The Merriest Christmas (Southern U O’Brien Brothers Sister #5)

CHAPTER 4

Emmy

"What do you mean you're stranded?" I whisper-hissed into the phone.

"Exactly what I said, Em."Dex sounded tired."Our flights got in around the same time.Mine was first then Archer's from Atlanta, and we were only about 10 minutes off the twins' from New York.That was good.But no one's willing to drive us into town."

"Okay, then go to plan B and use the rental I reserved for you."

"Did you or did you not get the breaker about this being North Carolina's worst storm in a decade?"

I had.

"I know you wanted everyone there for Christmas—"

"Please don't say it," I said.

"—and I know you like being in control—"

"Dex, please."

"—but no one can control the weather," he finished."Not even you."

I sighed.

"It's okay."

"No, Dex, it's not," I said."Mom is going to be so sad."

"But you didn't even tell her."

"I know, but that's why I did it in the first place.I want her to be happy this Christmas."

"And she will be," he said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Well, besides that Hanover kid eating all your cookies—"

"If you laugh again, I will literally jump through the phone and strangle you," I warned.

"Really feeling the Christmas spirit there, sis."

"Ha ha."

"Honestly, I thought you'd had enough violence by now, considering how you almost killed Toby."

"She's got that O'Brien pitching arm," Chase yelled in the back.

I shook my head."You're the worst brothers ever."

"And yet, I'm still your favorite," Dex replied.

"I don't know.Finn's looking to take your spot."

He scoffed."Yeah, right."

"It could happen."

"You've had a hard day, so I'm going to let that slide."

"How big of you," I mumbled.

"Listen, arranging all this wasn't easy.I get that," Dex said. "And I know how much you hate Seaver."

"Yeah, I do."

"Has he been giving you a hard time?"

"A little," I said, though I'd been giving it back to him ten times over.

"Best friend or not, I'll kick his ass.You just give me the word, Emmy."

I laughed quietly."I'll keep that in mind."

After a beat, I sighed again.

"So, there's really nothing you can do to get here?"

"No, sorry."

"That's okay.I wouldn't risk any of you anyway—well, except maybe Baylor."

"Hey," my second older brother's voice said, "you're on speakerphone, you know.I can hear you."

"Oops," I said.

He cursed while the rest of them laughed, and I just wished they could be at home with us.

"You'll still try to make it for Christmas though, right?"

"Of course," Archer said."We want to be there too.For Mom and for you and Finn."

I nodded as Dex added, "So, what's everyone doing now?"

"Well," I said, "most of our guests are outside playing Sumo Santa."

"Man, I love that game."

"Seems like they do too.I knew it would be a good distraction."

"From what?"

"I have a plan in motion," I said.

Dex groaned.

"What?My plans are the best."

"Are they though?"

I looked at the phone then brought it back to my ear."Sorry, I thought I heard you doubting me, but that can't be right."

"I'm almost afraid to ask."

"Dex, you've never been scared of anything—except maybe Maisie when she's mad at you."

"Maisie's never mad at me," he said.

"Yeah, okay."

"We have disagreements," he said, "but I know exactly how to get on her good side."

I made a gagging sound."No details please."

"Wasn't going to give any.Now, back to this plan.What is it?Who does it involve?And why are you whispering?"

"Take me off speakerphone."

"Okay, done."

"The plan's simple," I said."Mistletoe, Finn and Rose, and an amazing first kiss. Oh, and I'm whispering because I'm currently hiding in the best spot to spy on them."

There was dead silence on the other end of the line.

"Dex?" I whispered."Hello?"

"Yeah, I'm here," he said.

"I just texted Rose to meet me.Then I sent one off to Finn.They should be in position any second now."

"Emmy."Dex's tone was disapproving, and I could picture him shaking his head."Playing matchmaker never ends well."

"Oh really?Tell that to our brothers, all of whom I helped find their happily-ever-after."

Dex sighed.

"Yourself included," I added.

"I love you, Em," he said."But you need to let Finn and Rose figure things out on their own."

"I've been trying to, but they're taking forever."

"Not the point."

"And you know this will make Finn's Christmas.Don't even try to argue."

"Finn's smart," Dex said. "He's going to know you orchestrated this."

"So?He'll thank me after."

A scoff was his only reply.

"Oh, I have to go.Rose is coming," I said quietly."Christmas really won't be the same without you.I'll be praying you guys make it.Love you, Dex."

"Love you, Emmy—even if you meddle too much."

"Stay safe."

"You too, baby sis."

As I clicked off my phone, Finn came into view.He and Rose both settled under the entrance to the living room and smiled at each other.

"Hey," Rose said, "your sister texted me.Said it was urgent."

"Me too," Finn said.

"I hope she's okay."

"Emmy can take care of herself.She probably just needs help with something."

Rose nodded.

"So," Finn said, leaning up against the wall while he tucked his hands into his pockets, "are you ever going to send me your latest book?"

"If you really want me to," she said.

"I do.I love your writing."

"Really?"

"Of course.You're amazing, Rose."

Rose's cheeks went red as she stared up at him."Thanks, Finn.That means a lot to me.I still can't believe you like my books."

He shrugged."Like I said, you're amazing."

They stared deeply into each other's eyes, and I saw it.The desire, the unresolved sexual tension, the sparks that seemed to shoot off between them in waves…but a second later, a loud noise sounded from outside, and Rose cleared her throat, looking away.

"Where do you think Emmy is?" she asked.

"Don't know," Finn said.

"I wonder why she wanted to meet us here."

"Good question."

Because they were directly under the mistletoe.Unfortunately, neither one of them had looked up.Maybe I could just—

"Everything okay?" Seaver asked.

I jumped then spun to face him with a frown."What the what, Seaver?You shouldn't sneak up on people."

"You shouldn't spy on them either."He nodded to Finn and Rose, who seemed to have gone back to talking books."But here you are."

Finn's head started to turn in our direction, but before he could spot us, I pulled Seaver into the pantry.At least I could still see from here.

"Aggressive," Seaver commented, looking down at my hands that were still tangled in his shirt."But I'm not complaining."

"Shh," I said, releasing him."Keep your voice down.I'm on a mission."

Seaver's brows went up."Oh yeah?"

"Yes," I said, "and you're interfering."

"Sorry," he said, not sounding it at all."Can I help?"

"Absolutely not."

"Ah, but I want to."

I shook my head then sent Finn a quick text."No thanks, I have everything under control."

Finn's phone pinged a second later, and as he read it, his brows came together.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

"Emmy texted," he said."But it just says, "look up.""

"Nice, little brother," I muttered under my breath, but oh well.

Rose was the first to spot the mistletoe, and she let out a soft laugh.

"Ah, I think I get it," she said.

Finn looked up too, and his cheeks went scarlet."Oh."

"Yeah."

"Damnit, Emmy."

"Oh, don't be mad at her," Rose said."Your sister's a hopeless romantic.Like me."

Seaver's lips twitched, and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry about this," Finn said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It's okay, Finn."

"Is it?"

"Yeah," she said with a shrug."We don't have to do anything if you don't want to."

I sent Rose a quick text at that.

She looked at her phone then relayed the message."Emmy says it's seven years bad luck if you're under the mistletoe and you don't kiss."

"I'm going to kill her," Finn muttered.

"Please don't," Rose said."She's one of my closest friends—besides you, of course."

"So…what do you want to do?"

"Well, I've never heard that about bad luck, but if it's true, that would suck."

"It would," he agreed.

"She probably made it up."

"No doubt."

"Still…"Rose looked up at my brother and shrugged."I'm willing if you are."

As I fist-pumped the air, Seaver chuckled, and I quickly placed a hand over his mouth.

"I'm…yeah," Finn said, pushing off the wall."I'm willing."

"Okay," Rose said.

As she placed her hands on Finn's shoulders, he wrapped his around her waist.

"It's just a kiss between best friends."

He nodded.

"Plus, it's Christmas."

"Hmmm, and there's mistletoe."

"If it's bad, we never have to speak of this again."

"It'll be good," Finn said as his eyes moved to her mouth.

"How can you be sure?" Rose asked, sounding breathless.

"Because it's you."

Rose lifted up to her toes while Finn leaned down.Their lips met in a kiss that melted even my icy heart.As his hand moved to cup her cheek, Rose sighed, her fingers clenched fistfuls of Finn's shirt, pulling him even closer until there was no space between them.The kiss went on and on and on.And when they finally parted, there was so much affection there, so much warmth in Rose's eyes, so much adoration in Finn's.For some odd reason, I felt my own eyes get misty.

Rose took a step back and laughed self-consciously."Well," she said.

"Yeah," Finn said back.

"That was…not bad, right?"

"Not bad at all."

Rose stared at him.

"I'll have to remember to thank my sister," Finn said.

"Um right," she said."We should go find Emmy and the others.Don't you think?"

"Thought you had to go."

"Oh yeah, that's what I meant.I should say goodbye first."

"I'll come with you.Uh, Rose?"

"Yeah?"

"We're still okay, right?" he asked.

Rose searched his face then gave a soft smile."You're my best friend, Finn.Of course, we're okay."

As the two left the room, I swallowed, wondering how I could feel both unbelievably happy for someone else yet so deeply sad inside and even a little jealous at the same time.Seaver tried to say something, and I realized my hand was still covering his mouth.

"Sorry," I said."What'd you say?"

"I said your little brother's got game," Seaver said.

"Yeah well, he grew up around the other guys and you.So."

"You did a good thing for them."

Glancing at his face, I gave a small shrug.

"It was nothing," I said.

"Bet Finn would disagree."

"Hmmm."

"Rose too."

"Why are you being so nice?" I asked flatly."It's starting to make me nervous."

"I make you nervous," Seaver said, moving closer, so close that I could feel his warmth."I like that."

"Not exactly what I said."

"You didn't have to."

When his fingers skimmed my neck and stopped directly on my racing pulse, I struggled to breathe.

"I see you," Seaver said.Before I could argue, he shook his head."I know you, Emilia.And you make me nervous too."

"I do?"

"Always have."

I could hear people moving inside the house, but I didn't move a muscle.

"Do you remember the first time you kissed me?" he asked."Because I do.It was right here in this pantry.You pulled me in just like you did a second ago.Your brothers and parents were outside wondering where we went.They would've killed me if they knew."

I remembered like it was yesterday.

How could I forget?

That had been my first kiss, though I could tell by how amazing he was at it that it wasn't Seaver's.He'd been two years older than me just like he was now.My older brother's best friend.The boy-next-door.The hockey player with a bad rep.Forbidden for more reasons than I could count.

Swallowing, I forced my voice to work."If they knew what?"

His eyes drank in my features, and even in the dark room, I felt like he saw everything I tried to hide.

"What I wanted," he said.

"And what was that?"

"For you to be mine."

I blinked as he leaned closer.

"And for me to be yours.I wanted that more than anything."

Seaver stopped with only a breath between his lips and my own.

"But you just wanted me to be your secret—which I went along with.Even if I wanted so much more."

"I—"

The door to the pantry suddenly flew open.

Light flooded the room, and it took my eyes a minute to adjust.

"Found them," one of the baseball players said.

Seaver took a step back which left me feeling bereft.

"Where were you guys?It's time for dinner."

"We were just talking," Seaver said.Speaking to me, he added, "I'll see you later, Emilia."

It sounded like a promise.

The thought shouldn't have excited me, and yet it did.Seeing him again had felt daunting for so long.But now, after what he said, the way he'd been staring at me in the dark…

My heart couldn't wait.