Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!” Garrett said as soon as we went inside. He had on a Santa suit, but one that was formfitting and hot as fuck while still being appropriate to wear around his family.
“Dude, totally jealous I didn’t think about that,” I said before bumping fists with him.
“What have we gotten ourselves into?” Ramsey asked Houston as if this thing between us was similar to what he shared with Garrett.
“I don’t know, man. I ask myself that every day.” Houston winked my way just as Connie came barreling into the room.
“You’re home. Why does it feel like forever since I’ve seen you? I’m used to having all my boys close.” She wrapped him in her arms. Damn, he had great folks.
“Can’t. Breathe,” Houston joked, but I knew he loved it. He’d always been close with his family. We used to lie in bed and I’d ask him a million questions about all of them so I could pretend I knew them.
“Oh, hush,” she said, then wiped her eyes.
“Ma…”
“I know. I’m just emotional. I’m so happy you get to spend Christmas with us and wish you didn’t have to go back to Los Angeles so soon.”
She and I both. Still, I said, “He’s kicking ass and taking names, though. I knew he’d be a good coach.”
He gave me a nod that was just for the two of us before Garrett said, “Presents! When do we get to open gifts?”
“Are you five?” Houston teased, tugging him into a headlock and giving him a noogie. I watched as Houston wrestled around with his brother, Ramsey smiling, his dad having come over to stand by his mom as they let the two of them go at it.
I laughed when Garrett managed to get the upper hand, which then made Houston turn his attention on me. He lunged, wrapping his arms around me and grappling me through the living room.
“Houston! Be careful. You’re going to hurt yourself,” his mom called as he fought with me until he got me to the couch and pushed me down on it. He was going to pay for that later. He shouldn’t have done it, but I trusted him to know his own body and didn’t call him on it. Plus, I’d kiss it better later.
“You still gonna talk shit?” he teased.
“I mean, you’re acting like I didn’t love the hell out of that.”
Ramsey and Garrett laughed, his mom sighed, and his dad groaned. Somehow, it was all pretty fucking perfect.
20
HOUSTON
Somehow—and by somehow, I mean there was alcohol involved—Cullen and I, along with a few more Rush guys who were just as dumb as we were, ended up at Garrett and Ramsey’s house later that night, standing on the slippery shore of the small pond out back.
“Polar Bear Pond Dip is officially becoming an annual thing,” Garrett cried, yanking off his hoodie and tossing it at Ramsey.
“I’m having second thoughts,” Tucker said, eyeing the rippling pond skeptically. “Sure there aren’t things that bite in there?”
“Only the ones trained to sniff out wusses. So maybe you should sit this one out.” Ramsey wagged his brows at Tucker, who snorted and flipped him off before unbuttoning his jeans.
“Works every time.” I snuck a sidelong up-and-down glance at Cullen as I grabbed for the zipper on my jacket. No way was I going into this without him.
“Competitive fuckers,” Cullen agreed, then cast an equally appraising eye over me as I unzipped my jacket. “You’re really getting in?”
“Sure, why not?”
He shrugged. “Maybe I’ll stay out here. Make sure no one passes out or something.”
I barked out an incredulous laugh. “Are you serious? Cullen Atwood, wild man, is actually bailing on a polar bear dip?”
“I’m from Texas, dude. It’s too fucking cold for this bullshit.” I narrowed my eyes at him, and he grinned slyly, putting his hands up. “Okay. What do I get if I get in?”
“Nature’s finest dose of adrenaline? The glory of not being a wuss?”
“Not good enough.”
“What do you want?” I tossed my shirt aside and rubbed my hands along the goose bumps forming over my bare biceps and chest. The cold was sobering, and I was already having second thoughts as well, but fuck it, I was all in now, and I wasn’t gonna let Cullen off the hook.
He tapped a finger over his chin. “Dunno yet. Just know that when I decide, you’re not allowed to deny me.”
“Sold. Now, get your clothes off.”
His jaw dropped. “Seriously? What if I tell you to go walk into the middle of traffic?”
“You won’t. You’re not that pathological.”
“What if I told you to rob a bank?”
“You wouldn’t because you’d probably be implicated, too, and it’d ruin your career.” I shucked my pants. “I know you, asshole. It’s gonna be something related to either food or sex, both of which I can handle.”