“You can put them in their stockings.”
His forehead creases. “What stockings?”
It’s my turn to be surprised. “You don’t have stockings?”
“We haven’t had stockings since I was a kid.”
I push out an exaggerated sigh. “We’ll add that to the list too.”
“What are you two doing over here, looking so intense?” Mallory asks, coming out of another tent, but this time without a new bag.
“Scheming,” I say with a grin.
“Well, if you’re involved then I’m going to presume it’s not Alex’s usual scheming,” Tyler says, following Mallory out.
“That was high school,” Alex grunts, but his eyes are twinkling. “I’ve grown up.”
“Debatable,” Tyler mutters.
“Well, in this instance,” I chime in. “You’re right about us scheming good things.” I shoot Alex a sarcastic grin. “Probably because I’m the one scheming and dragging Alex along with the plan.”
Alex wraps an arm around my back, his hand settling on my hip. “She didn’t have to drag me anywhere. All she has to do is bat those big, brown eyes and I’m following like a lost puppy.”
My reaction to his touch is immediate. My pulse races, my breath catches.
Mallory’s shoulders relax, clearly relieved that we’re over our conflict. Tyler’s gaze drops to Alex’s hand on my hip, and some of his suspicion seems to fade.
Alex smiles down at me, and for one split second, I believe that this is all real. I’m here with my boyfriend and his amazing siblings, having the best Christmas ever. But, ever pragmatic, I remind myself it’s not.
Don’t fall for the fantasy, Finley.
I don’t really want Alex. I like the idea of him.
Only someone needs to tell my body that, because there are flutters in my stomach and my heart is racing as he looks down at me with a warm smile. I look away before he notices my reaction, but his breath hits my cheek, sending a shiver down my back. He must think I’m cold because he pulls me closer. “I think we need to get my Georgia peach something warm to drink.”
“You call her that too?” Mallory asks, practically squealing with excitement.
“How can I not?” he asks, then kisses the top of my head.
Technically, it’s a fine line on the no kissing rule, but I’m not protesting. Instead, I press myself into his side like I belong there.
“You two are so cute!” Mallory says with a dreamy look. “I wish I could find a boyfriend who’s that nice to me.”
“You don’t need a boyfriend,” Alex says in a protective tone, while Tyler grunts, “Boys your age are dogs. You need to wait until you’re thirty to date.”
“Give me a break,” Mallory says with a dramatic eyeroll. “You both were on your third or fourth girlfriend by the time you were a senior in college. Hell, Mom and Dad got married the June after they graduated.” Then she glances at me, her eyes dancing. “See what I have to put up with?”
“They just love their little sister,” I say with a warm smile, and wrap my arm around Alex’s back. I do it without thinking, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Just friends.
But when I pull away, Alex tugs me back.
“I wish my brothers didn’t love me quite so much,” Mallory says. “Which is why I rarely tell them when I’m dating someone.”
Tyler’s face goes rigid. “Are you dating anyone now?”
“No,” she says smugly.
