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

CHAPTER 8

Emmy

What happened next was a mixture of absurd and mortifying.

My brothers grilled Toby, and for the most part, I could only stand there and shake my head.Even when I tried to intervene, it didn't help.The conversation went like this.

Me: Come on, guys.Leave him alone.There's nothing going on.

Dex: Hmmm.Then why are you standing up for him?

Me: I'm not.

Dex: Yeah, you are.

Me: No, I'm just—

Baylor: Defending your man?

I gave him the evil eye for that as Toby sputtered.

Baylor: And now, she's glaring at me.That tells me everything I need to know.

Me: Bay, I'm two seconds from doing something violent.

Baylor: Did you hear that, D?

Dex: I did. She's moved onto threats.

Baylor: Must be serious.

Dex: Must be.

Me: Keep talking, and I'll tell Maisie and June how you asked me to spy on them while you were away.

Their mouths snapped shut just as I'd intended.

But it didn't last.

Dex: Not cool, Emmy.

Baylor: Yeah, we just asked you to keep an eye out, keep them safe.

Dex: Never thought you'd turn on us over a jock.

Toby: Guys, seriously, it's not like that.

Chase: So, you weren't flirting with Emmy?

Toby: No…well, I mean, not much.

Archer: Why not?Are you saying our sister's not good enough for you?

Toby: Uh…

Archer: Because if that's what you're saying, you're wrong.

Oh my God.

Chase: So?Which is it?

Toby: I don't…think there's a right answer to this?

Chase: Correct.At least he's smart.

Archer: But is he smart enough for Emmy?

Dex: Good question.

Baylor: Excellent question.So Toby, what's your GPA?

Dex: Screw GPA.How many girlfriends have you had?We'll need a list, so we can question them about your past relationships.

Toby: Seriously?

Dex: Do I look like I'm joking?

Toby: No.

Chase: Do you read?Because Emmy loves books.

Archer: If you hurt her, you know you'll have to answer to us.Right?

After that, I left the room.

I didn't know if my brothers were serious or just giving him (and me) a hard time.But I couldn't listen anymore.If it was a different situation, I might've been amused.But this was too uncomfortable—especially with Seaver just sitting there, hearing everything, not saying a word.Part of me wanted to call him out, ask if he had anything to add to the conversation.The other part of me was relieved he stayed silent.

I frowned, trying to sort through my mixed emotions.

But before I could, a large, rough hand wrapped around mine and tugged me into semi-darkness.As my eyes adjusted, I felt my cheeks flush.

Seaver was staring down at me.He hadn't released my hand, and I was very aware of that fact.I was also very aware of how alone we were in the pantry.Again.

"We gotta stop meeting like this," he said.

"You're the one who dragged me in here," I said.

"Yeah, so we can talk."

"About what?"

"When do you want to tell them?" Seaver asked.

I just stared at him.

"Do you want me to do it?Because I will.Like I told you last night, I'm not scared."

Was he serious?

"Emilia, you okay?"

"Yeah," I said, "are you ?"

He frowned.

"Just to clarify, who is 'them'?"

"Your brothers."

"And what are we supposed be telling them?"

Seaver gave me a confused look."About us."

"There is no us," I said, releasing his hand, crossing my arms so I wasn't tempted to reach for him again.Touching Seaver in any way should be avoided at all costs.It made thinking difficult.

"Really?" he said.

I shrugged.

"So, what was that the other night?"

"I don't know."

He looked frustrated with my answer, but it was the truth.

"What did you think it was?" I asked.

"Amazing, hot, sexy as hell."Seaver stepped closer, and I took one back for each of his forward."The best welcome home I've ever had."

I swallowed as my back hit the wall, and Seaver leaned in, placing one hand on the shelf next to my head.His other hand gently cupped my cheek.I could get away whenever I wanted.

The problem was I didn't think I wanted to.

"Emilia, just talk to me," he said.

"Why didn't you say anything in the kitchen?" I asked.

"Because like I said, I wanted to speak to you first.See what you want to do."

I scoffed.

"It's true."

"Are you sure it wasn't to avoid the interrogation?"I shook my head, thinking back."Poor Toby."

Seaver's jaw twitched."If he can't handle it, he doesn't deserve you."

"And you do?"

"Maybe not.But you and I are more of an us than you and he will ever be."

I raised my brows."Is that right?"

"Yeah."

"What if I wanted to date him?"

Seaver gave me a wounded look, and I couldn't keep up the act.

"I was kidding," I said.

"Didn't sound like it."

"Well, I was."

"So, when do you want to tell them?"

I stared into his eyes."Okay, let's pretend there is an us—"

"There is," Seaver said.

"—and so we go out there and say that.Did you forget what just happened?They'll be even harder on you, question you relentlessly, want all the details—including the fact that we had a secret relationship.Do you want to go through that?"

"Hell yeah, if it means I get you in the end."

There was no hesitation.

He didn't stop to think about it, didn't have to.Seaver's stance was clear.I, however, wasn't as certain.

"Must be nice," I said quietly.

"What?"

"To be so sure."

Seaver pulled back an inch."Are you saying you're not?"

It was hard to explain my feelings, even to myself, but I gave it a go.

"When I woke up this morning, you were gone," I said.

"I had to leave early so I could get Dex and the guys," he said.

"I know, and I appreciate that more than I can say."

"But?"

"But I was alone in the living room, after we'd had this amazing night, and for a second…I thought you weren't coming back," I said.

Seaver looked pained, but he'd asked for the truth.

"It wasn't a good feeling."

"I know."

"I don't think you do," I said, "and that's okay.You seem all calm and collected, but my emotions are all over the place.Can you understand that?"

He nodded.

"If we spoke to my brothers now, I don't know what I'd say."

I gave him a small smile.

"Seeing you again, even being this close to you, is like flying and falling.I can't decide if what happened last night was a mistake or a Christmas miracle."

Seaver laughed quietly."I get it."

"Do you?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Plus, my brothers would probably kick your ass.Dex definitely would.There's no point in telling them if this is just a blip."

Seaver's gaze met mine again, and he lowered his voice.

"Told you already, Emilia.For you, I'd take that ass-kicking with a smile."

He leaned in closer, and I did too.

"But I won't mention it if you don't want me to."

"Thank you," I said.

"You're welcome."

We shared the same breath, kissing without kissing, just being there in the dark together.I loved every second even if I knew it couldn't last.The door to the pantry opened wide, and light filtered in.

Finn stood there with his hands on his hips.

"Found them in the pantry again," he said.

"What are they doing in there?" Baylor's voice called out.

"We were talking," I said back.

"In the dark?" Finn said dubiously.

I rolled my eyes."You sound just like Rose.Seriously, Finn, we were talking."

"Okay."

Seaver let me step out first, but before he could leave, Finn blocked his path.

"You should know," he said then stuck a finger in Seaver's chest, "the only reason I didn't rat you out to my brothers is because I'd never do that to Emmy.I love her too much."

"Guess we have that in common," Seaver said.

My heart stuttered—but then Finn got right in his face, and my brows to hit my hairline.

"If you do anything to hurt my sister," he said, "I'll find you and make you regret it."

"Thanks, Finn, but that's unnecessary," I said.

"I'll cut you with your own hockey skates."

"Finn!"

My baby brother tossed me a grin."I was just kidding," he said.But then he turned to Seaver and added, "Or was I?"

"I hear you," Seaver said, "and I respect you for that."

Finn nodded."I came to get you guys because we're about to open presents.See you in there."

Once he was gone, I put my hands on my hips.

"Since when did my baby brother turn into a cold-blooded criminal?" I said.

"I'm guessing it was when he saw me making moves on his sister," Seaver said, and as I looked to him, he smiled."It's okay, Emilia.Every guy with sisters understands where he's coming from."

Before I could ask what he meant by that, Mom called my name, and we walked together into the living room.Everyone was already there, sitting in chairs, on the couch, or just on the floor.And they all had a present in their hands.Apparently, they'd been waiting for us.

"Finally," Bay said.

"Did you get lost or something?" Dex asked.

"Nope," I said simply."Have all the gifts been handed out?"

"They have," Mom said then gave me a knowing look."Is everything okay?"

"Of course."

My mother was the best, and she'd always been able to read her kids.So instead of continuing that line of questioning, she directed everyone to start opening, taking the attention off me and the guy I'd been caught in the pantry with.Twice.I gave her a grateful nod.Seeing my pile of gifts, I went straight to it.Because fate couldn't give me a break, Seaver ended up directly to my left.But it was fine.I was fine.Everything was perfectly fine.

And then I noticed the midnight blue package with the silver stars in Seaver's pile.

How did that get there?

I must've tossed it in with the other gifts under the tree by accident.

I reached for it—but Seaver got there first.

"Hey," he said, "I thought this was for me."

"Um, I don't think so," I said.

Seaver looked down and lifted a brow."It has my name on it.Well, the name I used to go by."

"Are you sure?Maybe there's another John here."

He looked up."Says it's from you."

"Huh."

As I made a grab for the present, he held it out of reach.

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't mix up the names," I said lamely.

"Hey, Chase?" Seaver said.

"Yeah?"

"What does this say?"

He held the gift out so my brother could see.

"'To John, From Emilia' with a little heart."Chase grinned."Always with the hearts, Emmy.It's her thing."

"Oh, I know."

As Chase went back to opening his presents, I sighed.

"Guess I can open it now," Seaver said."Since we double-checked whose pile it was meant to be in."

"Yeah, whatever," I grumbled.

"I didn't think you got me anything."

"Well, that's what you get for thinking."

Seaver gave me an odd look, but I rolled my shoulders back.So what if he saw?He probably wouldn't remember anyway. That was a comforting if slightly depressing thought.And as Seaver made quick work of opening the wrapping paper, I began to relax.Seaver's hands stilled as he looked down.

"What'd you get?" Dex asked.

Seaver lifted the small silver circle.It fit into the palm of his hand perfectly, the same shape as a miniature hockey puck.I'd had it custom designed for him.

"A pocket watch?"

"No, a compass," Seaver said.

"Ah.Lame."

With that, no one else paid us any attention.But Seaver was examining the silver compass, no doubt reading the inscription.It said:

So you'll always find your way through the storm.

August 13 th

Seaver looked up slowly, and when his eyes met mine, they were piercing.

"When did you get this made?" he asked.

I shrugged.

Maybe he didn't understand the meaning behind it.Hopefully, he didn't.

"I'm glad you gave it to me."Seaver ran his thumb across the words again."Very glad."

"Yeah well, in case you ever get lost, it should be helpful," I said.

Chase glanced over again."So, what's the significance of the date?"

I opened my mouth to tell him nothing, that it was just when I bought it.

But Seaver's smile stole my breath.

"August 13 th is my favorite day," he said, gazing straight through me into my soul, and I knew then.

He remembered.

He remembered everything.

"Why?" my brother asked.

"I met my favorite person on that day," Seaver said.

And my heart.

Oh, my heart, it melted.