It Was Always You

Chapter Eleven

She quickly gathered them all together around the mantle of the fireplace making sure they were positioned right and with the right person. "Okay, everybody, get the partners going boy, girl, boy, girl-oh you know what I mean." She waves in her hand dramatically getting herself where she needed to be.

"I want to be first in line!" Selena quickly interjected as she placed herself at the edge of the mantle, pulling Ian just behind her as they faced Julie with huge smiles on their faces. Kristan then pulled Jared after to her to follow suit, leaving Mila just behind him and Evan behind her.

Evan put his hand carefully on her hip and the feeling of awareness was all she could think about as the heat seemed to reverberate her entire body. She couldn't seem to relax as she stood there in front of him, his body close to hers in an almost intimate way. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she stared at her mother with a strained smile.

Jared's movement of his body caught her attention. Turning towards him she faltered a bit not really noticing how tall he was being this close to him. She could smell the cologne he had chosen to wear. It wasn't heavy nor was it unpleasant. He smelled exactly as she imagined he would.

Woodsy and with a hint of musk.

She almost buried her nose in the back of his jacket and inhaled the scent but thankfully she stopped herself from that humiliation. She frowned when she also noticed how stiff he was standing there. She knew he wasn't pleased being here with her cousin. He was the one that had made that choice. He could have been here with her, and she wondered that if he had, if he would at least be enjoying himself just a little.

But then she noticed the cause for his stiffness, and she scowled.

Kristan was literally plastering her backside against his front, her ass fitting right where his crotch was and if she didn't know any better she would think she was starting to grind against him as well. That freaking brat.

Her anger started to rise within her and all she wanted to do was smack the girl right in her face for being so shameful with so many people around, especially family. It pissed her off even more to see that Jared wasn't doing anything about it. How could he just let her do that to him? It was damn near sexual assault!

He didn't have to deal with this kind of bullshit, doesn't matter how old she was or that it was going to hurt her feelings. But before Mila could step up and say anything that would embarrass her cousin in front of everyone, her mother yells out,

"Okay everyone! Smile!"

She quickly snaps back in her position and gives her mother a big smile even though it didn't reach her eyes at all. Julie doesn't take the shot as she stands there looking through the lens. She couldn't help noticing that Jared was stiff as her niece was provocatively pressed against him, Mila was forcing her smile, and Evan wouldn't stop staring at her daughter as if he still couldn't believe she was right there in front of him.

Selena and Ian seemed to be the only two who looked normal and happy.

After a few more tense seconds, she quickly takes the shot knowing she wasn't going to keep it. But as soon as the click sounded Jared instantly stepped away getting himself from the group at least five feet.

They were both driving him insane. Kristan pressing against him like that was causing him a panic attack, afraid that he was going to shove her to get her to back off. And then Mila made it even worse. He could smell her perfume, could feel the heat of her body practically against his back.