now.

I stare at the black door that hides Belle’s roomy apartment inside and try to talk myself into knocking. It’s just Belle. She is a sweetheart, so even if shedidhate my date, she would never be a bitch about it. As I raise my hand to knock, the door opens. Belle’s roommate, Tali, I think her name is, opens the door and smirks at me.

“You know, I’ve been watching you for five minutes waiting for you to knock. If you’d waited any longer, I probably would have called my friends to come see if you were okay.”

I sneer at the girl and roll my eyes. She is such a smart ass. If she was watching me, which I fully believe she was, she would have seen me pacing and probably heard me mumbling to myself. She knows perfectly well that I’m fine and don’t need a group of gossipy girls coming to check on me.

“Thank you so much for your concern, but I’m fine.” Sarcasm drips from my voice, and I half expect her to be pissed at my snarky tone. Instead, she starts laughing and holds the door wider.

“I like you. It’s Derek, right?”

I follow her into the apartment while we chat. “Yeah, Derek Tinker.”

“The pixie. I’m impressed. Most male pixies are little slaves to the matriarchy. I’m glad you got out of that toxic shit. Then again,” she glanced back at me over her shoulder and smirks, “I’ve always heard the Tinker family does shit differently. “

I know exactly what she is talking about. My mother had the option to be Queen, but declined because the fairies wouldn’t accept that she wanted to rule alongside my father. My parents always held true that it doesn’t matter what you were born as, it only matters what you do with the gifts you were given.

“Yeah, I wasn’t raised in Faerie. Mom and Dad moved me and my sister here when my middle sister was born.” I pull on the collar of my T-shirt as my face heats. I don’t exactly enjoy talking about Pixie politics. “Is Belle ready?”

Changing the topic is usually the best way to avoid a conversation I don’t want to have. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll just stare at them with a blank face until they get uncomfortable and leave. I can’t exactly do that with the woman that lives with my mate, so I’m really hoping she will accept the topic change.

Turns out, I didn’t have to worry about it. Belle dashes out of the hall and runs right into us. Bright green vines trail behind her in the hall and her hair is swirling around her head in a wind that seems to only affect her. Nevermind that it’s windy inside of a closed apartment. Something magical is afoot here, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure that the magic is from Belle herself.

“Ugh! Tali! It’s happening again!”

The panic in Belle’s voice has me wrapping my arms around her. I hold the tiny girl to my chest and make soft cooing sounds into her ear. Her beautiful face is shadowed with panic and confusion. Whatever is happening right now is totally out of her control.

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