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“Isn’t it great?” James says, winding his arm around my waist. “It took some convincing, but I think what really sealed it was the promise of the annual Monopoly game.”
“Which I’m winning,” Cooper declares. “Three years in a row.”
“One year and two years of cheating,” Sebastian retorts.
“I hope you don’t mind traditions like this,” Sandra says with a fond eye roll. “We’d love to do a family football match, but no onewants to risk the injury. Anyway, I had Shelley set up snacks and drinks in the den. Izzy’s back there picking out tonight’s movie.”
Sebastian and Cooper give each other a look before dashing down the hallway.
“Cooper thinks it’s not Christmas until we watchChristmas Vacation,” James murmurs in my ear. “Sebastian prefersElf. Izzy is a wildcard who can easily be bought with the promise of more presents.”
“And what about you?”
He grins. “You first.”
“I’m siding with Sebastian.”
His jaw drops. “No way. Here I was thinking my girlfriend had taste.”
Instead of leading me down the same hallway, though, James pulls me into the next room. “I figure I’ll give her the tour now,” he tells his parents.
“Sure, honey,” Sandra says. “But don’t take too long, there’s hot cider.”
“We want to hear more about what you’ve been up to,” Richard says. His tone is light, but I hear the question in it, and James must as well, because his jaw tightens slightly.
He turns on the lights in the room, revealing a formal sitting room with a massive fireplace. There are bookshelves all along one wall, and a piano in the corner.
“Izzy was really into it one summer,” he explains.
“It’s nice,” I say. The room doesn’t feel all that personal, though. Hopefully the rest of the house looks like someone actually lives in it.
He takes me through his father’s office, kisses me underneath a bunch of mistletoe in an entryway, and shows me the hallway that leads to his parents’ wing of the house. In the kitchen, anolder woman with a spiky blue hairdo chides James as he steals a cookie from a plate.
“Thanks, Shelley,” he says as he breaks it in half and hands me a piece. “This is Bex, my girlfriend.”
Shelley holds out her hand for a shake, her eyes crinkling when James drops a kiss to the top of my head. I’m blushing, but I don’t mind much. I can’t stop staring at the incredible marble countertops and the industrial-sized refrigerator.
He takes me upstairs, walking past a series of doors. Sebastian’s room, Cooper’s room, Izzy’s room. Two guest bedrooms. I peer into one of them. It looks cozy enough to spend a few nights in, piled with throw pillows and a thick quilt. For some reason, there’s a painting of a cow on the wall opposite the bed. I’d gotten more of a coastal-chic vibe from the rest of the decor, which feels fitting for a house only minutes from the beach.
James reaches around me to shut the door. “You’re not sleeping there.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What about your parents?”
“We’re adults. They know we’re sleeping together.” He entwines his fingers in mine and tugs me down to the end of the hallway. “No point in pretending.”
He opens the door to his own bedroom, revealing a neat space with light blue walls and tons of football posters on the walls. I smile, looking around at every inch. There are trophies on a shelf above the bed and a bookcase filled to the brim with novels. The sheets and bedspread are a creamy white, but there’s a threadbare plaid throw laid over the end of the bed.
“This is nice,” I say. “Did they change anything after you left for college?”
“It’s definitely missing something,” he says.
I suppose I should be expecting it, but I still squeak when he pushes me back onto the bed.
He looks down at me, eyes dancing, and swipes my hair away from my face. “Ah, that’s better.”
I shove at his stomach. “Your parents want us downstairs.”
“In a minute.” He pushes me back gently, covering my body with his as he kisses me. “I didn’t get a chance to kiss you congratulations for getting the press pass.”
