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“Um, hell no—no one is having sex in this house. Except me and Wade obviously,” Brendan says, folding his arms over his chest.
“We’re going back to Michael and Aileen’s later—you can use the upstairs bathroom there,” Heath says helpfully. “Dec and I have used it before. It’s pretty soundproof.”
Owen shakes his head. “It’s not soundproof.”
“It doesn’t matter, I’m not having sex at Mom and Da’s house,” I say.
There are some awkward glances exchanged between my siblings and their partners. The kind of awkward glances that make me wonder just how many of them might have snuck off to an empty bathroom or spare bedroom at some point during the many family gatherings my parents have hosted at our childhood home.
“Well you need to do it somewhere,” Liam says. “This chicken thing is ridiculous. You both clearly want each other.”
“Exactly!” I say with a grin. “She wants me just as much as I want her, so if I have just a tiny bit more willpower I’ll win.”
Shay lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “You’re an idiot. You realize the only reason you’ve survived this long is because you live in different states, right?”
I shrug. “Probably.”But I also know that’s the only reason Ellie hasn’t cracked yet either.
9
ELLIE
Dread fills me as I walk up the garden pathway to my parents’ front door. If I could be anywhere else right now, I would be, but unfortunately it’s Christmas and they’re my family… I’m suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for the cyclone that got Aidan and me trapped in Northern Australia for Christmas last year. If only some other natural disaster had managed to save me from this year’s trip home…
I let out a soft breath of relief when my brother answers the door; at least there’s one person in the house who doesn’t screw up their nose in distaste at the mere sight of me.
Nate offers a broad grin and wraps his arms around me. “Ellie, hey! Merry Christmas.”
I cling tight for a moment before stepping back to gaze fondly at him. “Merry Christmas, kiddo. Jesus, will you ever stop growing?”
His face flushes with obvious embarrassment but he manages a chuckle before putting his arm around me and steering me inside. Nate is eight years younger than me and somehow every time I see him it seems like he’s gotten even taller. Or maybe I’m just shorter… I do tend to forgo my usual heels when I’m around my parents, after all. Maybe that’s what it is.
“I think you’re imagining things,” he says softly, ducking his head as though he’s suddenly self-conscious about being too tall. Maybe I should introduce him to the Kelly brothers—that’s a sure-fire way to make him feel average-sized.
“Who’s imagining things?” I hear my mom’s curious voice asking as she wanders into the hallway. She stops short as she sees me, her lips pursing together and nostrils flaring in obvious disapproval. “Oh, hello Elliott.”
Unease washes through me at the sound of my old name but I manage to push it down, muttering a quiet, “Hi, Mom.”
“Mom, her name’s Ellie now,” Nate chides, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze.
I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding, feeling grounded by my brother’s presence. Honestly, if he weren’t here I’m not sure I’d even make the effort.
We move farther into the house, finding my dad in the living room watching TV.
“Hi, Dad.”
He doesn’t even take his eyes from the hockey game. The only indication he gives that he’s even heard me is the tensing of his jaw and the clenching of his hand around the remote.
“Robert, turn that off, we need to be going,” Mom says.
My brows furrowed in confusion, I glance from Mom, to Dad, to Nate, realizing that they’re all dressed up in their Sunday best. “Where are you going?”
“Church,” Mom says, with a look that tells me she’s not remotely surprised that someone as demonic as I would have forgotten that people—especially people like my family—often go to church on Christmas Eve.
“Of course,” I murmur, not really sure what else to say.
“Did you want to join us, Ellie?” Nate asks, offering an encouraging smile.
I manage a tight smile in return. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass. I want to have a shower and unpack.”
