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  Elle's grandmother lived on the outside of town, giving her a good thirty-minute nap. Unfortunately, my eardrums were ready to explode by the time I pulled up to my house.

  My little cousin, Thomas, stood in the front yard tossing a baseball around when I parked. He ran over when I opened my door.

  "Ooh, is that your girlfriend?"

  He batted his lashes, making me chuckle.

  "Yeah, she's pretty special, even if she sounds like an ogre."

  Thomas ducked his head inside and peeked at Elle, who made a loud succession of snorts.

  "Yeah, you must really like her." He straightened back up and supplied me with a disgusted frown. "She sounds like a pig and drools a lot. Kinda just like my sister used to do when she was a baby." He shook his head. "That's gross," he said, running off to play.

  I laughed and closed my door. The sound broke Elle's sleeping spell. She opened her eyes as I walked around to get her door. She casually swiped the side of her face dry.

  "I can't believe I slept the entire way here."

  Elle stretched her arms over her head. Her thin sweater raised, exposing her navel. Just then, the front door opened and my mom and aunt walked out and waved. Elle combed her fingers through her thick, long hair. We waved back and they headed inside with Thomas tagging behind.

  "You should've woken me up before we got here." She glared up at me.

  "You were pretty out of it. And uh, Spud, you got a little something on your chin."

  I winked, loving the way her face heated. Color spread across her cheeks. She got out and slammed my door. Slammed. My. Door. Not the reaction I anticipated. I bent down to examine the paint for any damage. When nothing appeared chipped, I stood up and gave her a "what the hell" look.

  "Don't be an ass."

  "Do you even know how precious she is?"

  She smirked, stepping into me. "You mean this cherry red '69 Chevy Camaro z28. V-8 engine, goes from 0-60 in 7.4 seconds. A little over 20k were made–"

  I walked her back, trapping her between my arms and car and rolled my hips into her. I didn't miss her eyes fluttering or the sweet sound when her breath hitched.

  "That was so fucking hot."

  Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she focused her charged eyes on mine. I seriously considered shoving her back inside my car. Bringing her to the point of screaming, shattering pleasure was always my goal with her. Too bad she realized we were in front of my parents' house. She pushed out from under my arms, heading to the house. Attitude clear to see in the swing of her hips.

  Damn. I hurried after her.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  Dad, John, and I waited in the living room watching old football reruns while Elle, Mom, and Sarah got dinner ready. Dad hadn't been a dick to Elle, and he hadn't hounded me about football. A fucking Christmas miracle. We even managed to agree on a few simple changes to better my running game.

  For the first time in years, I enjoyed being back home. As for Elle, she was the final piece I needed to make life perfect. A sense of wholeness settled over me.

  "What's with the sloppy grin?"

  I didn't realize I was smiling. My uncle and I were usually on the same page, and by the cocky-ass look on his face, he knew exactly where my mind had been.

  "Don't know what you're talking about, John."

  He shook his head. "Wade, looks like Tristan's got it bad."

  Ah, fuck.

  A burst of laughter came from the kitchen. Dad smiled. His, uh, happy expression threw me.

  "Looks like you got yourself a winner, son. I'm happy for you. I–" Dad cleared his throat and returned his attention to the television.

  I rubbed the back of my neck. What the hell happened to the guy who hated Elle and her family? Fuck, most days he acted like he couldn't stand to be near me.

  "Uh, yeah. I, um, thanks, Dad."

  He cleared his throat, again.

  We didn't know how to act. We didn't get along. Ever. Not from lack of effort on my part, but honestly, I could get used to this.

  "I'm gonna check on dinner."

  "Good, good." My dad nodded and turned around. My uncle laughed. When I flipped him off, he laughed louder.

  "Hey," I said, once inside the kitchen.

  Elle looked up with a smile so bright I paused, appreciating the way her face lit with such undiluted emotion. From that point on, I'd be sure to make her smile like that every day. I cleared the sudden burn in my throat.

  "Yeah, I was just checking on you."

  "Tristan Wade," my mom said with a mock scowl next to Elle. "Elle is perfectly fine in here." Mom pointed to the door. "I'd worry if she were out there with y'all. You'd bore the poor girl to death with old football games." Mom clapped her hands together, creating a cloud of flour dust in the air.

  "Mom, Elle likes football as much as I do." I looked to Elle for support. Her cheeks flushed, but she said nothing. My aunt saved me.

  "Dinner's ready. Go let the guys and kids know."

  "Okay," I said, turning to head out, though really confused. Did Mom brainwash my girlfriend? When I reached the door, I turned my head for a quick glance. Elle watched me.

  She mouthed, "I love you."

  I had a strong urge to walk back, grab the back of her head, and devour her lips with a kiss that was sure to make us both breathless and begging for more. It took every ounce of willpower to stay rooted in place… but then I thought, fuck it.

  With determination, I stalked over. Her eyes widened. Knowing she'd pull away, I grabbed both sides of her cheeks, bent forward, and pressed my lips to hers.

  Soft, so fucking soft and incredible. She didn't back away, actually, her body shaped into mine. I'd been deprived of being with her this way for years. As long as she allowed me to, I'd spend the rest of my life making up for our lost time together.

  "I love you, too," I said, releasing her. I looked up at my mom and aunt, who smiled, and then left the kitchen.

  Once everyone was situated at the table, Mom made an announcement.

  "All right, everyone knows the routine."

  Elle's back straightened. Shit. I forgot Mom made us do this every year.

  "Elle, everyone says something nice about someone at the table. It's a Daniels' Christmas dinner tradition."

  "O–okay." Her voice shook.

  I reached under the table and squeezed her thigh, hoping to comfort her. She squirmed under my touch.

  Mom smiled back at her. "You'll be fine, dear. Okay, I'll start." Mom turned to Dad. "Wade, I'm grateful for today and looking forward to as many tomorrows as we have."

  Dad grimaced, but recovered quick enough. His reply, "I'm glad you said yes, and I fall more in love with you every day."

  Mom cried. Smooth, Dad. Had it not been a special holiday, I'd have high-fived him.

  Thomas and Tailer both said nice things about the food, and then followed up with how hungry their stomachs were. I agreed. When my aunt and uncle were done, I turned to Elle thinking of a way to up my dad.

  "Elle, I–" Palms sweaty, I ran my hands across my jeans. "I love how oblivious you are. When you walk into a room, no one can help but notice you." Her mouth lifted in the corner, her face not as bright as I'd expected. "Being with you makes me want to be a better man." I heard a sniffle to my right.

  Elle jumped in without hesitation. "I love your kindness. Your passion and honesty. I'm glad we're friends…"

  My jaw dropped. Mom choked out a cough beside me.

  "…Because I can't imagine loving anyone else for the rest of my life." She shrugged her shoulder. "Well, only if you're lucky." Stealing my move, she winked. God, I loved her.

  "Let's eat," Dad said, breaking the silence.

  Thomas entertained us during dinner. Especially when he said to Elle, "Why do you sound like a pig when you sleep?"

  Elle gasped. Equal parts shock and humiliation splayed across her cheeks, up to her ears. The transformation of her natural olive skin tone to crimson rushed over her within seconds.
Amazing.

  Sarah leaned over to whisper to Thomas. I felt kinda bad for the little guy. Knowing I'd be in trouble later, I helped him out, anyway.

  "Hey, buddy, don't forget about all the gross drool." I winked, and then glanced at Elle. The look in her flaming eyes turned me on. I grinned. She obviously noticed where my thoughts were and glared. The menacing look only fueled my desire.

  "Tristan," she seethed. "You're not being a very good role model."

  Thomas and a few others laughed. I reached over to give him a high-five.

  "All right, that's enough, you two," my aunt said playfully. Elle shook her head, giving up when I smiled back.

  Life was on the up-and-up. Only one thing could make it better. My palms began to sweat more and my stomach cramped. Later, when we were alone, I'd give Elle her Christmas present.

  Elle

  For the first time today, or in a long time, I didn't have that constant tension or uneasiness hanging over me. In fact, I'd have been happy if the night never ended.

  The afternoon being with my family didn't end up sucking. This evening, Tristan's mom and aunt made me feel like part of their family. We laughed about all sorts of things. Normally¸ I didn't enjoy cooking, but the two of them somehow made it so much fun. Even Tristan's dad talked to me, and without sneering. The day turned out to be a win-win.

  After dinner, we gathered in the living room to watch one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Every time I watched it, I laughed my ass off.

  Tristan and I snuggled together on the floor. I sat between his legs, and my back leaned against his solid chest, my head resting on his shoulder. Tristan hands were constantly touching me, not that I complained.

  He started by gliding his index finger up and down the inside of my wrist, and then moved to running his fingers through my hair. At one point during the movie, he started massaging my shoulders.

  My eyes drifted shut. His hands, oh my God, worked wonders over my stiff muscles. I didn't even know they were stiff until then. I relaxed so much I forgot we were in a room with other people.

  "God, I love the way you make me feel."

  His magic hands immediately froze, and then someone cleared their throat. Shit. My eyes shot open. The temperature must have jumped about ten degrees because my skin felt blazing hot.

  Tristan leaned next to my ear and whispered, "Mmm, you have no idea how much I love the way your body feels."

  I gently jabbed my elbow into his stomach. His chest shook against my back with quiet laughter.

  "You're such an ass."

  Tristan's family wished us a Merry Christmas before heading to bed when the movie ended.

  "Hey, I need to give you your gift," he said, heading off to his room.

  I could only imagine what he wanted to give me and refrained from rolling my eyes as I followed him back to his room.

  He hadn't changed a thing since the last time I'd been in here in high school. I went to his desk first. The same pictures were cluttered there. I picked up one with him and his best friend, Paul.

  The two of them were like brothers. Both were offered athletic scholarships, but Paul didn't accept the deal. After speaking with Alyssa the day after graduation, he joined the Marines.

  College wasn't only my escape, but Alyssa's too. This town held painful memories for her. As much as I loved my best friend, I couldn't bring her out of the hell she was in, but Paul had. Hell, her parents spent thousands of dollars toward her recovery. But she didn't want to talk about what happened and Paul never pushed her. I think that's why she let him in–or to a degree. The night he asked her for more, she ended up telling him to go instead.

  She told him she needed to move forward with her life. Paul left, and as far as I knew, he'd never looked back.

  "Hey, do you ever talk to Paul?"

  I stood the picture frame back on the desk and turned around.

  Tristan looked away. "Yeah, he calls every now and then." His jaw tensed.

  "Oh, I didn't know."

  Tristan looked back at me and shrugged his broad shoulders. "Ready for your present?" His lips lifted into a crooked grin. I rolled my eyes.

  "Tristan, I'm not having sex with you here."

  His grin dropped into a, well, a sexy frown. "First, sex isn't your present. Two, you only had a problem with having sex at your house," he clarified, and then opened his arms wide. "You didn't argue when I said we could have sex here."

  I shook my head. His brows furrowed deeper and he dropped his arms to his side. Poor guy looked pitiful.

  "You can wait till we get back home."

  Okay, now he looked… umm. He stalked over to me, his dark eyes glimmering with lust. My body buzzed with the same fire. By the time he wove his fingers in my hair, his other hand cupping my cheek, I'd lost any will of restraint.

  Yup, I was fully prepared to let him take me. Damn, I needed to work on my poker face, at least put up some sort of resistance.

  "Sex…" He paused, nuzzled my hair, and inhaled deeply. "Will happen." I whimpered softly as his breath heated my skin. "But not until you open your gift." He pulled away, leaving me breathless, and as usual, wanting more.

  He supplied me with a cocky grin, fully aware of the effect he had over me. Man, he could be such an ass.

  On the verge of putting him in his place, my phone rang. I pushed at his shoulder and then answered the call.

  "Hello?"

  "Elle," Mom's voice cracked. "It's your sister." She sobbed in my ear. I snapped my eyes up to Tristan. Immediately his arms were around me. He mouthed, Everything okay?

  I shook my head.

  "Mom, can you calm down and tell me what's going on?"

  "Your sister's gone. She spoke with your father and… oh, God." More crying. My lungs stopped working; chills ran across my skin.

  "Mom, I'm on my way. We'll figure this out."

  "Please, hurry. What if–"

  "No, don't. Don't say it." I couldn't process what if.

  "Just hurry," she managed to get out before ending the call.

  "We've got to go."

  "How bad is it?"

  "I don't know." I tried to push out of Tristan's hold.

  "I'm here. Don't push me away."

  I nodded into his chest. "I know."

  Tristan rushed us back to my house. The trip felt like it took forever. Today had gone so well, but I should've known better than to let my guard down. Shit.

  Tristan reached across the console and gripped my shaking hand. I squeezed back, but turned my attention to the scenery outside. If I looked at him, I'd shatter, and I had to be strong. I had to keep it together.

  My throat tightened, my legs grew heavy, and my hands refused to stop shaking. Every day my sister was gone, missing, I hoped for the best, but in the back corners of my mind, I expected the worst. I let all that go today. For just a little tiny bit, I breathed. I lived. Look where that got me.

  A few minutes later, we pulled into my driveway. I didn't wait for Tristan to open my door. Out of the car, I rushed inside.

  "Mom, where are you?"

  I rounded the corner to the living room and found her pacing the room. She looked up with bloodshot eyes and a red nose.

  "Mom–" I couldn't finish my thoughts. By the stricken fear in her eyes, I knew whatever she was about to say wouldn't be good. She took a minute or two to calm down. My cell rang, but I didn't answer the call.

  "Your sister talked to your dad on the way home from your grandmother's. She was very upset. She yelled a good ten minutes. When she hung up..." Mom closed her eyes, tears trickled down her face.

  "She cried… so hard. I tried to calm her down, but by the time we made it home, she shut me out. She refused to let me in, and ran to her room and locked the door."

  A new flood of tears streamed down Mom's face, but she went on. My mind raced, trying to figure out what the hell I missed. Like what had Dad done? What could he have said to make her so upset?
/>   "I called your dad." Mom paused, wrapping her arms around her chest. "I asked what they'd talked about." She sighed. "He said Heather heard a woman's voice in the background… and then a baby cry."

  Mom locked her eyes with mine. The sorrow and regret in her gaze held me in place.

  "Elle, honey, he told your sister about his wife. The baby she heard in the background was his. The reason he couldn't fly back home with her was because Becky, his wife, had gone into labor."

  I blinked, processing what the fuck she'd just said.

  "I'm so sorry you had to find out this way. I wanted to tell you girls a long time ago, only I didn't know how. I'm–I'm just… sorry."

  I'm sorry? I stared. Regret creased in the lines around her eyes. She knew. She knew the entire time Dad had another family and never bothered telling us. I didn't know which parent I was more upset with, my dad for being a self-absorbed dick, or my mom for not having a backbone.

  "Mom, do you want to know what Heather has been afraid of all this time?" I snapped, my voice sharp and hard. "She was terrified that Dad would move on. That he'd have another family and care more for them than us. I guess she'd been fucking right."

  My mind raced, frantic with worry. How did I fix this? My stupid phone rang and because I couldn't think straight, I answered the damn thing.

  "Hello."

  Nothing. Maybe? Hope bubbled in my chest.

  "Heather? Heather, is that you?" I took the silence as confirmation, and continued, "Listen, I'm so sorry. Please don't do anything crazy. You know how much I love you, right? Mom, too. We love you so much."

  Silence.

  "Please," my voice broke. "Please, just talk to me. We can get through this. Fuck Dad."

  "Elle, I'm–I'm not strong like you. I… just." She cleared her throat. "Don't give up on Tristan, okay? And tell him I said thank you… for everything."

  "Heather, where are you? Please, tell me where you are. I'll come get you. We can talk about this. Please. I love you. Please." My knees buckled and I crashed to the floor.

  She sniffed into the receiver.

  "I'm sorry… I love you. Goodbye."

  Tristan pulled me into a tight embrace. Tristan. I'd forgotten he was there. Thank God he was because at that point, his arms were the only thing keeping me from falling apart.