Finding Our Way (Finding our Way 1)

He rolls us over and kisses a small trail from my earlobe to my collarbone. I fall asleep with a smile on my face.

~~~~~

After Bryce’s declaration, my nerves are in a constant state of flutter. No one around me seems to notice though. Our little group continues our routine. Breakfast, skiing, naps, and games. Bryce still slips into my room every night and leaves by four am. We’ve spent countless hours making out, but he always stops me when I try to go further. Instead he holds me tight kissing me until I’m breathless and continuously whispering sweets things in my ear until I fall asleep.

Today is actually Christmas Day and for some reason, the guys left unusually early to run an errand. I stayed in my pajamas watching old movies with Mom and Sheila. It was almost noon when I jumped in the shower and then got ready for pictures. No matter where we were, family photos were a must on Christmas day. I hear a few grunts and run into the main living room.

“What the hell?” I yell as the four men tried unsuccessfully to position a nine-foot tree into a stand.

“Loverboy here insisted on a tree! We’ve been all over Colorado trying to find this shit,” Nate cusses as he tries to fix the alignment.

“Fucking dipshit,” Bryce hisses and when his eyes meet mine, they grow wide. His lips curl in a lopsided grin. His heated gaze sweeps over my body.

“Devon? You think you could put on some clothes?” my dad practically growls.

I look down and jump, turning away. My robe covers me, but it’s still short. Running back to my room, I yell, “To the right! It’s still crooked!”

My brother cusses again and Bryce laughs.

I choose to wear a gold sweater over black leggings and head back to help.

“Mom, what can I do?” I ask, walking into the kitchen.

“You can get in here and talk to Sheila and me now,” she whispers.

“What about?”

“How about the fact that in the twenty-seven years I’ve been married to your dad, and had two children, he’s never brought me a fully decorated tree. Much less to a rented condo! Bryce orchestrated all of this.”

“What?”

“She’s right, Devon, Bryce is smitten. This is all for you.” Sheila comes up and puts her arm around my waist.

“This isn’t for me, this is for us, all of us.”

“No, dear, Nate was right earlier. We all know how Bryce feels about you now. He’s absolutely crazy for you. Your dad may be feeling a different way, but Dave and I are thrilled.”

“Sheila, you may be looking into this a bit more than necessary. We had a rough spot, but it’s done. We’re friends again.”

“Ummhmm, dear, you tell yourself that. He’s going full force. Be prepared.” Sheila winks at me and walks in to the living room.

My mom watches with a smile on her face and tears pool in her eyes.

“What the hell?” I groan. “Whose side are you on?”

“There’s no side here. He knows where I stand, and your father is having a hard time with this as well as Nate.”

“Hard time with what?” I feel like I’m in an alternate universe.

“You’ll see. Baby, you’ll see.”

I start to demand she answer me but Bryce walks into the kitchen and my breathing stops. He’s dressed head to toe in black, with hair wet from the shower. The growth on his face is trimmed and his cologne fills the room. I want to jump in his arms and run at the same time. As soon as

he sees me, he makes a beeline and lifts me into his arms.

“Merry Christmas, Devon.” His kiss surprises me but I sink into him. Our lips touch briefly, allowing just a taste of each other before my brother barges in and hits him on the back of the head.

“Fucking not here! Told you—she’s still my baby sister. You’re looking for a beat down,” Nate chides and pushes us back from one another.