We are all standing in the hotel lobby waiting on Arianna and Tyson. The twins are doing something on their phones, Marissa and Tom are whispering to each other, and Kelly currently has herself wrapped around me. It doesn’t bother me like I thought it woul d. Maybe because we had some great sex last night and again this morning. I tell myself that the post - orgasm guilt is unnecessary and will fade soon, but I’m still waiting on that part. The elevator doors open, and Arianna and Tyson walk out hand in hand. A sharp stab of jealousy rips through me no matter how hard I try to fight it. Looking away from them, I focus anywhere they aren’t as Kelly
speaks. “About time! You guys ready?” “Yeah, sorry. Lead the way,” Tyson says as we all walk out of the hotel. Since the place we chose is right on the main strip, we are all filing in and out of shops in no time. There are a lot of antique and gift shops around here, some things gimmicky and others more practical boutique items. It’s a cute family friendly town that our parents used to bring Tyson and I to as kids, especially in the winter. Arianna has her camera around her neck and is snapping pictures ev ery few minutes. Some are of all of us; some are just of the town itself. She smiles so widely with each snap taken. I don’t know how I didn’t notice that before, all those years ago. I suppose it’s good that I didn’t. If I had, then I would have been watc hing her far too closely. More than appropriate, that is. Then again, is it appropriate now? Definitely not. I can’t stop myself, though, no matter how hard I try. “Oh my god, Rissa, do you see that bag? Come on!” Kelly says as she grabs her sister’s hand, rushing into the store in front of us. She only pauses for a moment, lifting up onto her toes and pressing a kiss against my lips before giggling as she runs off. I feel several sets of eyes on me as Tom, Tyson, and Arianna stare at me with confusion. Tom follows after his wife, his kids in tow, and slowly, Arianna does the same. I move to st ep inside the store when Tyson blocks the way, turning to face me with his arms folded across his chest. “What are you doing?” he asks. My brows furrow as I look at him. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” I question as I attempt to sidest ep him. He blocks me again, his tone cool and stern. “What the fuck are you doing with Kelly?” I give my little brother a blank look. “I don’t see how my love life is any of your concern.” A disgruntled scoff es capes him as he shakes his head. “Spare me whatever bullshit lie you’ve convinced yourself. You don’t love her. You fell out of love with h er the moment you found out she’d been getting more cock than days in the week.” I grit my teeth together. “It was one time.” “Yeah, another bullshit lie I don’t believe for a goddamn second. What are you doing, man? Her? You’re really starting shit up wit h her?” “I’m a grown man, Tyson. If I want to hook up with my ex - wife while we’re on vacation together, then I will. I don’t answer to you.” I try to sidest ep him, but yet again, he blocks my path, lowering his voice as he speaks. “A vacation you’re only o n because you’re obsessed with her daughter.” My eyes snap to his, irritation radiating from me in waves. “Drop it,” I say steadily. “No! You know what, fuck you. First, you come out here, torturing her, not allowing her a goddamn second to breathe, and th en the next, you’re fucking her mom? What kind of plan is that? If you think you’re gonna win her over with that kind of behavior, you’ve lost your goddamn mind.” “I’m not trying to win her over!” I snap. “She wants to forget it ever happened. It’s for the best. We’ve moved on. I’m moving on. She moved on, with you of all people!” “She doesn’t want me, dude. Not like she wants you.” I narrow my eyes, curious as to what he means by that. Has she said something? What does he know? “I’m just saying, if you want her, you’re gonna have to stop being an ass. Stop trying to force her to wa nt you and then pushing
her away in the next breath. You’re not god. You don’t get to control and handle every single thing and every single person, Logan.” My jaw tightens as I drop my gaze. Losing control isn’t exactly a strong suit of mine. My eyes come back up to him as I tur n my head curiously. “Why exactly are you telling me all of this? I thought you were having fun with her?” “Oh, I am. She’s amazing and beautiful and the sex is — ” A feral growl tears through my chest before he can finish that sentence. Like I have any room to talk. Still. “ But ... I don ’ t know. I can tell she ’ s not over whatever happened with you. Something is unresolved or whatever. She can ’ t see me because she ’ s too busy looking over her shoulder for you. ” In voluntarily, my eyes move to the shop to see Arianna staring at me through the shop window. Her eyes are so bright, even from this far away, and I can feel them pulling me towards her. Like an invisible tether beckoning me to come closer. When her eyes move to Tyson, the tether snaps, and I blink hard before focusing on him again. “If you want her, you better knock off this charade with Kelly, and soon.” “Why soon?” I question as he takes half a st ep back towards the shop. “Because I’m wearing her down, and if she falls for me, I won’t be letting her go.” With that, he slips into the shop while I’m left frowning on the sidewalk. A million thoughts run through my mind, and I have absolutely zero time to process any of them before everyone begins spilling o ut of the shop. Kelly and Marissa have cream and black shopping bags from the store in hand, smiling like their purchases are a victory of sorts. Kelly slips her arm through mine, and we begin walking down the sidewalk for a little before a gasp comes from behind us. We turn to see Arianna’s eyes full of excitement as she nearly drags Tyson’s arm out of its socket towards the store in front of them. Kelly makes a disgruntled noise under her breath because if she’s not interested, no one should be, right? Goddamnit, she’s a spoiled brat. I can’t believe it took me years to actually notice. Looking up at the si gn as we st ep inside the shop, I notice that it’s the Christmas store. All year long, this store is up and has people flocking to it. Inside sits trees, ornaments, décor, and the largest Christmas town display you’ve ever seen. Or at least that I’ve ever s een. Everyone fans out, all heading in different directions. Kelly heads to the right as I ke ep moving further and further into the store. I’ve never been a fan of Christmas. Maybe because our parents passed away on Christmas Eve. Tends to spoil the mood. Arianna, though. She loves it. I remember her constantly baking, singing Christmas carols through the house, and binging Christmas movies for days at a time. It’s funny, all these little details that I’ve catalogued over the years but never really realized that I did. All these little quirks and facts about her that some part of my brain decided were worth tucking away, ke eping safe. I stop a few feet short as her and Tyson are looking at the snow globes. He smiles, pointing at one before his attention is d rawn to something across the store. He leaves her side, but she hasn’t even noticed, too enraptured with the item in her hands. I can’t help but take a few st eps closer, the curiosity of what could hold her interest so intensely too overwhelming to ignore. When I’m only a st ep or two behind
her, I’m able to look over her shoulder and see what she’s holding. It’s a silver - plated base with a little cabin, trees, and a family out front. As she tilts the snow globe, the snow falls, dusting the entire scene. The white glitter swirls, and I don’t n eed to see Arianna’s eyes to know that she’s transfixed. “Beautiful,” I murmur. She nearly jumps out of her skin, gasping as the snow globe goes flying. I reach out, grabbing it easily before it shatters. Her breathing is ragged, eyes wide as I offer the s now globe back to her. “I didn’t hear you,” she says, her eyes glued to mine. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” “You didn’t, I just... you’re fine.” I nod, attempting to offer it to her once more. She grabs it from me, looking at it once more before placing it back on the shelf. Frowning, I glance at her. “You’re not going to get it?” “Why would I?” she asks. “You like it.” Arianna shrugs. “I like a lo t of things, doesn’t mean I need it.” “But you want it,” I point out. She doesn’t argue. Instead, her eyes move from the snow globe to me, a heaviness dimming her bright blue orbs. “Just because you want something doesn’t mean it’s good for you. A want and a need are two very different things.” Her double meaning strikes a nerve, and before I can speak, she’s making her way back to the front of the store. I’m left standing there for several seconds, unsure how to process her words, when the sound of the doo r chime catches my attention. Looking across the store, I see everyone beginning to file out. I take a st ep in their direction before I pause, looking over my shoulder at the snow globe. Fuck it. I snatch it off the shelf, bring it up to the counter, and p ay for it before I’m back out on the sidewalk where everyone seems to be waiting. Murmurings of eating echo through the group, and everyone decides to head back to the hotel to drop off their purchases before meeting up for dinner. Kelly glances down at th e bag in my hand with an excited gleam. “What do you have there?” she asks with an expectant smile, like I’m about to surprise her with something. “Nothing,” I say, as I tighten my hold on the bag. She pouts but lets it go easily as we make our way inside the hotel lobby. Everyone begins heading in their own direction when I reach for Arianna, pulling her to the side. Her brows furrow as she looks at me before I hand the bag to her. Tilting her head to the side curiously, I speak. “Just because you don’t ne ed it, doesn’t mean you don’t deserve it.” Understanding crosses her face, but I turn and move towards the elevators, sliding inside before she can say anything or attempt to refuse my gift. Ten minutes later, we are all heading to a restaurant just down the road. Dinner goes by very uneventfully. Kelly fills most of the conversation, per usual, and everyone pretends to listen. Exc ept for Arianna and Tyson. He ke eps whispering in her ear, maki ng her giggle, and it’s distracting as fuck. I don’t even realize I’ve got a death grip on my steak knife until the waiter comes over to collect our plates. Releasing my weapon, I notice Tyson watching me with an amused expression. I narrow my eyes at him because I truly don’t understand what he’s playing at. After our early dinner, the twins beg us to go to the ice cream shop, where everyone but Kelly gets something. She watches us all with distaste as she begins scrolling on her phone. My eyes move around the group to notice one person is noticeably missing. Panic fills me
momentarily before Tyson catches my eyes, pointing in the direction of the gazebo. I follow his direction, and a swell of relief fills me as I see Arianna snapping pictures while somehow holding her ice cream cone. “The kids and I are gonna head in for the night,” Marissa says as she begins hugging everyone. “Night is still young, anyone up for grabbing some beers?” “Make it a vodka soda and I’m in,” Kelly says as she glances up from her phone. “Of course, can’t have you consuming more than three calories, princess,” Tom mocks. She shoots him a narrowed look and shoves his shoulder before continuing to type on her phone. Slowly, Tom and Kelly begin moving towards the closest pub as Tyson and I pause, glancing towards Arianna. Tyson attempts to wave her over, but she doesn’t see h im, too infatuated with the woodwork of the gazebo at the moment. “I’ve got her,” I say as I begin crossing the street. “I’m sure you do,” Tyson mutters behind me. I don’t pay him any attention, though. I’m only a few feet away from her when she turns to t he side. I just stand there and watch her for a moment, enthralled, the way I seem to always be when I’m near her. I watch as her mouth wraps around the top of the ice cream cone, a small amount coating her lips. In the next moment, she sees me beside her. Slowly, she lowers her camera, turning to face me fully as I close the distance between us. As if I were possessed, as if I had no control over my body whatsoever, I ke ep moving until our bodies brush against one another. She looks up at me, her tongue darting out to wipe away the vanilla ice cream coating her lips. Missing a little, it begins to drip down her lower lip, and I reach out, brushing it away with my thumb. It’s meant to be a quick move, but it feels like I take minutes to do so. I can hear her breathing hitch, her pupils dilating as I slowly pull away, lifting the tip of my thumb to m y lips and licking it clean. Almost like if I try hard enough, I can taste her, not just sugared frozen cream. “We’re heading to a pub,” I rasp. “Let’s go.” Surprisingly, she doesn’t argue or ask questions. Instead, she nods, throwing the rest of her ice c ream away in a trash can and following after me.