Page 69 of The Mistletoe Mix-up

“It’s none of your business, Pete!” she snapped.

“Ugh.” Pete threw an arm over his eyes and groaned, “You banging anyone is just gross.”

“Oh, shut up and be a grown-up for once! I walked in on you having sex on my couch, and I didn’t lose my shit.”

Pete spluttered to a sitting position. “Yes, you did! You abandoned your dog and ran out the door!”

“I was allowing you and your friend time to collect yourselves,” she said, grinning when his face flushed maroon.

“I’ve never pranced around you in my good underwear.”

“First, I wasn’t prancing.” She tapped on one finger, counting her arguments. “Second, you have good underwear? And third, I was expecting someone else, not you!” Wren tossed a throw pillow at him and added, “Now, get a grip and stop being dramatic.”

“I can’t when we’re talking about my little sister getting her freak on.”

Wren pointed toward the door with a huff. “I’m not going to be doing much of anything if you don’t get the hell out of here.”

“Where am I going to go?” Pete asked, climbing to his feet.

“Can’t you go spend the night with Luke or Garrett or even Dad?”

“I’m not driving up the mountain in the dark. Luke and his rug rat and his hormonal wife make me nuts, and Garrett is well . . . Garrett.”

Wren pushed Pete back toward the closed door. “Well, it sounds like Garrett is your best option, so how about you get out of here and give me some privacy?”

Pete leaned into her pushing hands. “You’d really throw your favorite brother out into the cold?”

Someone knocked on the door, and she glared at him. “Yes, absolutely I would, hundred percent.”

“Fine. Let’s get a look at this guy and see what’s special about him.” Pete threw open the door, revealing Sam standing on the stoop, his brow furrowing.

“Hi, Pete.”

“Sam.” Pete glanced over his shoulder at Wren. “I should have known.” Pete faced Sam once more, arms folded over his chest. “Did you know that my sister will not let me spend the night here, even though I am in dire need, because she would rather do the devil’s tango with you? The humanity, right?”

Sam cleared his throat. “Should I come back later?”

“Later is definitely better,” Pete said at the same time as Wren blurted, “Absolutely not!”

Wren and Pete glared at each other.

“If you do not get out of my house in the next five seconds, I am going to get my Taser and take videos of you peeing yourself and post them on TikTok!”

Pete made a face before sniffing derisively. “Well, I can tell when I’m not wanted.”

“You are loved and wanted, just not here tonight!” she called after him.

“Whatever, have fun!” He flipped her the bird, and Sam turned around, saw the gesture, and gave her a sheepish grin.

“I didn’t mean to kick him out of his bed.”

“His bed is at home with his two roommates. He has a couch here, but as I told him, he should have called.” Wren gave Sam a nervous smile. “Hi.”

“Hey.” He stepped inside, and she shut the door, taking in his button-down shirt and jeans.

“You look like we’re headed out instead of staying in.”

“Yeah, I was a little nervous, so I may have overdressed, and I wasn’t sure if this is the kind of thing you bring flowers to, but”—Sam pulled out a single red rose and held it out to her—“here you go.”