Tangled in Tinsel (a holidates series)

“Are you having fun?” my sister snarks, knowing my answer as she raises her phone for yet another selfie of us to put on the ‘Gram.

“Define fun.” I chuckle, taking another sip of the cheap champagne.

I look around at all the people dressed to the nines, here in this damn ballroom ready to greet the New Year, and I’m still stuck on this year. I should’ve said no to this stupid party when my sister forced it on me. But I was desperate to get them off my mind.

Because that’s where Alec, Reed, Jace, and Cole have been. The only place actually, because after I sent the “I quit” text, there’s been nothing but radio silence.

Why did I do that? It was symbolic really. It’s not like I work for them, but I also can’t work with them anymore. That would be torture.

God, is it too much to expect for them to disregard what I’m saying on the surface and focus on what they should psychically know? I laugh to myself, taking another sip of my drink before placing it on the cocktail table I’m standing next to.

My sister rubs her shoulder against mine.

“Buck up. At least your date is adorable. He even bought an Architectural Digest to learn about all the dumb shit you’re interested in.”

I shrug, scrunching my nose. She shoves my shoulder playfully.

“You’re such a bitch, Sam. Not every guy has three friends he’ll let fuck you. And you never know, maybe he’s good and hung.”

Gross.

“I have zero interest in fucking him, Eleanor.” I narrow my eyes on her. “You didn’t tell him I would when you set us up, did you?”

Her mouth drops open. “What kind of person do you think I am?”

“The kind you are. I’m going to kill you.”

She laughs. “I said you were adventurous. And you are…” She gives me a knowing look. “Plus, I peeped at his Instagram. He has some fine-ass friends. You could do a little product comparison.”

She’s wagging her eyebrows, but I’m shaking my head.

“Oh my god. I hate you. I am not going to fuck Cole just so I can compare him to Jace. You are truly feral.”

She deadpans. Staring at me deeply, lifting her glass to her shiny red lips before she smirks.

“Your date’s name is Christopher.”

My eyes grow wide as my lips press together to hold back my smile. Shit. I totally said Cole. But I scoff, trying to play it cool.

“What? That’s what I said.”

Her long fingernail jabs my bare shoulder. “No, you said Cole…as in Cole who spit on your—”

I shove her drink against her lips forcing liquid down her throat, making her choke and laugh while swatting me away.

“I’m pressing charges,” she coughs out, making me laugh.

“Fuck,” I breathe out roughly. “I’m so fucked. I’m literally always thinking about them. It’s so embarrassing to be the girl hung up on the guy who doesn’t like her back.”

“Four guys.”

“Okay,” I bark.

Her bottom lip pops out. And I shrug before looking over my shoulder for our dates.

“Where did they go to get us drinks?”

“Who cares? Don’t deflect. I say just text them. Do a group chat. Since ya did a group fuck.”

“No,” I say, shaking my head and staring back at her like she’s lost it. “It was for the weekend. I need to get over it.”

“Come on.” She laughs. “You’re being ridiculous. People have polyamorous relationships all the time. You’re not that unique.”

My brows draw together. “Yeah, on communes…where they grow corn that weird children live in.”

She laughs at my movie reference, and I follow, rubbing my lips together before she takes my hand.

“I just think you should go with your heart, wherever it takes you.”

I squeeze her hand and smile.

“You know, sometimes you’re halfway decent, and I almost like you.”

My sister’s face stills, eyes growing wide.

“What?” I tease. “This is your one compliment a year.”

Her smile starts to grow and something about it makes my stomach start to flip. Her eyes dart back to mine, holding me hostage as she says, “If you have ever taken any advice from me, now is the time.”

My voice sounds as terrified as I am as I draw out, “Whyyy?”

“Because they’re here,” she whispers. “All four of them.”

My face swings to look over my shoulder, but she nearly slaps it back to hers.

“This is your moment. Say what you want, bitch. You want them? Then get them. But make them work for it.”

I’m nodding. But at what? Because I don’t even know what she said. My head is exploding. And my mouth is so dry that I can barely swallow. I wish I could say something cute and dainty like butterflies swarmed in my stomach, but this feels more like my heart is about to drop out of my ass.

“Pay attention,” she hisses.

Oh god, I can’t listen to her. She’s the same person that convinced me to dress as a Dalmatian to her Cruella for three years in a row when we were kids.

I’m panicking, still in my head, as I whisper, “Cruella wanted to skin the puppies.”

Eleanor points her finger in my face.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Listen to me. You are dating Christopher—he’s fucking delicious and does things to you that not even they can imagine.”

“What? Wait. Why?”

But she doesn’t answer as she spins me around laughing, eyes glancing, head tilting, like I should do the same. So I do, but it sounds more like I’m crying.

What the fuck is happening?

“Are you okay?” comes from my side as Christopher walks back holding two drinks.

Oh god.

I swipe a champagne from him, rushing out, “I’m so sorry for what’s about to happen,” before I down the glass and switch it out with the other one in his hand.

He’s staring at me, probably about to ask what the hell is wrong with me, when we’re suddenly surrounded. At least, that’s what it feels like. Because my favorite set of eyes…all four of them…are staring directly at me.

There’s a whole party happening around me. People laughing, dancing in ballgowns, and drinking champagne as they ready for the countdown. But I’m standing in the spotlight of their attention. Unable and unwilling to break away.

Christopher clears his throat, extending his hand to Reed.

“Hi, I’m Christopher, Samantha’s—”

But Reed cuts him off with a singular, “Nope.”

I smirk, putting my hands on my hips.

“What are you guys doing here? I’m on a date.”

Christopher raises his hand as if to claim the title, but Jace lowers it for him.

Alec crosses his arms, glancing at the guys before he narrows his eyes on me.

“You left us. We want an explanation.”

Heat rises through my body. Are they fucking kidding?

“Wait a minute. How did you know I was here?”

Alec grins, looking at Reed who lifts his chin toward my sister, saying, “I follow her on Instagram.”

Damn you, Elle. I will kill her later.

Alec’s unwavering glare calls to me, locking my gaze back on him.

“Well?” he presses.

“Well, what?” I snap back.

His giant body feels foreboding as he takes a step closer.

“We left our annual New Year’s party to come here. We left a hundred or so guests, for an answer, gorgeous, and we’re not leaving until we get one.”

I scowl, shooting my words with impeccable aim. “You didn’t ask me to stay. It’s that simple.”

Reed steps in closer. “What if we ask you to leave?”

I’m so mad. This is ridiculous. Horns start to sporadically blow around us, making me raise my voice.

“You all but did ask me to leave.” My eyes connect with Cole’s. “You walked me to the door. Told me to leave the shirt on the bed. Nobody said anything when I said there wasn’t a reason for me to stay…that was your cue, dickheads.”

Christopher steps in, turning toward me, trying for privacy.

“Is there something I should know? Did you date one of these guys?” He chuckles nervously, adding, “Or a couple of them because they said we…”

I brush my newly acquired hot girl revenge bangs from my face as I let out a whoosh of a breath.

“Not now, Christopher. You’ll need a drink…or two, before I explain.”

Reed smirks, pushing poor Christopher back to his place.

“Christopher, get fucked. Also, I like your hair, sunshine.”

A growl rips from my throat. “I don’t care.” Lies.

Reed grins with that “up to trouble” look he gets as he keeps his eyes on me, raising his voice.

“Christopher, I can understand your confusion. Let me explain for our Samantha. I don’t know if you know, but my sunshine here is a huge slut. Massive.” Reed smiles down at me, and I try my level best not to do it back. So he keeps talking, “She’s got a body count like Mortal Combat. We’d probably be hard-pressed to fit them all in this room. So four guys was a cakewalk. The only problem is we’re not done.”

Chris pipes up to defend my honor, saying, “Don’t speak to her like that,” but my sister pats his shoulder, interjecting, “It’s all right, Chrissy, she likes it. And him.”

I shake my head, confused as I push Reed back. Did he say, we’re not done?

My hands are suddenly sweaty, so I wipe them down my cobalt blue gown before I swallow and try to put some heat behind my words.

“I answered your question. Now answer mine. Why are you here?”

Reed draws his bottom lip between his teeth before I feel his fingers lift my chin.

“We did. You weren’t listening. We’re asking you to leave with us.”

My heart is beating too fast. And I’m feeling dizzy. Or maybe I just wish I’d pass out to escape this moment.

Jace steps in, blocking Christopher, who tries to interject again, drawing my attention, but my sister smacks his shoulder.

“Read the room, dummy. This isn’t your moment. You are the supporting cast. Don’t worry, I’ll let you hit it later. Because I think that’s my date over there making out with that guy.”

We all look in the direction she’s pointing before Jace places his hand on my waist, his soulful eyes doing all the damage he’s intending.

“We like you, Samantha. And we want you. We’re fucking idiots for not telling you that, but there was shit we needed to work out. Negotiations so to speak.”

I brush Jace’s hand away, looking at each of these gorgeous tuxedo-clad men. I stop on Cole, noticing the faint bruise around his eye. His jaw tenses, but he winks.

“What can I say, negotiations were intense.” He starts toward me. “Because they were about something we all feel equally passionate about…someone we all want very much.”

I stare up at his face, at the stubble on his chin, wishing I could feel it between my legs. The truth finally bubbles over.

“But I don’t want another weekend. I want a chance at forever. And that’s unrealistic.”

“Wait…she dated all of them…at the same time?” Christopher blurts.

“Shhh,” my sister counters. “Supporting character, remember?”

People begin to cheer, noisemakers swirling, the sound bouncing off the walls as they yell ten.

“We were one weekend and one weekend only,” I yell. “That’s what you said.”

Nine.

Reed comes to my side, taking my hand. “Sunshine, when are you going to realize we always want what you want?”

Eight.

Jace sweeps my hair off my shoulder, staring back with pleading eyes. “Say yes, cutie.”

Seven.

I’m shaking my head. “This will be doomed from the start. What are we supposed to do? All date?”

Six.

Alec cradles my face. “Why not? We’re in to see where it goes if you are.”

Five.

My heart is racing. The guys are surrounding me. Waiting for me to say something.

Four.

But if I say yes—it’s too complicated. Too hard to navigate in the real world. Sooner or later, someone will get jealous. Or what if I fall for one of them more than the others?

Three.

I don’t want to have my heart broken. Let alone by four guys.

Two

But if I say no…

…I wake up tomorrow without them.

“Yes. I say yes.”

One.

I yell it over the music, barely able to get it out before I’m attacked. Balloons and confetti fall around us as kisses cover my face, neck, and hands. I laugh, trying to get my bearings, and like the anchor he is, Cole puts his hand around my throat, locking my eyes on his.

“The shiner was the price I paid to be first.”

His lips crash down on mine, and everything around us stops existing. And right there at that moment, surrounded by the guys I’m falling for, my tomorrow begins.