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MY KIND OF CHRISTMAS

Matt and I are part of the infamous Team Maelstrom. He’s my straight best friend, my partner in crime, my soul mate…okay, the man I’ve been in love with for years.

We’re visiting my family for a scenic, snow-covered Christmas. Matt loves Christmas, and my family loves him, so what could go wrong?

Turns out, my meddling sisters aren’t the biggest issue—it’s my slightly drunk father, who can’t keep his damn mouth shut! When Matt finds out how I feel, I brace for the worst. But what I don’t expect is for him to admit…he might feel the same way.

Come celebrate a romantic, fun-filled Christmas with decorations galore, snow-covered scenery, meddling family, and an unexpected love confession.

MATT

Pausing before heading outside, Matt grabbed the hat stuffed inside his jacket and pulled it over his head. He contemplated putting on gloves but decided against it. Port Dale wasn’t known for its freezing weather, even at the beginning of December. It was plenty cold for the residents, but that was expected in a warm climate. Then again, as someone raised in Arizona, stationed in desert or tropical climates, and living out of Fort Dale, Matt wasn’t much different.

Tucking his bags under his arm, he left the store, leaving the cheery music behind. It was quickly replaced by the murmur of the crowds on the sidewalks and traffic as rush hour approached. Sighing, he checked his phone, hoping his ride would arrive soon. It would take forever to get back to Fort Dale, and he’d prefer to get the trip over with.

No sooner had he tucked away the phone than it started buzzing. The headset in his ear immediately began to blare the Mission Impossible theme. Everyone of any importance on his phone came with a ringtone, and he smirked as he connected the call.

“Hey, Aidan,” he greeted his friend, former teammate, and second in command.

“Good God, where the hell are you, a club?” Aidan asked.

“I’m downtown shopping.”

“Shopping, isn’t it...rush hour?”

Matt huffed as someone bumped him roughly on their way past. “Sure is.”

“What the hell are you doing shopping?” Aidan asked. Matt heard muffled conversation in the background, followed by Aidan’s wry, “Right, of course. Christmas shopping again?”

Matt listened to holiday music from a nearby store. “Hey, not everyone waits until the last second just to buy a bunch of gift cards, like you,” Matt shot back.

“I do not,” Aidan said. Once more, there was muffled conversation and then deep laughter.

Matt smirked. “That Sean?”

“Yes,” Aidan huffed.

“Am I allowed to say hi?”

“He’s being an ass, so he doesn’t get to talk to you right now.”

“Put me on speakerphone, Aidan.”

“Or what?”

Matt grinned. “Or I’ll program your phone to play gay porn with every alert...again.”

“Jesus,” Aidan grumbled, and the background noise increased. “There, happy?”

“Hi, Sean. I hear you two are having fun,” Matt said, reaching into his pocket when it buzzed again.

“Well, I am,” Sean’s deep voice replied, sounding amused.

“He thinks he’s funny,” Aidan told him.

“And someone doesn’t like the taste of their own medicine,” Sean said.

Matt shook his head, checking the message from his Uber and scanning the crowd for the car. Sean and Aidan bickered back and forth, but Matt had been there when they were introduced. He knew all too well what genuine animositybetween them looked and sounded like, and he hadn’t seen or heard it in quite some time.