Chapter 4: Naughty & Nice: Chapter 4

“Maybe they gave us the wrong one,” Hendrix suggests. “It’s probably just a mistake. Call them.”

Turning my back on the one and only bedroom, I locate my purse on the kitchen counter and dig my cell out.

The call connects and a voice tells me that the company I booked with is closed for the holidays, but gives me an emergency number.

Holding my hand out for Hendrix’s cell, I quickly tap the number in and call that.

I wander off with his cell to my ear, my eyes scanning the cabin.

It’s perfect. Everything I could have asked for for a festive few days away with my best friend.

If it were just the two of us, having one bed wouldn’t have been an issue. We’ve slept together many times in the past.

But having Wilder here too…

That changes everything.

My stomach knots with a mixture of regret and guilt as the ringing continues in my ear.

After a minute or so, the inevitable happens, and the call cuts.

“No answer,” I confess without looking back.

They’re both watching me, the heat of their stares burning into my back.

“It’s fine. The bed looked pretty big. Noelle can take the middle, and we’ll go either side of her.”

“Absolutely not,” Hendrix barks. You can take the couch or the floor. They’re your only options.”

“And you’re going to sleep where, exactly?” Wilder asks, wiggling his brows.

“Fuck off, Bro. This isn’t even your vacation.”

“So you get to sleep with Noelle, get all cozy in that romantic bedroom, and I get to attempt to sleep out here on that?” he mocks, pointing at the couch. It looks pretty comfortable to me, but then I’m not a six-foot-two football player.

“Yep. If you don’t like it, you could always…” He throws his hand out, gesturing toward the front door.

“That’s not very festive, is it?” Wilder complains before stalking forward and dropping onto the couch that has just been allocated as his bed.

He bounces a couple of times before announcing, “I’ve slept with worse.”

I just manage to catch my laugh before Hendrix groans and drags his hand down his face.

“I need more mulled wine for this,” he mutters before disappearing into the kitchen.

I take off after him but am slowed down when Wilder speaks.

“I know you’re thinking about what it would be like to be snuggled between the two of us.” My teeth grind and my lips purse, holding in the words I don’t need to say out loud.

“You’re lucky he didn’t kick you out before we left,” I seethe.

“I think you mean, you’re lucky he didn’t. Just think of the fun we can have over the next few days.”

Instantly, I’m taken back to the bathroom that night where he…

I slam that thought down. Nothing good can come from me thinking about it.

It was a mistake. A massive fucking mistake that I need to forget about.

If only that were possible…

My entire body is on fire as I step into the kitchen.

“I’m so sorry,” Hendrix says.

He’s resting back against the counter with a full glass of mulled wine in his hand. His brows are pinched in frustration, and he looks tense as hell.

“It’s okay,” I breathe, forcing myself to let go of my own irritation over the situation. “Things could be worse.” I walk closer to him and pick up the glass I assume he poured for me. “It’s Christmas, and we’re here just like we planned.” Hendrix snorts. “Okay, so not exactly like we planned. But we can still make the best of it.”

Hopping up on the counter beside him, I take a sip of my wine and groan in delight.

“This is our trip. It’s Christmas, and I refuse to let him ruin it,” I announce firmly.

“This is Wilder we’re talking about. He always gets what he wants.”

“Trust me, I know.” I know more than he could ever understand. “But we don’t have to let him. Not this time.”

Hendrix lets out a huge sigh before downing the rest of his wine.

Unease washes through me. I’m really not sure alcohol is the best answer in this situation.

“What time are the groceries arriving?”

“About thirty minutes,” I say after checking the time. “Are we still ordering takeout?”

We had planned all this out, but our wildcard out in the living room might not agree.

“This is our trip,” Hendrix says, stealing my words from earlier. “We do it how we want to do it. He either toes the line, or he can leave.”

I suck in a breath, shocked to hear such firm words leaving his lips.

Hendrix might often feel exasperated by his twin brother, but it’s not very often he voices it. Generally speaking, he’s happier just following along instead of being the one making the rules.

“Okay, then,” I agree, taking another sip of my wine. “Despite the obvious issue, this place is perfect.”

A small smile plays on Hendrix’s lips and butterflies take flight in my stomach. I love that smile on him, the happiness in his eyes.

Yes, this trip might have taken an unexpected turn, but we’re still going to make the best of it.

Leaning over, I press a kiss to his cheek before hopping down and announcing, “I’m going to unpack.”

“I can take the floor if you don’t want⁠—”

“Rix,” I snap, cutting him off. “I’d never make you sleep on the floor, and you know it.”

I shoot him a smile over my shoulder before rushing through the living room where Wilder is on his cell and shutting myself in the bedroom.

Dropping onto the end of the bed, I lower my head into my hands and let out a long sigh.

How is this happening?

I’ve done everything I can to avoid Wilder since that Halloween party. How am I now stuck here with him for the next five days?

It’s got disaster written all over it.

Hendrix can’t find out what happened. He’d never forgive me.

The delivery person knocks on the door a while later, and Hendrix calls that he’s got it. Trusting him to put the groceries away, I continue hanging my up clothes.

I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize that someone has joined me until a rush of hot air tickles over my neck.

“What the hell are you doing?” I whisper-hiss as I attempt to put some distance between us.

In doing so, I collide with the freestanding wardrobe, causing it to bang against the wall.

“You okay, Elle?” Hendrix bellows through the cabin.

My heart jumps into my throat as I glare pure death at Wilder.

All he does is smirk.

It’s like he doesn’t care about getting caught.

Maybe he doesn’t.

I’ve known him almost all my life, and I can count on one hand the number of times he’s second-guessed his actions.

He’s more of a dive-in-and-deal-with-the-consequences-later kind of guy.

The total opposite to me and Hendrix.

“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll be out in a second,” I call back.

I take a step, ready to remove myself from this situation, but Wilder isn’t having any of it.

His hand wraps around my hip, and he pushes me back against the wall.

“You need to stop this,” I demand, although it doesn’t come out as strong as I was hoping for.

“You’re lying,” he whispers, leaning in close enough for his nose to brush mine. “Every time you look at me, all you can picture is that night.”

My breathing becomes more and more erratic, and my body burns red hot.

Damn him.

“You don’t need to agree. I can read it in your body. It’s calling to me. You remember how good it felt. You want more.”

“No,” I argue, for all the good it’ll do.

His smirk turns wild, his eyes glittering with excitement.

“You’re a really shitty liar, Rebel. But do you know what I’m good at?”

I don’t respond. I can’t. I’m locked in his stare and totally under his spell again.

This is bad. Really fucking bad.

“Following through on promises. And I promise that before this trip is over, I’ll have you screaming my name.”

He disappears almost as suddenly as he arrived, leaving me slumped against the wall with my chest heaving and my head spinning.

Oh my god.

This is a disaster of epic proportions.

Grabbing my pajamas, I dart into the bathroom and have a very fast, very cold shower in the hope of banishing the lingering feelings Wilder dragged up with his little impromptu visit.

Sadly, it does very little, and I’m still a riot of emotions as I return to the kitchen, where Hendrix has finished putting everything away.

“Hey, have you seen Wilder?”

“N-no. He was on the couch.”

Hendrix shrugs. “He must have gone exploring,” he says nonchalantly. He’s more than aware of what his brother is like. Wilder wandering off isn’t anything out of the ordinary. “I’ve ordered dinner; it’s twenty minutes away.”

“Then I guess we know when he’s going to return,” I deadpan, accepting a glass of chilled white wine from Hendrix.

The second I step out of the kitchen, I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

I was hoping that this vacation would be the epitome of relaxation, but only an hour in and I’m tenser than I remember being in a long time.

I slow to a stop as I step into the open-plan living and dining area of the cabin, debating my options.

It might be ridiculous, but I don’t want to sit where Wilder is going to be sleeping. In the end, I opt for the chair that allows me to take in both the lights twinkling outside and the open fire that someone has already started.

I want to say it was Hendrix, but I know better. He was too busy with the shopping. Wilder did this, and I hate that it makes me soften a little toward him.

Hendrix joins me with a bottle of beer and doesn’t hesitate to drop himself onto the couch.

“Ahhh,” he sighs as he picks his feet up and stretches his long legs out. They’d reach well over the end of the rest if he were to fully lie down. “At least he’ll be uncomfortable as fuck out here,” Hendrix mutters with a smirk before taking a pull on his beer.

“You’re mean.”

His eyes find mine. “You know the alternative,” he warns.

“Like sleeping out on the deck?” I ask with a smirk, making my best friend laugh.

“I want to say I’m surprised, but really, we should have seen something like this coming. Our plans were too perfect not to be ruined.”

The fire crackles, the scent of Christmas fills the air, and twinkling lights surround us.

Warmth and happiness spread through me, even if they are tainted with a little bit of apprehension for what the next few days might hold.

“I’d agree if we’d had a flat on the way up or run out of gas. But adding an extra person to the trip was not on my radar.”

“It’ll be fine. He’ll probably spend most of the time out looking for trouble, like he is now.”

“Is there any to find?” I ask. “The closest store is almost an hour away.”

“It’s Wilder. If anyone can find trouble, it’s him.”

Unease twists me up inside.

Wilder doesn’t need to go anywhere to find trouble. It’s right here. Right under this roof.

Hendrix studies me and I wince, hating what he might see in my expression.

“Is everything okay? You seem a little on edge.”

I force a smile onto my face. “It’s just not what I was expecting. I was prepared for it just to be me and you.”

Hendrix and I live together. Sure, our house has a room for Wilder too, but he’s usually at the football house living his best life. Most of the time, it’s just the two of us.. Being with him… it’s when I’m at my happiest. He’s always been my savior, my solace. My person.

What happened with Wilder all those weeks ago, it… it woke something up inside of me, I guess.

Sure, I’ve always had feelings for Hendrix. What red-blooded female wouldn’t? He’s hot and sweet. The most loyal and trustworthy friend that exists.

Almost to the point of being too good to be true.

But I’ve never really considered acting on my feelings.

How could I when doing something about it could ruin everything?

But those few minutes with Wilder made something shift…

What if it can be that good with Hendrix?

What if we’ve been withholding something from each other that we could have been indulging in all this time?

What if⁠—

“There’s nothing we can’t do just because Wilder is here,” Hendrix promises me, making my brain momentarily misfire.