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“Explain the facial hair to me.”Kendall, my future sister-in-law, nods to where Jason, my dad, and Axel are breaking-in the new corn hole game my mother bought my dad for Christmas. They’re set up in the backyard in the grassy area next to the pool deck. “Not that it detracts from his looks, because he’s very good looking, but it doesn’t really fit his whole vibe.”

“Superstition,” I say, watching as he picks up his bean bag and lines it up with his target. “He’ll shave it once they lose a game.”

“How long has that been?”

“Two months.”

We’re sitting next to the fire pit, keeping warm while the guys play their game. Mom is inside curled up with a new book she got from my dad. Once the presents are open and the brunch dishes are cleaned up, she declares the rest of the afternoon for herself, and takes a much needed break.

Axel’s bean bag lands in the hole and he lifts his arms in victory. I clap and cheer, earning a wink in return.

“It sucks that things aren’t great with his family, but he seems comfortable here.” She arches an eyebrow. “And he seems super into you.”

A warm blush rises on my cheeks. I’ve had sex and a lot of hook-ups over the years, but never a boyfriend. Especially not one like Axel.

“Axel isn’t afraid to show his feelings,” I admit, “that’s for sure.”

Kendall is right, he does seem comfortable here. My mom was surprised, but didn’t push back when I told her I was bringing a friend with me for the holidays. Dad definitely did a double take at the tattoos and piercings, and it was weird seeing Axel next to someone like Jason, who isn’t out of shape or anything, but definitely doesn’t have the physique of a college athlete. I’m used to seeing Axel around his teammates and friends who are all as big as he is. Even with all of that, he won everyone over with that Axel Rakestraw charm and charisma.

“Any word from the police?” she asks. I’d updated her on everything the first night we got back.

I shake my head. “No and I don’t know if we ever will. Going after someone like Brent and CJ are more than going after a single person. They’ve got agents and managers. NCAA reps and people looking out for them with the NFL. They’re assets and no one wants to lose that–especially with a player with as much promise as Brent. They’ll do whatever they need to do to protect him.”

It’s that entitlement that allows him to take risks like this in the first place. I hug my knees to my chest, feeling the warm heat from the fire. It’s not nearly as cold as it is up north, but just thinking about the case gives me a chill.

The guys finish their game, and clean up the bean bags, while leaving the boards out to play again later. I hear Dad ask Axel as they walk up, “Sure you’re not a forward? You’ve got good aim.”

“Nope. Maybe all that time on the ice with Reese rubbed off on me.”

Dad ruffles my hair on his way past, and Jason grabs Kendall’s hand to help her lift off the chair and they all go inside. Axel sits next to me and throws my legs over his lap and pulls me close. His warm lips press against my temple. “You cold?”

“Nah, not with you next to me.”

“You up for a swim?” He saw my father swimming laps this morning, realizing the pool is heated.

“You really want that Florida Christmas Day swim, don’t you?”

“I’d rather go skinny dipping, but your family likes me, and I’d like to keep it that way.” His mouth moves close to my ear. “But yeah, I mostly want to see you in one of those bikinis that have been taunting me from your ChattySnap page.”

I tilt my head to look at him. “We eat dinner at six and I still need to finish the kolaches.”

He checks his watch. “It’s only two. Think there’s enough time?”

The sun is out, and Axel may not be the only one looking to see the other mostly naked. He’s been relegated to the pull out couch in my mom’s office since we got here, and even though we’ve spent our days together, there’s always family around. Sure, we’ve managed to sneak off for a few quick make-out sessions, mostly out here in the backyard, but having him close? Feeling his body? I miss him.

“Yeah, I think so. Meet me back down here?”

His smile is worth it, and we part in the kitchen. I go upstairs to change and he heads to the temporary guest room. I cover myself with one of his jerseys and grab a few soft pool towelsfrom the linen closet. When I get back outside he’s not there, but I notice the flame is low on the fire pit and drop the towels in a chair, walking to the edge of the patio to grab a few pieces of kindling my dad keeps stacked by the house.

Bending, picking through the wood, I hear, “Red or white?”

I spin, and see Will with his arms draped over the gate separating our properties. He looks like crap. Skin pale, eyes bloodshot. A tendril of smoke wafts from the tip of his cigarette.

“What do you want?” I thought he was spending the holiday out of town with his parents.

“Just wondering if you’ve got on the red bikini or the white one,” he says, eyes roaming over me. “It is Christmas so maybe you went with red, but that new boyfriend of yours probably wants the white.”

The way he looks at me makes me feel sick. “You’re a creep, you know that?”