Holiday Hostilities (Cyclones Christmas, #2)

by Katie Bailey

“If you wanted to get my attention, you could have just said hi.” The deep, rich timbre of his voice is unsettlingly familiar, yet completely foreign at the same time.

She’s cute when she’s mad. Not that I’d ever tell her that.

How, underneath all the banter and sparring, I was always kind of obsessed with the fire in her eyes.

“I hate you.” “You know what they say, don’t you? ‘Hate is much closer to love than indifference.’ Which means you practically love me.” Her cheeks flare an entirely new, quite pretty, shade of maroon. “In your dreams, Marino!” And, purely for scientific purposes (AKA to see if I can make those cheeks darken to an even deeper red), I wink at her. “Every night, Lil Griz.” Like I said, when in doubt, act like a jackass.

The door finally swings open to reveal Aaron in the entryway, smiling like a total ass-hat (though he does, unfortunately, have a very cute ass-hat smile).

“Well, you look beautiful in my beautiful home,” he drawls.

I meet her eyes. “I remember everything about you, Olivia. Every last detail.”

But that’s not exactly true. I like Olivia, always have. I just really like getting a rise out of her.

“Stop swooning, you madwoman!” I hiss under my breath. “They’re going to pull you aside and search your bag if you keep falling over your feet like that.” Jing promptly straightens to her full and tiny height. “Good thinking. I will swoon inwardly instead.”

“Sit your ass in the chair, Marino.” I sit my ass in the chair. “Good boy.”

“The only thing I hate about you, Olivia, is having to be around you and not being able to do this.”

Because I kissed Olivia Griswold, and instead of punching me in the face, she kissed me back.

“They can exist together, the before and the after, and both be equally true. It’s okay to have complicated, mixed feelings.”

Stop flirting with me, Marino. No.

And right there, in the darkness, I realize with startling clarity that I have, indeed, fallen head over heels in love with her.

“I love her. I’m hopelessly, completely in love with her. I think I might have always loved her.”