'Tis the Season for Love: A Charity Box Set

by Maggie Dallen

  But then I stop.

  Because something I will always notice walks through the front door.

  Something tall, beautiful and one hundred percent guaranteed to make my insides warm and tingly.

  Chapter 4

  The Sweetness On Her Lips

  NATE

  Christmas decadence. That’s the first thing I smell when I walk through the Rhinehoff’s front door. Mint-chocolate, ginger, maybe a hint of apple cider. The smells combine to make my mouth water.

  But I don’t see any of it.

  The first thing I see is Shay.

  She stands out like a light in the darkness. It’s weird. It’s not like she always did, but her brightness has just grown on me, I guess.

  Now my eyes tend to rove a room looking for her, instead of just happening to notice her as I walk by. I’m struggling to get used to this sensation. I don’t even know how it happened.

  Before, she was just Shay.

  Now she’s something else, and I don’t know what to do about it. In spite of Luke’s persistence that I should make a move, I’m just not sure. What if I do and it’s a total backfire? How awkward would that be?

  Besides, I like having her as a friend. I don’t want to ruin that.

  I smile and raise my eyebrows at her—our usual greeting. She returns the favor, then quickly spins away to gaze down into the living area. Something’s caught her eye and it’s making the smile on her face disappear.

  My insides pinch with annoyance.

  Dammit. Of course, Alex and Krissy would be here. She’s probably looking at them right now while they fawn all over each other. It makes me sick. The way Alex dumped Shay for Krissy was just plain mean. When I spotted her crying the day after it happened, it was all I could do not to track him down and punch him… or maybe give him a hug and thank him for freeing up the girl I’d been crushing on since…

  Okay, fine. I have an uber crush.

  “Hey! You guys came!” Maya greets us both with her usual enthusiasm, her black pigtails slapping against her shoulders as she runs over to give us hugs.

  Luke’s right into it, kissing her cheek and making a beeline for the living room. He’s always had more finesse in social situations. He loves the crowds, the ladies, knows how to talk to anyone.

  I move to the table Shay is hovering nearby and grab a gingerbread man. The second I pick it up, I know it’s one of Aunt Joy’s. The whole table looks like her stuff.

  “Yeah, I know.” Shay chuckles, reading my mind. “Your aunt must love Christmas time.”

  I bob my head, not really wanting to talk about my overbearing aunt, although…

  “Hey, Maya. Aunt Joy says thanks.” I lift up the cookie I’m eating.

  Maya laughs and shakes her head. “I’ll tell Mom later. She should seriously consider setting up a monthly automatic payment to Joyous Cupcakes with the amount of stuff she buys there.”

  “I’m sure Aunt J would love that.”

  Maya laughs, her bright eyes sparkling when she looks at Shay.

  The short girl beside me clears her throat and spins back to the table, grabbing a Caramel Cream out of the bowl.

  “So, you came.” Shay shoves the candy into her mouth, then pours a glass of cider. “Want one?” Her mouth is full, rounding out her words and making them hard to hear.

  I grin and take the glass from her, unable to stop studying the point of her nose and the way she licks the sweetness off her lips.

  I wouldn’t mind doing the job for her.

  The idea startles me, an image of our tongues playing tango suddenly vibrant in my mind. I stand tall and swivel away from her, desperate to find something light and easy to talk about.

  I need to tease her or say something mundane—anything to get us back to the normal I know and love.

  Alex catches my eyes and I raise my glass his direction. “So, I’m surprised you wanted to come to this thing with ol’ Douche Nugget in attendance.”

  Shay glances over her shoulder, then turns away like she doesn’t care. But I can see the muscle in her jaw clench tight before she relaxes and smirks at me. “Maya wouldn’t let me say no.”

  “Ahhh. The Persuasion Queen at work.”

  “Always.” Shay bulges her eyes and looks across the room at Alex and Krissy like she can’t help herself.

  There’s that smile-stealing sadness again.

  I hate it.

  “You miss him?” I murmur, hoping my tone isn’t too brittle.

  She jolts at the question, her big brown eyes gazing up at me before she softly asks, “Why do you hate him so much?”

  “I don’t. I just wish you did more.”

  She narrows her eyes at me.

  “He wasn’t the perfect boyfriend, you know.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Just…” I shake my head, wishing we hadn’t entered into this territory. I should have hassled her about the elf outfit she has to wear for work or something. I swallow, hoping my silence will end this conversation, but she’s still looking up at me, quietly demanding an answer. I scoff and hitch my shoulder. “Just do yourself a favor and get over him. You’ll be better for it.”

  She opens her mouth to respond, but then changes her mind. A bucketload of awkward is suddenly dumped between us and I’m kicking myself. Man, I should have kept my mouth shut. Scanning the room, I spot Luke chatting up Lindsey and consider going to join him, or better yet hunting down my fellow teammates so we can talk basketball or watch a game.

  That’s safe.

  Fun.

  It’s—

  “Oh hey, it’s your song.” Shay gives me a wicked grin while I quickly tune into the music, then groan.

  “That’s What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction pumps through the system and I silently curse Maya for not playing Christmas music. That’s what everyone else plays at Christmas parties!

  Shay snickers and starts humming along to the tune.

  I press my lips together, embarrassment swamping me. “I told you, that is… It’s Hailey’s music, okay?”

  “Dude, you were singing it at the top of your lungs.”

  “In the shower, which you totally should not have heard. What? Were you just standing by the fence listening?”

  Shay laughs. It’s a full, rich sound that I kind of love. “Maybe you should shower with the window closed next time.”

  I grit my teeth against arguing about steam buildup on the mirror and give her a tight smile.

  “Or, just keep being you.” She slaps my arm with a mischievous grin. “Because that’s what makes you beautiful.”

  I am about to roll my eyes and remind her yet again that she caught me in a moment of weakness that she has promised to keep a secret, but we’re interrupted by Maya.

  She grabs our wrists and starts pulling us into the living room. “Come on, you guys! It’s game time!”

  I stumble down the stairs and wriggle out of her grasp before she can dump me in a circle that’s forming on the white, shaggy rug. A bottle sits in the middle and my eyes track from the green glass to Sheridan’s face. She’s gazing up at me, her soft pink lips pulling into a hopeful smile.

  I give her a polite nod and step back.

  I so cannot play Spin the Bottle with my ex-girlfriend.

  Or Shay.

  Maya’s forcing her down into the circle just as Ollie saunters into the room.

  “Hey, man.” He raises his hand at me and trots over. “What’s going on here?”

  “Spin the Bottle with a twist.” Maya beams at him.

  “Oooo. Sounds interesting.” His eyes land on Shay and he wiggles his eyebrows at her. “How you doin’, Shay?”

  “Yeah, good.” She grins and the muscles in my neck feel ready to snap.

  “Let’s go watch a game or something.” I tip my head toward the TV room.

  Ollie’s ears instantly start burning. Basketball is king in his life. “Lakers are playing the Spurs.”

  “Let’s do it.” I shunt him away fro
m the circle, trying to avoid the mix of gazes being thrown at us.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to play? There are some hotties in that group tonight. I could use a good kiss.” Ollie laughs, while I choke on the acid in my throat.

  Shay’s still in that circle with my brother and… and Alex.

  I send up a silent prayer to the bottle gods and hope like hell it doesn’t make anything happen between them.

  Maybe I should be in that circle.

  But what if it lands on Sheridan?

  Or Shay?

  Both would be awkward, and I sure as hell don’t want my first kiss with Shanae Landers being in front of a whole bunch of people.

  No. It’s better that I don’t play.

  “Okay, so this is a Truth or Dare version,” Maya announces to the crowd. “If the bottle lands on you, the person who spun it gets to make you do a truth or dare.”

  “Lame,” Ollie mouths, then makes a face and turns toward the TV room.

  I trail after him, grateful for the distraction of a decent basketball game.

  Hopefully I can get lost in the magic of my favorite sport and forget all about what’s going down in the living room.

  Chapter 5

  Truth or Dare

  SHAY

  I watch Sheridan’s face as Nate walks away from the game.

  Her shoulders droop with disappointment and I feel bad for her. Everyone keeps giving her these shifty, awkward glances, no doubt assuming that Nate bowed out of the game as soon as he saw her sitting in the circle. He’s probably avoiding that awkward situation of maybe having to kiss her or tell the truth about why they broke up.

  They were the couple everyone “shipped.” The student body practically mourned when they broke up. Well, not the entire student body.

  For a second, I wonder if I should follow Ollie and Nate into the TV room. Watching a basketball game has to be better than the torture of playing Truth or Dare in the same circle as Alex and Krissy. I can’t believe Maya is doing this to me.

  I glance at my best friend and notice the nervous edge to her smile, quickly realizing that this isn’t about me at all. Maya’s just trying to throw an all-inclusive, amazing party for everyone. I can’t bail on her.

  “Okay, who wants to go first?” She scans the group with a bright smile.

  No one moves, and for a second I worry that Maya’s game is about to go bust. Her eyes keep roving the circle, her lips stretching into a wide, unnatural grin.

  “I’ll do it.” Luke leans in and grabs the bottle.

  “Thanks, Lukey-Duke.” Maya grins in relief. He gives her a little wink and spins the bottle on the piece of wood Maya placed in the middle of the circle.

  Everyone seems to take a collective breath and kind of leans in. My heart rate picks up as the bottle takes forever to stop, then finally lands on Imogen.

  “Oh no.” She winces.

  Luke just laughs, his smile gorgeous as he asks, “Truth or dare?”

  “Um.” Imogen bites her lip and then giggles. “Dare.”

  “Okay.” Luke rubs his hands together, obviously loving the attention and fun. “Imogen. I dare you to drink a glass of mint hot chocolate.”

  Imogen’s eyebrows slowly rise. “That’s it?”

  Luke laughs again. “With a tablespoon of ketchup mixed into it.”

  “Oh gross! No!” Imogen wails while we all start laughing.

  Maya jumps up and grabs the required ingredients, then we all chant “Chug! Chug! Chug!” while Imogen downs the disgusting concoction, then rushes into the kitchen for a glass of water.

  Howls and hoots go up around the circle, but she gets a massive applause when she sits back down.

  “Okay, Imogen’s done. If it lands on her again, it’s a re-spin.” Maya’s rule gets met with a few complaints, but Imogen gifts her a grateful smile before spinning the bottle. It lands on Kenny, who chooses truth and has to confess about the time he stole a fifty-dollar bill from his dad’s wallet and tried to hide it with a hand drawn one of his own. That was his “worst thing you’ve ever done” confession and it got a few laughs, but it was kind of lame.

  The game continues and I start to relax until Maya’s spin lands on Krissy.

  My throat swells as I stare across the circle at the baroness with her prissy smirk and pointed blue glare.

  “Truth or dare, Pilsbury?” Maya’s tone does not match the plastic smile on her face.

  “Truth.” Her right eyebrow arches. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  Ugh. She’s so confident it makes me sick.

  “Okay.” Maya bobs her head, then glances at me quickly before asking, “Did you or did you not help Alex cheat on his girlfriend by making out with him when they were still together.”

  What? What did she just say?

  My insides turn cold. I throw a horrified glare at my best friend, but she’s too busy eyeing up Krissy to notice me. The baroness keeps her gaze away from mine, guilt singing the edges of her expression while Alex squirms beside her like a jar of ants has been emptied into his boxer shorts.

  I can’t believe Maya asked her that. What has she done!

  Betrayal is working its way through me, but it’s put on hold by the words popping out of Krissy’s mouth. “Okay. Fine. Yeah. We did. We made out when Alex and Shay were still together.”

  There’s a collective gasp from Sheridan and her girlfriends. Luke rolls his eyes, looking a little dark, while others in the group snicker and my face catches on fire.

  Alex stares at the floor, the tips of his ears crimson as he avoids my shocked stare.

  Shit. I can’t believe he did that to me.

  I’m so humiliated. And pissed off.

  He… I liked him! He was my boyfriend and he—argh!

  Maya glares at Krissy, shaking her head and silently telling her exactly what she thinks.

  “Oh, please,” Krissy scoffs. “He was totally over her by then, he just hadn’t found the right time to tell her.”

  “Krissy.” Alex tries to shut her up, but she flicks his hand off her arm.

  “Scum.” Maya spits the insult at him, while I get ready to bolt from the circle.

  Maya senses my tension and quickly turns to me. “I told you he was a loser.”

  “But you didn’t have to prove it in front of all these people!” I whisper-bark.

  Her expression changes to one of instant remorse, like she’s only just noticing the effect this is having on me.

  “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking, I just… wanted her to admit what I thought was true.” Her words rush out in a breathy whisper but are interrupted by a unified “Oooo!” from the circle.

  I glance at the bottle.

  It’s pointing right at me.

  Krissy’s smirk is back in place and as much as I want to lunge across the room and scratch it off her face, I won’t give her the satisfaction.

  Her eyes narrow, her expression one of sick glee.

  Pulling my shoulders back, I glare at her and whisper, “Dare” like it’s the most important word I’ll ever say in my life.

  Her smile only grows bigger. My stomach pinches with a warning, but it’s too late to stop this now.

  Her mouth is opening. Words are coming out.

  Whatever she says, I have to accept this dare. There’s no way in hell I’m backing out.

  “I dare you to go to the Barrett Ranch.”

  Maya gasps. “Don’t be insane! That place is haunted.”

  “Yeah, Kris.” Alex finally finds his voice. “That’s too much. You heard what happened to Harvey.”

  Krissy ignores him, her steely gaze still locked in a silent challenge with mine.

  “Fine,” I whisper, nerves scattering through me like bullets.

  No one goes to the Barrett Ranch. No one goes there for a reason.

  Last year, when Harvey Brewster tried, he swore he saw a ghost. It gave him such a fright that he ended up breaking his ankle trying to escape.

  “Selfies. Photog
raphic proof so I know you didn’t chicken out.”

  “I’m not gonna chicken out.” My tight voice quakes for a second, so I clear my throat and pull my shoulders back a little more.

  Krissy’s eyes take on an evil glint. “You better not, or I’m posting that photo from Alex’s birthday date. All. Over. Social. Media.”

  “What picture?” Maya asks, but I grip her wrist, telling her to shut up.

  Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH!

  It’s a struggle to get my words out straight. My brain is exploding with panic.

  Not that picture.

  Please no! Not that picture.

  He said he was going to delete it!

  “How—how did you even see that?”

  Krissy glances at Alex and I understand betrayal at its fullest. I thought Maya’s truth question was bad enough, but my ex-boyfriend just crossed a line. Not only did he cheat on me, but he showed her the most humiliating photo in the history of the world.

  Alex keeps his eyes on the shaggy, white rug. Good. I don’t want him looking at me.

  It’s taking all my energy not to get up and punch him in the face. He promised never to show that to anyone! He promised to delete it!

  My nostrils flare as I shoot to my feet. My fingers are forming fists.

  I want to hurt him.

  Maim him.

  But I won’t.

  Because I’m better than that.

  Murmurs ripple through the circle.

  “What photo?”

  “What are they talking about?”

  “Hey Krissy, what photo?”

  Pointing my finger at her, I don’t even bother hiding the tremble in my voice. “I’ll get you those damn selfies, Baroness.”

  Krissy gives me an odd look, but I turn my back on her, ignoring Maya’s cry for me to come back.

  “I’m leaving!” I shout over my shoulder, wrestling my jacket and scarf free from the pile and snatching my boots.

  I don’t want to stop and put them on, but I’m logical enough to know my feet will freeze outside. My hands shake as I wrestle the Doc Martens onto my feet and pray that no one tries to chase me out here.