“You took me up there! You told me to clean myself up.”
Cameron crosses her arms. “I didn’t say you could go use my stuff, especially my bed.” She shakes her head in disgust. “You came to my party. Now you’re trying to dress like me?”
“You’re such a bitch.” Everyone gasps. I continue, “I came here…I came here to spend Christmas Eve at a party. To get to experience a kiss underneath the mistletoe. This was supposed to be fun. But you’re all a bunch of grinches.”
I step around her and stomp away. Zane steps out, blocking my path. He makes a point of looking up at the ceiling.That damn mistletoe.
Before I can register what’s happening, he wraps his arms around me and kisses me. This time, I don’t even think about what to do with my hands. One wraps around his neck, while the other takes a handful of his silky black curls. His tongue slides between my lips, and he tastes of mint. He brings me against him tighter, and I feel him everywhere. I’ve been kissed before, butneverwith such a hunger. His body is solid and the smell of leather is intoxicating.
Zane pulls away and stares into my eyes. “That’s the mistletoe experience you deserve.”
I nod.
He slowly releases his hold on me and steps back. I don’t want him to. I want him to keep holding me and to definitely kiss me again. Instead, he takes another step back. Ryker appears through the crowd and approaches me.
“Want to –”
“Don’t even think about.” I hold my hand up and walk away from him. When I step outside, the cold night air nips at my skin. I look over when I hear the sound of an engine. Despite the cold, my insides heat at the sight of Zane sitting behind the wheel of a black muscle car. He winks at me and revs the engine. He calls out the open window to someone behind the car. “Let’s do this!”
Ryker and two other guys rush past me. “Let’s do it!”
What are they doing?Zoey comes to stand next to me, so I ask her, “Do you know what they’re doing?”
“Racing.”
“Racing?But there’s ice on the road.”
“They know. That’s the thrill of it, I think. Zane has nothing to lose, and Ryker has more money than brains.”
Cameron steps outside. “Did you know about this? Where are they going?”
Fear suddenly consumes me. Zane isn’t mine, but he is. He’s my friend. I don’t have a lot of those and he definitely was one tonight. He was nice to me and protected me. If anything, he might be the best friend I’ve never had. I don’t want him to get hurt. Plus, he kissed me with such passion. We have something…and who knows, maybe we could have something more. What if I never get to find out?
Chapter 4
Zane
Steam rises from the hood of my Camaro SS. I may not have a lot – but dammit, I have my dream car. I did a lot of shady shit to afford this car, but I got it. Now I’m determined to save up enough money, so when I turn eighteen, which happens next week, I’m out of here. Gone. Never to return. Winning races with rich assholes are one of my specialties. See, my father used to need a getaway driver, or just a designated driver when he was drunk. I’ve been driving since I was ten-years-old. I know how to handle a car and how to drive in all kinds of conditions. This lap is short, but hazardous with the black ice. It’s a backroad that has a large curve. Then our route is a turn off in between two fields, that will loop back to our starting point. First one to makeit back gets two grand. Two grand that I don’t have to lose, but plan to win.
Ryker’s luxury sports car pulls up next to mine. It’s pitch dark on these backroads, freezing cold temperature, and an animal could jump out. My car slides a little here and there from the patches of ice scattered all over the blacktop. This is stupid… dangerous…and my adrenaline is at an all-time high.
A few of the people from the party have already showed up. Not surprised to see Ryker’s ex-Allison, or I think ex…Maybe they’ve already gotten back together. Allison tiptoes and slides on the pavement in front of our headlights. She lifts her hands in the air, holding a scarf. Both of us revs our engines. Allison winks and then drops the scarf. We zoom past her. I allow Ryker to pass me. There’s a curve up ahead and I plan to get past it and then open up. Ryker’s car fishtails, but he regains control. The time it takes him, though, I use to pass him. I focus on the road ahead. My car hydroplanes a few times, but I quickly take control. Ryker’s headlights reflect off my rearview mirror and blind my eyes. I duck my head, but then the brightness disappears. I slow down and check it again. Ryker’s car has spun around and he is now facing the wrong direction.
A laugh leaves me, along with a shout, “WHOO!” I increase my speed as he tries to get his car turned around on the patches of ice. This victory means more to me than any of them could possibly know. It’s the perfect gift. Merry Christmas to me.
Chapter 5
Shawna
It’s so dark that I can’t even see the little clouds from my breath in the frigid air. Headlights approach and my heart leaps in my throat. It hasn’t escaped me that I came to this party to give my heart to Ryker, but I ended up losing it to Zane. This has been by far the craziest Christmas Eve ever. Mine is typically spent sipping hot chocolate in front of the fireplace, which I’d love to be doing right now. My heart won’t let me leave though. That kiss under the mistletoe stirred something inside of me, something I want to continue to explore.
“Zane wins!” Jackson throws his fists in the air and then turns to all of the football team. “I told you son-of-bitches he’d win. Time to pay up.” There’s a round of grumbles, but Jackson shines the light on his phone and begins collecting everyone’s payment. Zane’s Camaro slides a little on the ice then comes to a stop. He unfolds his tall frame, his eyes widening in surprise when they meet mine. Everyone greets him, but no one dares to get too close. I inch forward, watching him for any signs of how he feels about me being here. People are talking all around him, but his lips aren’t moving. They’re partly open and he is staring at me. As if by his will, I walk faster toward him. He takes a step toward me, parting the crowd.
I feel ice beneath my feet, and before I can even react, I lose my balance. Zane rushes forward and his long arms reach out to steady me. Someone snickers and the look Zane throws over his shoulder could melt the ice beneath my feet. His eyes soften when he turns them back on me. “Are you okay? You’re freezing.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
His eyes widen a fraction but then harden and turn to narrow slits. Zane’s hands flex and his Adam’s apple bobs with a heavy swallow. “What the fuck do you care if I’m okay?”
