Tatum buttoned up her long black coat, collected her baked goods and followed Lucy up the bricked path to the large door of the Auxiliary Hall. Christmas music poured out the front door, mixed with jingle bells and laughter.
“Sounds like the party’s already in full swing,” Lucy said as they walked inside.
Tatum followed, placing her desserts on one of the long covered buffet tables that lined the hall. She tried not to make eye contact with anyone, tried not to let her nerves take root. But she couldn’t exactly be antisocial at a social event.
“Can I take your coats?” Jared asked.
“Thanks.” Lucy shrugged out of hers.
“Tatum?” he asked.
“Thank you.” She slipped hers off and laid it over his arm.
He grinned, shaking his head. “Dean and Spencer are already at it, so you know.”
“At it?” she repeated, cocking a brow.
“Arguing. Over you.” Jared chuckled as he walked off.
She barely had time to process Jared’s comment before Lucy clapped her hands over her mouth, a strangled giggle spilling through her fingers.
Tatum grabbed her arm, following Lucy’s gaze. “Oh my God,” she said before bursting into laughter.
Something about a man in an ugly Christmas sweater was funny. But seeing two really manly men in skintight pom-pom-covered sweaters—Spencer’s was rigged with blinking lights—was beyond hilarious.
“Ugly Christmas sweater competition,” Dean explained. His navy blue sweater sported two of the scariest elves Tatum had ever seen. Their huge yellow button eyes, arched brows and creepy grins were certain to give kids nightmares. The fact that they were peeking around a sequined Christmas tree with pointy ice crystal ornaments only added to the whole disconcertingly ominous picture.
“You’re going to make kids afraid of Santa’s helpers,” Lucy said, smacking her brother. “Parents will be investing in therapy instead of building blocks.”
“What do you think?” Dean asked Tatum, pointing at his sweater.
Tatum grimaced. “I’m sort of creeped out.”
Dean laughed.
“Runner-up,” Spencer said. “But I’ll give you an A for effort.”
Tatum took in Spencer’s sweater. Dark green with wide red stitching at the collar and cuffs, a googly-eyed reindeer head smiled at her. Not only did the deer’s red nose glow brightly, but its antlers were decorated with pom-pom ornaments and lights that blinked rapidly. And when he turned around, the reindeer’s rear end was visible. Its white tail swayed side to side, like a dog when it’s happy.
“Nailed it,” Spencer said.
Tatum dissolved into laughter again.
“You haven’t seen Zach yet,” Lucy argued. “Now that he’s got Bianca’s help, he might just give you a run for your money.”
Spencer waved her words aside, his attention shifting to Tatum—a little too obviously for Tatum’s liking. If he kept looking at her like that, people would know there was something going on between them. It didn’t help that every time he looked at her like that, she immediately started thinking about what was going on between them. How incredible he was with his hands. And his mouth. His amazing rock-hard body. If she kept blushing, she’d be giving the whole town something to talk about.
“Where’s your sweater?” Dean asked.
“Didn’t get the memo,” Tatum said, tearing her gaze from Spencer’s. “Besides, you two... I can’t compete with...this.”
“Damn straight,” Dean agreed.
Tatum tried not to let the sea of faces distract her. She recognized quite a few, but there was no animosity. Maybe a little open staring. If she could relax a little, she might find she was among friends. After years of self-doubt and second-guessing, she needed to stop looking for reasons to let her insecurity rise up to gnaw at her insides.
“You look beautiful,” Spencer whispered.
When he’d made his way to her side, she wasn’t sure. But his heat—his scent—was pure distraction. The kind she didn’t want right now.