Page 102 of The Casanova Complex

I sigh.

I knew this was coming. From the second I told them about Merritt, they’ve given me relentless shit.

I kept the whole “fake” part to myself, so he and Zach only know her as my new girlfriend.

As much as I don’t want fuckface Gauthreaux in my house tonight, him being here and seeing Merritt and me together will strengthen the belief that we’re together. He’ll see it for himself.

So I guess maybe it won’t be the end of the world if he does actually come.

“Don’t be weird,” I say, looking back and forth between Zach and Tyler. “Don’t make her feel uncomfortable, and if either of you say some shit that comes across as even remotely disrespectful, I’m going to punch you in the dicks.”

I know the second that Zach’s face lights up like a kid on fucking Christmas and he turns to look at Tyler that they’re going to make me beat their asses.

I just know it.

But I won’t let these dumbasses ruin my overly cheerful mood tonight.

Which is obviously because it’s almost Christmas, the best day of the year, and you can’t be unhappy on Christmas, or you’re just a miserable fuck.

And because I get a whole night with Merritt, and I don’t have to spend a second of it pretending that I’m not fucking crazy about her.

I want to tell her, but I’m honestly scared to.

I’ve never really felt this way about anyone the way that I do about her, and I’m scared that if I tell her how I feel, she’ll shut down, or even worse, that she doesn’t see me the way that I see her.

For fuck’s sake, feelings are terrifying.

“She’s… She’s really fucking important to me. Like, maybe more important than anyone else in my life besides my family. I’m not going to fuck this up, and that means you aren’t going to either.”

Zach lifts his hands, palm up. “I swear I’ll be on my best behavior. I can’t speak for this idiot here, but…”

Tyler reaches out and slaps him on the back of the head, and I smirk.

“Actually, you’re both fucking idiots. But…” Trailing off, I start walking backward to the kitchen. “You’re my idiots. Time for a refill, let’s go.”

“I don’t know how you did it, but you’ve managed to make a snowman hot.” I clutch at my chest, raking my gaze over Merritt. “My God, I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on before.”

Her head tips back, and a bubbly laugh pours out of her, a sweet, infectious sound that warms my insides and makes my heart thump wildly.

I hang her jacket on the hook next to the front door and flash her a grin. “I’m serious.”

“Thank you.” She does a small twirl, showing off her tight black sweater, which hugs her ample chest and soft waist like a second skin. It’s got a snowman on the front that says “I like big buttons and I cannot lie” with small red buttons for eyes. It’s hilarious and exactly something she’d pick. “You look… adorable. The antlers really pull it all together.”

I waggle my brows at her. “Obviously, I’m very horny.”

Her smile widens, and amusement shines back at me in her warm, smoky eyes. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more ridiculous.”

“Gotta keep you on your toes, Mer Bear.”

Humming, she steps past me into the living room, and her eyes go wide when she sees the number of people standing in it.

“Yeah, so… apparently, word got out about tonight, and a few people outside of the team showed up.”

Her gaze whips to mine. “You think?”

By a few, I mean at least a hundred, but what’s a guy to do? It was supposed to be a team-only party, but one person told another, who told another, and here we are.

I shrug and take a step forward, slipping my arm around her waist and hauling her to me, burying my face in her neck.