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As I watch their exchange, something inside me twists uncomfortably. I’ve always known that Hudson is attracted to Harper—who wouldn’t be?—but seeing them like this, so easy with each other, stirs a pang of jealousy in my chest that I never thought I’d experience toward one of my closest friends.
Even though technically he slept with her first…
“Come here,” Hudson urges, putting aside the ornament in his hand and reaching for Harper. She hesitates for a moment before giving in, allowing him to pull her down into his lap.
I clench my fists at my sides, struggling to maintain my composure as I’m forced to confront the fact that I want her all to myself.
Hudson whispers something into Harper’s ear, and she giggles, swatting at him playfully. He retaliates by tickling her, making her squeal and squirm in his arms. The sound of her laughter is like a siren’s song, drawing me in, yet I can’t shake the feeling of jealousy that threatens to consume me.
“Stop it, you two,” I grumble, trying to keep my tone light but failing miserably. “You’re supposed to be decorating the tree, remember?”
“Alright, alright,” Harper gasps out between bouts of laughter, managing to extricate herself from Hudson’s grasp. “We’ll get back to work.”
“Thank you,” I say, doing my best to mask my relief. But even as they return to their task, I can’t help but watch them with a mix of yearning and envy, wondering what it would take to make Harper mine—and only mine.
Which is so unlike me. Usually, I love sharing. But with her…I don’t know what’s come over me.
The fire crackles in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the room. Harper’s cheeks are still flushed pink from Hudson’s teasing as she focuses on stringing the last of the tinsel around the tree. I’m entranced by her every move, but my gaze keeps flickering to Antonio. Something is off about him today.
“Antonio, are you alright?” I ask cautiously.
He doesn’t answer immediately, his eyes glued to Harper and Hudson, who are now playfully bantering as they hang ornaments on the branches. His knuckles turn white as he clenches his fists, a stark contrast to his usually laid-back demeanor.
“Fine,” Antonio finally grunts, not bothering to look at me. “Just peachy.”
“Doesn’t seem that way,” I say under my breath, watching as Harper giggles at something Hudson murmurs into her ear. It’s clear that Antonio’s frustration isn’t just about the holiday decorations.
“Alright, enough messing around,” Antonio declares abruptly, standing up and striding over to where Harper and Hudson are standing. “Let’s finish this up, shall we? Time for the star.”
“Sure thing, boss.” Hudson smirks, clearly sensing Antonio’s tension. He releases Harper from his grasp, allowing her to stand up with a soft sigh.
“Here, let me help you,” Antonio offers, reaching for Harper’s hand and guiding her toward the tree. I can sense his ulterior motive—keeping her away from Hudson—and it only fuels my own jealousy.
Clearly, I’m not the only one who wants her. We all do.
“Thanks, Antonio,” she says with a tentative smile, trying to shake off the sudden change in atmosphere. She reaches for the star, but Antonio catches her wrist gently, preventing her from taking it.
“Allow me,” he murmurs, his voice low and seductive.
The glint of the golden star catches my eye, drawing me into the scene unfolding before me. Antonio’s hand moves with uncharacteristic force as he snatches the star off the table. His eyes burn with a fire that I’ve never seen in him before, focused intently on Harper.
“Antonio, what are you—” Harper begins to protest, but he cuts her off by wrapping his arm around her waist and hoisting her up into the air. She lets out a surprised yelp, her legs kicking instinctively as she tries to regain her footing.
The chemistry between them is undeniable. When is the last time Antonio was interested in any woman in a way that wasn’t purely sexual?
“Up you go,” Antonio says, lifting her effortlessly as she reaches for the top of the tree. Her laughter fills the air, but there’s an undercurrent of unease that wasn’t there before.
“Alright, alright,” Harper says, exasperated, as she stretches to place the star on top of the tree. Her fingers tremble slightly, betraying her unease. “There. Done.”
Antonio sets her down unceremoniously, the pressure of his touch leaving faint marks on her skin. Harper rubs her waist, biting her bottom lip. And then, without a word or even a glance in our direction, Antonio storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
A stunned silence settles over the room, broken only by the soft rustle of the Christmas tree’s branches swaying in the wake of Antonio’s departure. Hudson and I exchange bewildered looks, both of us at a loss for words.
“What the hell was that all about?” Hudson mutters, rubbing the back of his neck as he continues to stare at the closed door.
I shake my head, unable to provide a satisfactory answer. My thoughts are a whirlwind, a chaotic mixture of worry, confusion, and the ever-present desire that simmers just beneath the surface whenever I’m near Harper. “I don’t know,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “But something’s definitely off with him.”
“Should we go after him?” Hudson asks, but his tone suggests he’s not thrilled about the idea. It’s clear that none of us want to be the one to confront Antonio in his current state.
