Chapter 13
The party is amazing. The guys are hilarious in their sweaters (Lucas cut the sleeves to show off his biceps—which admittedly are nice, but he looks ridiculous), the mimosas are perfection, and Felix has on his Santa hat and demands the TV stay on Elf the entire night.
We’ve just restarted it and are halfway through the second time, which is a lot of Will Ferrell in an elf costume. The guys make a drinking game out of it, picking different words for each other and drinking every time Buddy says their word. Poor Teddy got ‘Santa,’ and he is feeling it.
“You’re pretty,” he says, when I take a seat next to him on the couch. His eyes are hooded and his sweatshirt is pushed up his forearms because it doesn’t come all the way down his long arms. His head falls back, and he keeps staring at me. “My mom would have liked you.”
My heart kicks up a notch. “Oh yeah? Because I’m pretty in my holiday kitty sweater?”
He moves his head side to side slowly. “She really loved Christmas. I think it’s why my dad doesn’t like to celebrate it anymore.”
That makes my heart squeeze. I can’t imagine.
“But she’d also think you’re really pretty. And nice. And pretty. Did I mention you are pretty?”
Stella is on her phone next to me. She looks up long enough to laugh at Teddy. “You mentioned that a few times, Theodore.”
“I meant it. I need water.” He gets to his feet. The sweater is so small. The bottom hem barely covers his stomach. But, somehow, he still looks sexy.
“Water is good,” I tell him. “Maybe a few cookies too. I hear they help for this sort of thing.”
He grins. “Hope this night ends like that one.”
I know it won’t, but the thought of it makes my stomach flip anyway.
“Beau is definitely coming to visit over the break,” Stella says, when it’s just the two of us left in the living room.
“Really? That’s great.”
Her body deflates with a breath. “It is great, but I’m nervous. I want it to go well.”
“I’m sure we’ll all like him, if you do.”
“Yeah.” She nods, but she doesn’t look convinced. “He’s so excited to meet you.”
“I’m excited too.”
“You should invite Teddy. We can go out one night together, the four of us.” She gives me a hopeful smile.
“Yeah.” I find him in the kitchen guzzling a glass of water. Teddy meets my gaze. His eyes are hazy, but he smiles and those dimples appear, and then he winks at me.
I can’t believe this is happening. Me and Teddy, making eyes across the room and planning double dates. It didn’t start out how I expected, but I don’t want this vacation to end.
The next day, Stella and I spend hours getting ready for the dance. It feels like prom all over again. We try on every dress we brought until she settles on a red one with tiny straps that show off her toned arms and shoulders. She lets me do her makeup but opts for a simple braid for her hair.
I go all out. Big curls, heavier makeup, sexy green dress, and my secret weapon—sexy shoes.
“When did you get those?” Stella stares at the strappy gold shoes with admiration.
“The other day when you guys were snowboarding. Are they too much?”
“No. They are stunning. You are a goddess.” She turns to stare at herself in the mirror. “I wish Beau were here. Although, I’d be worried he’d take one look at you and regret meeting me first.”
I laugh. “Oh, please.”
Her face is marred with insecurity that is so rare to see on my twin’s face that it throws me for a loop.
“No way. You are gorgeous and everything is going to go great when he comes to visit.”
“Hol, there’s something I haven’t told you about Beau.” She sits on the edge of the bed.
“What?”
“Let’s go!” Felix calls from the living room.
I crack open the door and tell him we’ll be right there, and then look to my sister.
“Never mind.” She stands and her mouth curves up. “Let’s do this! I want to see Theodore swallow his tongue when he gets a look at you.”
Stella goes out first. I take one more look at myself in the mirror and follow.
The guys are sitting in the living room playing video games. Lucas notices Stella first and then his stare slides to me.
“Woah,” he says. His gaze bounces between us. “I don’t know which is which, but you both look super hot.”
Felix smacks him even before he looks away from the screen. “You’re talking about my sisters, dude.”
“Sorry, but they are.”
They continue bickering, but it’s background noise because the second that Teddy looks up at me, everything else falls away and it’s just the two of us.
He stands. I think one of the guys complains that the game isn’t over, but Teddy crosses the room to me.
He doesn’t speak as he takes me in. His hair is styled neatly, but still curls at the ends.
The black button-down shirt he’s wearing stretches over his broad chest and back.
“Hi,” I say quietly.
His throat works with a swallow, but he still doesn’t say a word.
Stella giggles and mutters, “Told you so.”