Page 114 of Finding Fate

Presley

“Ididn’t miss it, right? Mom will kill me if I don’t text her first!”

Everyone turns around from where they’re sitting as Paxtyn comes running into the large family room with her purse on her arm and her cheeks flushed. Her jacket is zipped almost to her neck. The only thing stopping it is her scarf being wrapped around it. I’ve never seen her so covered. “See, I told you guys I’d forgotten something. It’s here.”

“Paxtyn, always a pleasure,” Konnor says like he does every time he sees her with a mischievous smile. “Why are your cheeks red?”

He and Riggan have their blindfolds around their necks because it was taking so long for Landon to answer the door. I wonder if that has anything to do with the color on her cheeks that is definitely not blush.

“K . . .” She places her hands on her cheeks. “Maybe because it’s cold as balls outside. Ready to see if your swimmers prefer boys or girls? Girls are more fun.”

“That’s a matter of opinion,” Maddox says. Gabby squeals and stands from his lap, running over to her and nearly tackling her for a hug. I’m trying not to get jealous that they hit if off in November when she came to Miami. Apparently, they talk all the time now.

The older my sister gets the more I want a relationship with her, and I hated ignoring her when she came to visit, but my ulterior motive won out. I sacrificed for the greater good. I just couldn’t tell anyone my plan.

When Landon called me out, I had to keep it up, despite how low he made me feel. I’ve always had lots of friends. I hate animosity. I kept telling myself if he was being an ass he had to care, so that made it worth it.

I begged Sayler to ask her mom if I could buy a custom piece and took it to Paxtyn when I had to go to the home office one weekend. She loves bribe gifts. I apologized to keep up the act and we had a girls’ day. All is well, for now, so when I called to include her on the gender reveal before Mom and Dad, she jumped on it. I knew she would. Paxtyn likes having information to hang over people’s heads. “You did not tell me you were coming, you bitch!”

Paxtyn smiles. “Surprise! Where are the yummy Christmas cocktails? I’ve been waiting a week for this and I don’t see anything in your hand.”

Gabby is turned away from me, so I can’t see the look on her face. “About that . . .”

“What?”

“I’m not allowed to drink ‘til July. Possibly longer.”

“Whyyyyyyy?”

Gabby laughs. “One guess and that virus already hit two.”

“Oh, come on! Do none of you know what condoms are? Birth control? Who am I going to drink with?”

“The guys are drinking. I’ll drink yummy drinks with you, just hold the liquor and I’ll pretend it’s the real thing.”

She fake pouts. Landon walks through the door. Riggan and Maddox glance at him before looking at each other with a grin. Wonder where he’s been. “That’s no fun. I’m sleeping in Mom and Dad’s room. It’s on the other side of the house from the rest of the rooms. You people have something in your water. I’m not getting pregnant so I’m keeping my distance.”

“Shut the hell up,” Landon says, shoving Maddox as he sits beside him on the couch. As hard as Maddox is laughing, I obviously missed the joke.

I walk over to my sister and take her purse, putting it aside, and then grab one end of her scarf, unwinding it from her neck. “You’re making me hot. We keep it warm in here.”

I grab the zipper to her jacket and glide it down, feeling eyes on us. Seduction was always my strong suit with guys, except on Konnor for the longest damn time. It’s always about the visual. “You do realize I can undress myself, right?”

Paxtyn, not so much. She doesn’t know when less is more. Her bitchy, lack of filter kills it before she gets anywhere. “Yes, but I also know that invention called a coat rack will never get used if I don’t take it from you.”

“You mean that Godawful invention that is literally just an eye sore, not to mention a waste of space when closets exist in almost every room?”

“Dad is traditional. He likes old things.”

“Which is why Mom banned him from having a say in home decor years ago. Why in God’s name she let him have a say here I have no idea.”

“Because this is his favorite property. They bought it for the view. He wanted to keep it rustic.” She turns around and slides the jacket off her arms while I hold the collar, revealing the fitted red sweater that conforms to her small body in a way that shows every curve. I haven’t decided yet if I should be offended or amused by the fact that the rest of them think me and Konnor are idiots.

She turns around, her blue eyes sparkling with the flames of the fireplace dancing. “What?”

“You look pretty. I like that sweater.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re being weird.”