Elf Against the Wall: A Holiday Romantic Comedy (The Wynter Brothers Book 2)

Standing in the middle of Main Street, the first few flakes of white Christmas snow falling around him, Anderson was everything I’d always wanted—my Christmas dream.

And he hated me.

His entire family hated me. They were never going to forgive me.

Shoot, I wouldn’t. But I at least needed to apologize.

I stopped a few feet away from him, the snow and all the things unsaid a barrier between us.

“No wonder you hate the Murphys,” I joked weakly. “We really are out to screw you over.”

He crossed his arms.

My face fell.

“I am really sorry, Anderson,” I said lamely. “I don’t think that really cuts it, though. It doesn’t change anything or fix the past. I’d like to say I can do better in the future, but you’re probably tired of me by now.” Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “I made a lot of terrible decisions, but the one I’ll always regret the most is hurting you and throwing away the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Evie.” He took a step toward me. “Evie, no, I’m sorry I betrayed you. I had to pay off a debt.” He shook his head sadly. “It doesn’t matter. It’s just excuses.”

“You could have told me. I understand about owing people money.” I pulled at my mittens. “I still haven’t paid Sawyer back for groceries. I would have understood.”

“I owed Aaron a lot more than grocery money.” He gave me a wan smile.

“He helped a senior-dog rescue get one over on an insurance company!” Anderson’s sister cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted. “This man is a legend.”

“Elsa.” Anderson turned back to me. “I shouldn’t have sacrificed your brother like that. I know what he means to you. I’d go scorched-earth on anyone who did that to my sibling. I can’t blame you.”

“For senior dogs?” I scoffed. “Ian can handle it.”

“You were right, though,” he said, resigned. “I’m not a good person.”

“But I wasn’t,” I choked out. “You’re perfect. You’re the most perfect man in the world. You saw me for me. You saved my life. You fixed my window. You believed I was better than the family fuckup. Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe after Christmas, we could get coffee or something? Not at that place you hate and no candy canes—I think I’m getting a little tired of Christmas too.” The tears were rolling down my cheeks now. “I don’t want to lose you.”

I couldn’t read his expression.

“I can’t, Evie. I have another job booked. I’m leaving.”

“Oh.” My shoulders sagged. All the energy left my body, and I just felt so empty and cold. “Right. I guess real adults have work, don’t they?”

He didn’t say anything. Just turned and walked away.

“Have a good holiday,” I called after him.

“Have a nice life, Evie Murphy.” The words were almost lost on the wind.

I shuffled back to my siblings.

“What are you doing?” one of the triplets asked. They were all freaking out.

“He hates me,” I said, sobbing.

“Since when does Evie Murphy give up?” Henry smiled at me.

“I—” I looked back at Anderson, the dark figure retreating.

No, I wasn’t giving up.

“Evie Murphy goes down with the ship.” I wiped my eyes.

“Did you like it?” I yelled, racing back down the street.

He turned, a questioning look on his face.

“Did you like your present?” I added.

He shook his head

“Oh.” I stopped short.

“I didn’t open it,” he explained. “It’s not Christmas.”

“It is now.” I pointed at the clock on the city hall tower.

It was snowing harder now.

“You know, the funny thing is,” I called after him. “I think my father might have been right all these years about me not applying myself, about being a loser.”

“Don’t believe what he says about you, Evie.”

“I don’t want to give up on you. I know it’s stupid and delusional, but I want you. I want the farmhouse and the dogs and the holidays by the fire and the kids and the store. I know you hate me, and you’ll never really forgive me, but I’ll never give up on us. I love you. It’s so unfair how much I love you. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and it’s crazy because I know you loved me more than that, and I fucked it up.” I wiped at my wet face with my mitten. “You were right, Anderson. No one ever loved me like you did. And I wish…” The tears were freezing on my cheeks. “I really wish I hadn’t thrown it away.”

“Evie.” Anderson was there, gathering me in his arms. “I don’t hate you. I told you I love you. You and me? We were made for each other.” He shook me gently.

“Then why are you leaving?”

“Only because I can’t stand being near you but not being able to have you.” He cupped my face and wiped at my eyes. “I used to wish that I’d made better choices, been luckier, richer, but I wouldn’t change a thing, because if I had, then I wouldn’t have met you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I will never love anyone like I love you.”

“Are you sure you don’t hate me?” I warbled, not daring to believe it. Like my dream would get yanked away from me if I loved it too hard.

He leaned in, hesitated, then gave me a crooked smile. “What would it matter? Didn’t I tell you I never hated anyone like I did you?”

He closed the distance and kissed me then, not like he hated me but like he loved me, like he’d always love me, like he’d come home for Christmas.

The triplets cheered, and Henry whistled as Anderson spun me around in the snow, like he’d never let me go.

The Wynter siblings scoffed.

“You sure this is a good idea?” one of them muttered.

“Of course it’s not,” Sawyer deadpanned. “Evie makes terrible decisions. This is going to blow up in our faces, but on the bright side, we now have a ringer for family hockey matches!”

“You play hockey?” Elsa screeched, racing toward Sawyer.

“Goalie.”

“Me too! Oh my god, finally, a sane woman in this town.” They fist-bumped.

“Look, I know that my family really screwed over your brother,” I said to Anderson’s less enthusiastic siblings, “but I promise I won’t ever hurt him. In fact, I’m going to come to Idaho with him to be a supportive girlfriend.”

“No, you’re not,” he said quickly.

“Fine. I will knit you socks while I wait. He doesn’t know it,” I whispered to his brothers, “but I’m going to show up anyway because I’m unemployed and homeless.”

“Real catch there, Anderson.” Hudson smirked.

Anderson kissed me.

“Well, I’m not unemployed,” Declan declared. “I have to go to my holiday shift at the emergency room. Sawyer, you’re my ride.”

“And I thought my job sucked,” Jake muttered.

I grabbed Anderson’s hand. “I want to see you open your Christmas present.”

He kissed me. “No, I want to see you open your Christmas present.”

“You got me a Christmas present!”

“Do not scream like that,” he said, wincing.

“You mean unless I’m riding your dick?” I poked him in the chest while my sisters shrieked.

“I’m going to make you walk.”