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He jokes?
“Not right now, bro. Maybe later,” Darius says. “Evie and I were just talking to Lucy, and I realized she lives next door to you.”
At this point, there’s no way to avoid actively participating in the conversation.Dammit.My stomach twists and turns as I spin to face him.
I’d like to say his full lips stretch into a wide smile when he sees me, but that’s not what happens. Every bit of the lightheartedness he exhibited with Darius and Evie evaporates instantly. He might as well be a statue standing in front of me—a tall, handsome, expressionless statue with broad shoulders.
“Hello, Niall,” I say, forcing my lips to curve into a polite smile.
He makes a gruff sound that lands somewhere between a caveman’s grunt and the word hi before he walks away.
“Okay, that was weird, right?” Evie asks.
“Yeah, it was,” Darius agrees. He watches Niall until he disappears from sight and then his gaze swings to me. “Don’t take it personally. He’s had a rough run with life this past year.”
I shrug as if his rude behavior doesn’t bother me, but it does.
What is his fucking problem?
I’m a friendly, polite person. In fact, I’m too fucking polite. I should’ve given him a solid kick in his overly-developed buttocks. I bet his attitude would improve if I wedged the thick heel on my ankle boot between his ass cheeks.
Instead of perseverating about my asshole neighbor, I focus on mixing eggnog with spiced rum. The first sip is like heaven to my tastebuds.
Leaving the dining room, I slowly move around the first floor, taking in all the Christmas decorations. Calista outdid herself. The tree in the living room is the largest one I’ve seen inside someone’s home—it’s at least twelve feet tall. Set away from the wall, there’s enough space for me to walk around the entire thing. Unlike my tree, where the backside is sparsely covered with my ugliest ornaments, this one is 360 degrees beautiful.
Staying tucked between the tree and wall, I take another sip of my drink. It’s nice back here. Maybe I should hide out until Niall leaves. But the only way I’d know he’s gone is to venture out and check.
Why should I avoid him when he’s the one who has a problem with me—a problem I haven’t provoked?Fuck that.
I want to spend time with Calista. In fact, she’s probably wondering where I’ve disappeared to.
That thought has me hurrying around to the front of the tree. I slam into a wall that wasn’t there before.
A deep voice growls “Son of a bitch!” at the same time my drink splatters on my hand.
My gaze lands on the eggnog-drenched gray sweater before me. It's the same one Niall was wearing only minutes ago. My eyes flash open wider with panic. Of all the partygoers, I had to spill my drink on Grumpalupagus.
Fuck my life.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t expect anyone to be there,” I apologize,
He levels a glowering look at me. “Obviously.” He plucks the sopping-wet sweater away from his stomach.
“It was an accident.”
His lip curls. “So you say.”
“I can clean that off for you if you’d like.” He doesn’t say anything, so I continue. “Or get it dry cleaned for you.” His harsh laugh grates my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. I draw a deep breath in to tamp down my increasing anger. “I can buy you a new one, then,” I offer.
He clicks his tongue against his teeth. “No, thanks. I think you’ve already done enough.”
I don’t know what he wants from me. I’m out of options for making this right, and I’ve had enough of his rude behavior. I think it’s his disapproving sneer that causes me to snap. Raising the glass in my hand, I dump the remaining beverage down his chest.
His nostrils flare as he grits out, “What the fuck?”
I smile, baring all my teeth. “There. Much better.” As I stroll away, I don’t look back. I slip inside the bathroom and wash the stickiness from my hand. Flushed cheeks and fiery eyes peer back at me in the mirror. I’m an even-tempered person, so what is it about Niall that gets me so worked up? Part of me wants to march back out there and punch his lip-curling face.
Great. Now he’s inciting violent tendencies in me.
