“Loso, is this for us?”
“One of them is. The city is hosting a light show that runs a few blocks long.”
“And the horse and carriage is taking us? Oh my God! This is amazing. You don’t do stuff like this.”
“I’ll do anything for you. Christmas is a few nights away, and you’ve been working hard to make sure my folks are good. I can sacrifice my earlobes and eyes so you can enjoy yourself.”
I moaned and stepped into his chest. “A man willing to sacrifice his time and money is something sexy, Mr. Bricks.”
He caught my bottom lip between his teeth, making me giggle.
“If a little Christmas turn up gets your panties wet, I can only imagine what you’ll let me do to you when you see how I go up for Valentine’s Day.” He spun me around and led me to the first carriage in a line of ten. As soon as I got comfortable in my seat, I tossed my legs over his lap and snapped a picture of my custom UGG boots and the ice on Loso’s wrist. I knew Caleb’s nosy ass was watching my Instagram story, and I wanted to give him something to look at. He may not have been willing to forgo time for me, but the man massaging my ankles certainly did. By the second, I could see The Grinch evolved into someone more open minded. He went from snarling when someone said the word Christmas to complimenting dramatic lights.
I stuck my hand out, catching pieces of snow on my fingertips. “I can’t believe it’s starting to snow out here. Do you think the weather is going to be bad on Christmas?”
“I hope not, especially if we’re going to drive up to meet the family,” he suggested, pulling me close.
I snuggled up to Loso, prepared to enjoy the rest of the show, yet my vibrating phone caught my attention. At first, I ignored the notification, but seeing multiple pop ups on the screen put me on alert.
“Aye. See who that is,” Loso insisted with a layer of invasion glazing his delivery.
“Don’t say it like you’re running shit.”
He squeezed my ankle. “I see you doing what I said.”
I smirked at his sly comment, but my grin dropped below the carriage when I opened the family group chat.
Blaze:Bitch! Have you lost your mind? You and Loso go together?
Stevie:*Smiley face*
Blaze:It’s not funny. Your brother is having a fit.
What are y’all talking about?
Stevie:Don’t try it. You and Loso both posted pictures at the light show.
Blaze:Now, it all makes sense
A thumping rhythm in my throat made me uneasy. It came to a halt when I saw my brother calling.
“Hello?” I answered nervously. “Did you guys make it?”
“Essen. I’m going to ask you something, and if I think you’re lying, I’m going to drive back to the city and squeeze the truth out of you.”
The ringing in my ears grew louder. “Are you and Loso fucking around?”
“What? I?—”
Loso snatched the phone from my grasp. “Yo! Don’t ask her no weird shit like that. If you want to have that conversation, you call me.”
“Call you?” Shiloh yelled. “I trusted you around my folks. I thought you would look after my sister, and you building snowmen and rubbing her ankles? Fuck you!”
The men went back and forth, both getting louder every time they spoke. Shame caused my warm skin to turn cold with fear. Shiloh wasn’t the type of man you tested, so I prayed he didn’t ditch the family vacay to come home to fight. If something happened to my brother because of me, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I already wanted to turn into a piece of coal at the idea that I ruined his friendship. I didn’t want to ruin Christmas.
Chapter 8
Loso
