“I know Alex has a rivalry with Grant,” I say carefully. “He told me Grant was supposed to get their room, but we’d be sleeping in there instead.”
She releases a short laugh. “Yeah, and Tyler’s convinced that’s the real reason Alex brought you.”
My stomach lurches. “What?”
“Oh, don’t worry.” She gives me a reassuring smile. “Mom and I don’t buy it.”
“What about your dad?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? He rarely weighs in on family things like that.”
Is that what Alex and Tyler are arguing so heatedly about in the car behind us?
Mallory pulls forward toward the detached garage, then backs down the opposite side of the driveway. She flashes me a grin. “No reason to sit here while they duke it out. Otherwise, we’d be parked all day.”
Alex cuts the argument short, his gaze locking on us as Mallory backs past. Mallory wiggles her fingers in a mocking wave. “Bye!” Even if he can’t hear her, it’s not that hard to lip read.
“Maybe I should wait for Alex,” I say.
“Pleasssse,” she drawls. “It’s not like the town’s big. They’ll find us.”
We head toward the square, then turn to the right. Cars are parked all along the street, but she finds a spot in a big lot after circling for a few minutes. “I suppose we could have walked from the house,” she says. “But then we wouldn’t have gotten to watch my two brothers arguing.”
She’s clearly amused, but my stomach’s in knots. What if the truth about Alex and me comes out?
“Don’t look so worried,” Mallory says as she kills the engine. “They’ll show up in two minutes acting like nothing happened.”
Only, when they appear, just as we’re about to step onto the street lined with canopies and tents, it’s obvious they are not in a joking around mood. Both look stormy.
“There you are,” Mallory says brightly, as if she hasn’t noticed. “We thought you might have gotten lost.”
“We would have made it sooner if—” Alex cuts himself off and I see Mallory giving him a glare that could rival any mother’s look. “We’re here.”
“So you are.” She beams. “And we’re going to have a wonderful time, because little Finley loves all things Christmas. And we’re not going to ruin it for her, are we?”
To my surprise, they both mumble, “No.”
Hoping to break the tension, I say, “How can you call me little Finley when I’m five years older than you?”
“You’re about an inch shorter,” she counters, holding her hand level with my forehead. “Which makes you little. Or I can go with Wee Little Finley if you prefer.”
I can’t help laughing. “As long as I get to check out the Christmas market, I’ll answer to whatever you want.”
Mallory shoots her brothers a satisfied look. “See? Finley’s being cooperative. You two should give it a try.” She loops her arm through mine and marches us straight into the main aisle between the booths.
Mallory might be determined to spread Christmas cheer, but judging by the glares at my back, peace on earth is still up for debate.
Chapter Eighteen
Alex
The second I climb into the Jeep, Tyler wastes no time telling me exactly how he feels.
“It’s disgusting how you’re using that woman,” he snaps, eyes blazing.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I know you only brought her here so you wouldn’t have to sleep on the sofa bed.”
