“Sloane!” I threw a lipstick at her.
“What?! I’m just saying.” She caught the tube straight out of the air and proceeded to apply a swipe. “You’re both older and wiser. Who knows?”
“I know.” I groaned. “We’re just friends. That’s all.” I emphasized, trying to convince myself just as much as her.
“Okay, suuure.” Sloane nudged me knowingly before climbing all the way into my bed, under the pillowy covers and all. She tucked one of my childhood stuffed animals under her arm before pulling her phone out and adding smugly, “Today should be fun, I’ve always loved a little holiday romance.”
“Me too.” Jules chimed, heading to the ensuite to finish drying her hair.
“There’s no romance!” I groaned, but my heart fluttered at the thought of what the rest of the day might bring.
Carter was home.And he’d just stolen my only hair tie.
I smiled to myself.Aww crap.
CHAPTER 8
Don’t Break The Egg
CARTER
Next to me, Liam and Sara argued fervently on the lawn. “You did not get the Turkey Ball into the Cornucopia before the timer went off,” Liam shouted, his breath curling in the cold air.
I blew into my mitten-clad hands, knowing she definitely didn’t. “Uh, yes, we did!” Sara parried right back, eyes sparkling with mischief as she accused, “You’rethe one who’s cheating.”
“You would know, you little cheater.” Liam grabbed at Sara, but she ducked behind me with a grin just before he could grab her.
“Alright, you two, break it up, break it up.” I finally wiggled my arms between them, pushing them apart.
Jules tapped in, and I rested my arm on Sara’s shoulder, and rolled my eyes watching. “You guys are going down,” Jules threatened, shoving Liam’s chest. It was all play, of course, but it was comical how she postured big and tough, at more than a full foot shorter than Liam.
“Ladies, this has been child's play.” Liam bowed out, giving the girls a wink. “Doesn’t matter if you cheated, because we’re still gonna win anyway.”
“We didnotcheat.” Jules rolled her eyes at him.
Sloane came up with a hot drink in hand and linked armswith Sara, pulling her out from under my arm with an astute look on her face. “You’re going down, Kensington.”
“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” I rolled my eyes and lifted my chin to greet Remi Devereux, one of Liam’s cousins, several paces away.
Similar competitive squabbles erupted across the Devereux’s perfectly manicured lawn—most of Briar Rose was out here, and everyone was bundled in colorful scarves identifying which team they were on.
On the other side of me, Cade crooned, “Come on, don’t deny it.”
“Literally, I’m not discussing this with you.” Ariana rolled her eyes.
“Because you know it’s true.” Cade smirked, but his eyes blew wide, and he quickly headed the other way when he saw Theo closing in—Ariana followed suit, diligently avoiding Theo like she always did.
“Settle down everyone, settle down.” Charlotte Devereux called from the deck with her bullhorn. “We’ll tally up the scores and then move to our last and final competition, the Egg Master Race.” Behind her, the smaller kids and the older adults sat bundled up in a row of chairs with steaming mugs, watching the annual Devereux Turkey Games.I didn’t realize how much I’d missed this.
“Are you ready to race, Kensington?” Sara cocked her head at me smugly.
“You ready to lose your title, Rookie?” I teased, albeit a bit nervously. “Because this year, I’m going to smoke your ass.”
“Oh, Kensington.” She smiled patronizingly, sweetly, and I knew I was back in. “You’ll never be faster than me, but that’s so cute.”
I grinned. “We’ll see about that.” Thanks to soccer and track, Sarawasfaster than most everyone, even me and Cade on occasion, but not today. Just on thepossibilitythat I might come home this year, I’d been running sprints.For over a month.
From the raised deck, Liam and Sara’s mom, Charlotte, used the bullhorn to detail out the instructions for the Egg Master Race.
