Page 8 of Theirs for the Holidays

I just stand there, watching the three of them go back and forth. This is particular issue is a new thing for them to argue about, but it’s clear that they’re used to fighting with each other like this. It’s like they’ve just picked a new subject to have an old argument about.

Their voices are hushed, but there’s legitimate anger and irritation in their words, and it doesn’t really seem like they care if they hurt each other’s feelings or anything. But I guess there’s truth to the fact that family can hurt you like no one else.

Finally, I feel like I have to interrupt them or we’ll be in here all night.

“Hey,” I say, risking pitching my voice a little louder to get their attention. I hold up my hands, and they all stop, turning to stare at me. “Sorry. I just… look. I appreciate what you were each trying to do for me, I really do. I was embarrassed, and it was only going to get worse. But you don’t have to do this. It’s obvious you don’t really…” I trail off, not sure how to say ‘you don’t even want to be in the same room with each other’ without sounding rude. “You don’t really need to do this,” I finish. “So it’s okay.”

I swallow hard, staring down at the carpet, my lips pulling down a little. “And it would never work anyway, right? Who would ever believe that I was dating all three of you?”

When I chance a glance up, all three of them are frowning at me. I let my eyes slide back to the floor and keep going.

“I’ll just go tell everyone the truth. That you were all trying to help me save face, and it was a lie.”

My stomach clenches at the thought of that. If I didn’t already feel shitty enough about my ex marrying my thin, beautiful sister, this will just be the icing on the cake. I get to humiliate myself and look even more sad and pathetic.

I can already imagine the way Isabelle will laugh about it. Violet couldn’t get a date to the wedding, and then had to lie about it.Ha ha ha.

It would be easier if the floor opened up and swallowed me right now.

But that doesn’t happen, and the Sullivan brothers just keep looking at me, so I take a deep breath and walk out of the guest room.

There’s the sound of warm chatter from the living room. Mom is still holding court, and Isabelle is glowing under the praise and light of being the favorite. Andrew has one hand on her knee, and they’re leaned into each other. A picture perfect couple.

No one looks up when I walk in. They don’t seem to notice I’m there at all.

When there’s a break in the conversation, I open my mouth, ready to just get it over with—but before I can say anything, someone catches my wrist.

It’s Sawyer, one of his big hands pressed to my skin. “Wait,” he says in an undertone.

His brothers are behind him, and I half turn, confused.

Sawyer uses the grip on my wrist to pull me back toward him. I stumble back, ending up pressed flush against him, and my cheeks flush as I feel the heat of his body through our clothes. He feels strong and solid, and my heart pounds. I wonder if he can feel it.

Before I can say or do anything, he palms the back of my head and leans down to kiss me.

4

SAWYER

Violet issoft in my arms. That’s the first thing I notice. She’s soft, and she smells good.

I press my lips to hers, and she stiffens in surprise. One of her hands is on my chest, and I wonder if she’s going to push me away. That would put a damper on this whole thing for sure.

But she doesn’t. She makes a soft, surprised noise, her eyes flaring in shock. I don’t move away though. I keep kissing her, letting my fingers slide into her hair, trying to coax her with my body to play along.

Bit by bit, she gives in to it. She slowly starts to melt against me, the soft curves of her body pressing into mine. Her lips soften, and I grip her hair loosely, deepening the kiss a little.

Violet goes with it, kissing me back.

It feels good. Kissing always does, when you do it right, and Violet is nice to kiss. Better than nice, even. But at the same time, I have to wonder what the fuck I’m doing.

There have been a bunch of moments like that in my life. Where I got caught up in the impulse of something, chasing an urge, and then ended up in a situation I didn’t plan for. That’s just how I am. I leap first and ask questions later. It’s worked out fine for the most part.

I guess this thing with Violet is the same. Or at least, close enough.

I saw the look on her face as she talked about admitting the truth. It was like someone being led to the gallows. She knew her family was going to humiliate her for it, and she was going to do it anyway.

No matter how much it would have cost her, she was going to confess, and I couldn’t take it.