“How about you and me head over to that buffet now?” I nip at her earlobe, and she bucks and shudders beneath me. It’s like the public version of an orgasm—one I don’t mind gifting her right here under my mother’s uptight roof. These are the exact things I’ve missed this past year. The way her body responds to mine, her cute sighs, the sweet way she rubs my back when we’re in public. I’m addicted to it all.
“Why don’t you go ahead? I see Baya and Roxy outside, and I want to say hello.”
“You bet.” I crash my lips to hers for a moment. “I’ll be out in a sec.”
She drifts off with a wave, and I make a beeline toward the food. It’s a holiday spread that only my mother’s careful culinary supervision can provide. I must say, I’m damn glad Laney and Mom have worked things out. As much as I’d miss my mother, I’d miss her five-star catered events as well. I suppose that sounds cruel, but the food has been known to offer more comfort and support than the woman herself. Nevertheless my stomach lives to eat another Capwell-catered meal.
“Hey, good looking.” A female voice sings to my right, followed by a nudge to the shoulder.
I glance down to find Meg with her eyes rotating in her skull, her lipstick smeared.
“You okay?” Shit. This is exactly how it went down last year, but this time I’m not falling for anybody’s party tricks. If Meg wants to use and abuse her liver, it’s entirely up to her. She can fall flat on her face, and I’ll be the first to find someone to help her, but it won’t be me.
“I’m better now.” She sticks to my side like we’re glued at the hip, and my body temperature spikes because I’m terrified Laney will walk in and see the display.
“Good.” I move away as I reach for a plate.
“Rumor has it you and Laney are at it again.”
At it again? She makes it sound like a fistfight.
“Yup. Some rumors are true. We’re at a lot of things again.” Take the hint and leave. I scoop dish after dish onto my plate, and yet Meg has my appetite waning. If she keeps this up, I’ll miss out on a great dinner.
“So this is something you want?” She leans against the counter and a ladle of rice rockets in the air, spraying the two of us with hundreds of sticky grains.
“Hold your fire.” I dust myself off, and she takes the opportunity to molest the hell out of my chest. I can smell the hint of liquor on her breath, and you don’t need to be a genius to know where this is headed.
“I’m so sorry!” She pants through a laugh. “It’s like some crazy wedding omen.”
Crazy being the operative word.
“I’ve got this,” I say as I back the hell away. “And, yes, when the time is right Laney and I will marry.” There. Done. I set down my food and turn to head outside.
“You can’t marry, Laney. We haven’t done this—” She spins me around by the back of the neck and pushes her lips to mine.
6
Deck the Halls and Maybe Meg
Laney
Roxy is laughing her ass off while Baya spells out in nauseating detail what went down at the office today.
“The intercom!” Roxy belts it out with a scream. “That’s classic! I bet Ryder gets a lot more respect around the office from now on.” She digs her fingers into her eyes as she wipes away the tears.
“I do what I can to help.”
Baya breaks out into slow moans, “Oh Ryder—Oh shit, Laney, anddear God, your penis is naked!”
“I did not say that.” I avert my gaze for a moment at Bryson who thankfully is seemingly distracted by something in the house. “And that’s not how it went at all.”
“Well, maybe next time you can leave the door wide open so we can get a visual.” Baya pulls Bryson in close as they share a laugh.
Very funny.
“You can sell tickets!” Roxy chortles. “I bet that would really help out the drama department.”
Sell tickets. I shake my head. But it’s all in fun, and, after all, Ryder and I sort of set ourselves up for this. I have a feeling he’ll be getting rid of the intercom sooner than later. At the very least, a nice fluffy couch will soon make its appearance. If I had the cash, I’d pony up for one myself.
