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

CHAPTER 5

Emmy

"What's up with you and Seaver?"

Rose asked the question I'd been asking myself for years.

I still didn't have an answer.

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Well," she stated, counting off on her fingers, "first, you two were found in a pantry together.With the light off."

"Would it have made a difference if the light was on?"

"Yes."

I laughed at how serious she sounded.

"Second, earlier when you left, he looked worried."

Trying not to sound too interested, I said, "Was he?"

Rose raised a brow."Hmmm.You sound happy about that."

I was.

"Third, he was staring at you all throughout dinner."

"Maybe I had something in my teeth."

"You didn't," she said."I checked."

"Nice of you."

"Emmy, just tell me what's going on."

"Honestly, I'm not sure," I said.

"Nope," she said back.

I tilted my head."No what?"

"You don't get to deflect and answer with a non-answer."Rose held up a hand."Not after that trick you pulled with the mistletoe.I demand the truth."

"A little dramatic," I said dryly.

"And I know you love spilling tea."She shrugged."So?What's the story?"

"I love hearing other people's drama.Not my own.So…"

"Emmy."

"Okay, fine," I said with a sigh."But only because you're my friend, and I do feel like I owe after the mistletoe."

I glanced at her.

"Though you and my brother seemed to enjoy yourselves.A lot."

"Emmy!"

"Geez, keep it down," I said, looking over at where my mom was, thankfully, still fast asleep.The roads weren't safe—which was the reason Rose decided to stay over.We were bunking together since the guys had taken my brothers' rooms.Rose and I had rolled out sleeping bags on the floor.I hadn't wanted anyone in the living room since there was still work to do downstairs."My mom and brothers don't know what I'm about to tell you.So you have to stay quiet.Okay?"

She nodded."Sounds juicy.I can't wait to hear."

I pointed at her."And this cannot be used for one of your books."

"Fine.But even if you did let me include anything, I never use real names, so no one would ever know."

"Rose."

She rolled her eyes then gestured for me to continue."Whatever you tell me is safe, Emmy."

I took a deep breath then…

"Seaver and I were together."

"I knew it!" she whispered.

"It was complicated."

"Love always is."

"I don't know if he ever…I mean, I was in love with him," I said then closed my eyes."God, Rose, I was so in love with him."

"You were?"

"Yes, and he told me he loved me too."

"That's so romantic."

"It was," I said."Being with John, I mean Seaver, was a total whirlwind.We just got each other, you know?He and I connected on another level.I could talk to him about anything.And he made me feel…everything."

She frowned.

"But you said no one knows," she said."How does that work?"

I shrugged as she laughed lightly.

"Well, if this were a book, I would say you and Seaver had a secret relationship.You were the little sister, and he's your older brother's best friend.The two of you were forbidden from the start.Stolen kisses when no one's looking, secret glances across crowded rooms, clandestine meetings."

She laughed again, but I just stared.

"Oh wow."

"Yeah."

"Can I ask whose idea was it to keep you guys a secret?"

I thought back."Can't remember exactly, but I think it was a mutual decision."

She tilted her head."Then what happened?"

"One day, he just left."

I shrugged like it was no big deal, trying to pretend it didn't break my heart.

"He must've gotten tired of me or something.It happens."

"Oh Emmy, I'm sorry," Rose said.

"It's fine," I lied."I'm over it."

She was quiet a beat then, "Well, he obviously isn't."

I looked at her, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Seaver is still into you.I could see that from a mile away."

"Must be the romance author in you talking."

"I don't think so.He looks at you like he loves you," she said."You can't fake that."

But he did.

He pretended to love me so well that I believed it.

With my whole heart, I'd believed in him.In us.

Thinking of the fool I'd been back then, I shook my head.

"If he loved me, he wouldn't have disappeared," I said."He wouldn't have stayed gone so long with no contact.Far as I know, he didn't even talk to Dex or anyone in the family."

I frowned.

"We had to hear everything second-hand."

"And I'm guessing what you heard wasn't good?"

"Apparently, he hooked up with a ton of girls.Seaver went off and became this big hockey star.And he left everything else behind."

Including me.

"So, that's why you hate hockey so much," Rose said."Makes sense now."

"Yeah, I hated it when the guys would watch his games on TV."

"Salt in the wound?"

"More like being stabbed in the heart repeatedly," I said, "but yeah, let's go with the salt-wound metaphor."

Rose bit her lip, but even she sounded unsure."Maybe he had a good reason?"

"Maybe."

"Have you ever asked him?"

I shook my head.

"Why?"

"Because he wasn't here to ask."

"But he is now," she said softly.

"It wouldn't matter anyway," I said."It's too late.He's moved on and so have I."

Maybe if I said it enough times I'd start believing it.

"Besides, we were just young, swept up in each other and first love.I should've known it wouldn't last."Sitting up, I stretched my arms."Hey, I need to go downstairs for a bit.Will you be okay here?"

"Of course," Rose said."Emmy?"

"Yeah?"

"What you said about love, sometimes it lasts.Sometimes it even comes back."

I smiled."That would be a good line for one of your books."

"It would—but it's also true," Rose said.

Stepping out of the room, I closed the door as quietly as possible.Even though Mom's room was at the other end of the house, I could hear the guys snoring.That was good.I'd waited this long, so hopefully, they'd all be knocked out while I did my thing.It was so dark in the hall that it took my eyes a moment to adjust.When they did, I noticed a human-sized lump sitting outside our door, and my eyes widened.

"Seaver?" I said in surprise.

"Finally," he said, slowly coming to his feet, "she gets the name right."

"Were you sleeping out here?"

"Hmmm, seemed like a good idea."

I crossed my arms.

Seaver crossed his too.

"Care to explain yourself?"

"You realize there are a bunch of strange guys sleeping in your house."

"Yeah, I'm looking at one right now," I said pointedly.

"Ouch."

I shrugged then walked by him.Unfortunately, Seaver followed.

"That doesn't explain why you're sleeping in the hall like some kind of creeper."

"Doesn't it?"

As we passed the rooms with Finn and the others, the snoring rose to a roar.

"Ah, I get it," I said as we descended the stairs."You couldn't sleep with all the noise."

"The snoring doesn't bother me.My foster dad was ten times worse, and just like this house, the walls were paper thin."

"If you say so."

As we walked into the living room, I went to the side closet and pulled out a hidden bag of gifts and wrapping paper.I also reopened the remaining box of tree decorations.

"Listen, I have things to do," I said, grabbing a few ornaments and hanging them on the tree, trying to ignore his presence.But it was hard because I was so aware of him."You can go back upstairs."

"I think I'll stay," he said.

"Why?You said the noise doesn't bother you."

"You're seriously not getting it."

"No, you're not."I gestured to the bags and boxes."I'm playing Santa this year.I don't want anyone sneaking a peek—which is why I made sure no one would be sleeping down here.Like you said, we have extra guests, so I have several extra gifts to wrap.I need to have everything done before people wake up, and Finn always gets up really early on Christmas morning.So, if you could please go, I'd appreciate it."

"I'll help," he offered."Two sets of hands will make the work go faster."

"Thanks, but you'd only be a distraction."

Seaver sat and leaned back against the couch."A distraction?How so?"

I huffed."Why won't you just go away?"

"Same reason I was sleeping in the hall."

He gave me a look like I was the one being difficult.

"Four men who might as well be strangers are sleeping in your house," he said slowly."I'm not leaving you down here alone."

"My mom brought them here.They're players on the Southern U baseball team," I said back.

"Athletes are the worst."

I blinked then couldn't hold back a laugh."That's rich coming from you."

"I'm sure your brothers would want me to look after you."

"Finn wasn't out there sleeping on the floor."

"I'd do worse for you."

"Hmph."

I couldn't believe it.Part of me was flattered; part of me was reeling; and part of me wanted to shake him and ask why he'd left like he did all those years ago.

"That Toby guy was flirting with you earlier," he said completely out of the blue.

"He was not," I said.

"Yeah, he was," Seaver said flatly, then his lips twitched."Although, that was before your assassination attempt.Who knew mints could be so dangerous?"

With a sigh, I tilted my head."You're seriously not leaving?"

He shook his head.

"Fine, then can you help me with the decorations?Most of them go on the high branches, and if you're going to stay, you could at least put your freakishly long arms to good use."

"No problem."

Seaver popped off the couch, and we got to work.

"I'll take the lower half of the tree," I said.

"With your t-Rex arms," he replied.

"Not funny."

"I thought it was."

"You would."

"I forgot how much I missed bickering with you."

"Shut up," I said, though I had missed it too.

Seaver was right.With his help, we got the tree finished in no time.There wasn't as much to do there anyway since I'd gotten a lot of it done this morning.I moved over to the couch and table, grabbing a roll of wrapping paper, scissors, and tape on the way.The bag of presents was already next to me, so I took out the first gift.

"These are for the players?" Seaver asked.

I nodded.

"When did you find time to get them presents?"

"My mom asked me to put these under the tree," I said, doing my best not to look at him."And I'm rewrapping a few presents that I originally got for my brothers.I did really good for each of them, so I'm sure they won't mind."

Seaver nodded."That's nice."

"I guess."

"You've always had a good heart."

"Flattery doesn't work on me."

"Oh, I know.Did you get me something?"

I could feel him smiling at me but refused to look.It was easier that way.

For me at least.

"It's been a long time," I said."I don't think I could even begin to guess what you want."

"Honestly, it feels good just to be around you again."

My heart skipped.

"Like I said, I missed you."

"Maybe you shouldn't have left then," I mumbled then gave myself a mental slap.I shouldn't have said that.The statement was too telling.

Seaver was silent a moment as I continued to wrap gifts, hoping against hope that he'd let it go.

"Maybe you're right," he said.

"I'm always right," I said brightly.

For the next few seconds, we both did an admirable job of ignoring the elephant in the room.But then Seaver had to go and ruin it.

"You know, I heard what you said to Rose."

My eyes shot to his face at that.

Seaver gave me a half-smile."Paper thin walls, remember?"

I looked back down, hardly able to see what I was doing."So, you heard…?"

"Everything," he confirmed.

"Ah."

Could you die of embarrassment?

I didn't know, but it felt like a real possibility as I sat there next to the boy, now man, I used to love, feeling completely exposed.I started wrapping the gifts faster in hopes of a quick escape.The couch dipped as he turned to face me.

"It made me realize there are a few things we should clear up," he said.

"Oh, there's no need for that," I said.

"I think there is."

I didn't respond.

"Emilia, will you look at me?"

"But I still have gifts to wrap."

His fingers were gentle as he turned my head to face him.

Seaver's gaze met mine, and I couldn't look away.

"You were right about one thing," he said."I should never have left like that.There was a good reason, a very good one.But…I shouldn't have disappeared on you, and I'm sorry."

It was what I'd wanted to hear for so long.

What my heart needed to hear.

And yet, I didn't know what to say.

"It's okay," I said finally."That was a long time ago."

"You were wrong too."

I frowned at that.

"I never got tired of you," he said, shaking his head."How could you even think that?You're brilliant."

"I know," I said.

Seaver smiled."And I wasn't with a ton of girls."

"Yeah, right."

"I wasn't."

I frowned."Even before you left, everyone said you were a player."

"People talk.Doesn't mean it's true."

"According to Dex, all hockey players are like that, and you were always running off to see some girl."

He narrowed his gaze."Sounds right."

"Apparently, you'd tell the guys you couldn't hang out because you had to go see someone," I said then swallowed."I tried not to let it bother me."

"Emilia, are you serious?"

I shrugged, but he stared at me steadily.

"It was you," he said.

"What?"

"All those times, it was you I was going to see."

"But the names," I said, "there were a lot of different girls."

He shook his head."I made up a different name every time, so they wouldn't suspect us.But it was always you.Only you."

My heart flooded with warmth, and I could barely repress a smile.

"Oh."

"And the media like to paint me as some big manwhore, but it's not true."

"It's not?"

"How could it be when I was still hung up on you?"

As his hands moved into my hair, I felt drugged, like every word that left his mouth was getting me higher and higher.

"I only agreed to keep us a secret because that's what you wanted.You didn't want to upset anyone.I had no trouble telling Dex or your brothers."

"But—"

"They don't scare me.You, however, are a different story."

I blinked."Me?"

"Yeah, you."Seaver leaned forward, and my breath hitched."And you got one other thing wrong."

"What's that?"

"I haven't moved on."

"Wait."As he went to close the distance, I could barely speak, but I forced the words out."Anyone could come down and see us."

"You're right."

He nodded as his gaze moved from my mouth to my eyes and back again.

"Do you care?"

"I…don't think so?" I breathed.

We were so close now.I felt his next words against my lips.

"I loved you then.I still love you."

My heart felt like it might burst.

"I'll do whatever you want."

"Fuck it," I said and kissed him.