A few minutes later, we gathered in the front foyer to say our goodbyes for Christmas break. That was when Callahan and Jamaica dropped the news that they’d be spending the holiday meeting each other’s parents. Behind their backs, Baxter shot me a cross-eyed headshake, but it was all for show. I saw how he’d panted after Piper when we were at Stromboli’s last week.
I could relate.
“Meeting the parents, huh? That’s kinda serious, ain’t it?” I asked as I shrugged into my fleece-lined jean jacket.
“When you know, you know,” Callahan said, slinging an arm around Jamaica and pulling her close to his side. “Maybe someday when you give up jersey chasers, you’ll see for yourself, Finn.”
His tone was all Mr.Rogers patient, and I bared my teeth at him. Bax snorted, and I flipped him the bird.
“Touchy, touchy,” he said. At ’Han’s questioning brow, Bax added, “I’ll tell you all about what went down last Monday when we come back from break.” He hitched his duffel bag over his shoulder and joined me at the front door. “Behave yourselves, and don’t go getting engaged or some other craziness before you come back.”
Jamaica sucked in a tiny gasp, and I glanced at Callahan, who remained stoic except for a tiny tug at the corner of his mouth.
Well, fuck me. If someone had said at the beginning of the semester that one of us in the house would be entertaining thoughts of marriage by the end of it, I would have called bullshit. From the looks of things, I would have lost that bet.
“Did not see that one coming,” Bax said as I drove him to the airport.
“Yeah. I didn’t think any of us would graduate with a lady in tow. It’s bad business when your focus is the pros.” I wheeled us through the roundabout a block from our neighborhood and headed down the straight shot to the airport.
“Depends on the lady.”
Something in his tone snagged my attention, and I slid him a side-eye. Bax stared out the windshield, but I had the distinct impression he wasn’t seeing the passing scenery.
“Chessly’s friend has you by the balls, does she?” I chortled at my own joke even as my own pair drew up a little at the sound of her name on my lips.
“She’s Jamaica’s friend too.” He aimed a speculative look at me—one I studiously ignored as I focused on the road. “What the hell were you thinking inviting a bunch of jersey chasers to the house the same night you were entertaining a real woman?”
“For the thousandth time, I didn’t invite any of those girls—Chessly included. I was home alone, minding my own business when they showed up out of the blue.” Gripping the steering wheel, I willed myself not to rise to the bait. “But I get it. Jersey chasers are bad news.”
Settling back against the seat, Bax blew out a breath. “We’re a pair, Finnegan. ’Han is so much smoother with women than we are. It’s a surprise to see him settling down with someone. You and I are lucky if Piper and Chessly even give us the time of day.” He shot me a shit-eating grin. “’Course, after last Monday night, you’ll be lucky if you ever see Chessly again.”
“Fuck you, Bax.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught his shrug, which only added to the sinking feeling his reminder gave me.
We were silent for the rest of the ride to the airport. After I dropped him off, I pointed my rig north, cranked up some Drake, and tried to focus my mind on what awaited me at home for Christmas: Mom’s incredible food, chores with Dad, and razzing the shit out of my sister, Nikki. But every other mile I caught myself wondering how a certain gorgeous physics major with a smart mouth and all my attention would be spending the holidays.
Chapter Eleven
Chessly
“I’m so happyyou decided to spend the holidays with me. Not to say working at Dad’s store is boring”—I slid a glance in my dad’s direction as he straightened some tools on a nearby shelf—“but it’s much more interesting with you here.” I grinned at Piper and touched a finger to the deep purple strands intermingling with her chestnut hair. “The locals apparently go for color.”
“Nah. They like testing the new girl.”
“Speaking of, did you read up on power tools or something before you arrived?” Crossing my arms over my apron, I leaned against the counter beside the cash register and regarded my friend.
With a shrug she said, “I’m earning credits for this internship with your dad, so I thought I’d better know something about hardware stores.” Glancing over her shoulder at my dad and back to me, she added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Plus I wanted to impress him before I wreck his good opinion of me when I corrupt you tonight.”
I laughed. “Good luck with that. The Elk Horn isn’t exactly a hot spot for debauchery, even on the biggest party night of the year.”
“How would you know?” she challenged.
“It’s the only place in town that serves food after eight. The entire high school hung out there after ball games on the weekends. They’re supposed to kick the kids out at ten, but no one ever checks.” Pulling my phone from my pocket, I noted we only had to wait about fifteen minutes before we could flip the “open” sign on the front door to “closed.”
Dad walked over to the cash register where Piper and I were talking. As though sensing my thoughts about closing, he said, “Why don’t you two call it a night? I doubt we’re going to have a rush between now and closing time, seeing as it’s New Year’s Eve.” He gave a little chuckle. “Unless someone without a plunger overflows a toilet tonight.”
I shot him a look from beneath my brows. “A visual we did not need, Dad.”
