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“I can’t believe all of this is really snow!” Avery shrieked as our plane flew over the snow covered Rocky Mountains. The sheer look of joy on my best friend's face, one I don’t remember ever seeing in the almost five years I’ve known her, is exactly why this time of year means so much to me. The cheer, joy, and magic Christmas brings, makes all life’s insignificant problems fade to dust. It’s why the moment Avery mentioned her mom was taking off with her flavor of the week, I knew I had to do something about it.
So here we are, over one thousand miles away from home, ready for whatever this week may bring.
“Just wait till you see the cabin. Zane lets me decorate the inside of the house since the outside is usually too covered in snow. First thing we’re going to do when we get in is make him take us to the Tree Farm to pick out our tree. Then it’s decorating it in the matching Christmas pajamas I bought us, while drinking Zane’s Famous Hot Cocoa, and listening to my favorite classic Christmas songs.”
“Wow, you really thought of everything, Chloe,” Avery mocks, stepping out of the car.
I decide to ignore her sarcasm. “I told you this is my favorite holiday Avery, and this year I’m spending it with my favorite people.” I can’t help the soft blush that creeps over my cheeks as Avery watches me with an appreciative expression. Another thing I’ve kept secret, I may or may not be harboring a small, okay huge, crush on my best friend of four years.
I never thought I’d be into girls, honestly I’m not sure I really am, there is just something about Avery I can’t get out of my head. She’s gorgeous, kind, and just so fucking bad ass, I can’t help but be smitten with her. Hell our whole high school was. However this slight infatuation is my dirty little secret. I know Avery doesn’t feel the same way. Her countless array of suitors and ex-boyfriends are a clear indication that she’s into dicks. I have nothing to offer her, other than my friendship, and I’ve decided I’m okay with that.
Chapter 2
ZANE
Baby Girl: Heads up Mr. Grinch, I’ll be bringing Avery with me to the cabin. Her mom sucks just as bad as mine and has left her to fend for herself this Christmas. You know the holly jolly elf in me can't allow that. I can’t wait to have my two favorite people under the same roof for my favorite holiday.
*Photo Attachment*
I can’t help smiling at the screen when I see the picture of Chloe and Avery appear under her text message. The ear to ear smile she’s giving the camera makes one just as big appear on my usually sulking one.
Me: Fine. You know I can never say no to you Cindy Lou. Consider this your Christmas present.
My palms are sweating and my mouth is dry. How can one text message fuck me up so easy? The answer is simple - Avery Taylor. She was sin in silk the last time I saw her in person four years ago, and if the pictures on her Instagram are anything to go by, she's only gotten more tempting with age. Not to mention the pout on her gorgeous lips beside Chloe’s grin is making my cock twitch beneath my jeans.
This is bad, real bad.
At least back then I was able to control myself since she was barely fifteen but now, she's legal. I don't know how I am going to get through this visit.
Chloe knows I could never deny her anything, especially on Christmas, which is why I’m confused as to why she didn’t tell me sooner.
I’m startled by the sound of a car engine outside my living room window. They’re here.
I can’t help the rapid beating of my heart as I slowly strut over to the front door. All my blood is rushing down to my thick erection, my cock aching to see what’s just behind that door. Fuck. This is going to be harder than I thought. Having Avery under my roof for a whole fucking week is going to test my restraint in every fucking way.
I chuckle to myself before opening the door and stepping out onto my snow covered front porch. Having grown up in Colorado, I’m used to the cold and thick layers of snow. It’s why I chose to move out here after my divorce from Chloe’s mother. California was not for me, and when there was nothing left for me there, I left. The city is too flashy and busy, I prefer to be alone out in the woods, secluded from the calamity of the world around me. I must admit it was hard though, leaving Chloe behind with her neglectful, ostentatious mother, but there was nothing I could do. Rebecca O’Connell forbade me to go near her daughter, and since Chloe was nothing of mine, I couldn’t fight her on it.
It broke my heart to leave my baby girl alone with that conniving bitch, but I also couldn’t keep dangling hope in front of her. So I left, came to hide out in the mountains, and ignored her calls and messages for years. Though now that she’s eighteen and officially an adult, I can’t keep hiding from her. Nor do I want to.
“Aaaahh!” I’m startled out of my reminiscing by a loud squeal coming from the driveway.
“Shit,” I curse out loud, looking down and seeing a blanket of dark red hair laid out against the stark white snow.
“Oh my god! Avery, are you okay?” Chloe shrieks in panic, kneeling down at her best friend's side.
“Fuck, this shit is hella slippery,” Avery groans, trying and failing to sit up.
“Woah there, slow down sweetheart,” I blurt out, reaching down to steady her. Both girls turn and watch me with bewildered gazes. Fuck. I have no idea where that came from. I’m not one for terms of endearment. “We have to make sure you didn’t hurt your neck or back before we move you,” I add, trying to distract them from my comment.”
Avery’s blue eyes watch me curiously, unsure of how to respond. It’s like the world around us has faded to black and all I see are her deep blue irises and flawless skin. Her red hair falls in long waves behind her back, a stark contrast to the snow white of her skin marked with rosy patches against her cheeks from the brisk winter air. Her lips are plump and perfect, her nose surely making every plastic surgeon back in California jealous. But it’s the sliver of skin peeking beneath her coat, the silky porcelain dip of her collarbone, that lures me in.
“It’s my foot,” she murmurs, snapping out of my lustful daze.
“What?” I ask, confused as to why I’m crouched down beside her.
“My ankle, I think I twisted it.”
Oh right, she fell.
“What do we do, Zane?” Chloe mumbles, clearly still freaking out.
I look up to the driver who’s standing by watching us. “Can you grab all the bags and take them up to the front porch please.” He nods moving to the trunk. “Chloe sweetie, can you open the front door and get an ice pack, and the first aid kit from the downstairs bathroom.”
“Why don’t you just get a snowball and ice me up, this shit’s fucking cold.” I look at Avery, who clenches her teeth in pain, sarcasm staining her red lips.
“This one’s funny, Chloe, glad you brought her along.” Without waiting for another snarky response, I tuck my hands under Avery’s body, one on her ass, and the other under her knees, hauling her up into my arms.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she snaps back, trying to wiggle out of my hold.
“Stay fucking still unless you want me to drop you on your ass again sweetheart,” I sneer, already pissed I have an unwanted visitor, now to make matters worse one with a serious attitude problem.