Selfless: Book Two (bxb) ✔️

Chapter Three: Christmas With The Villans

Cade Windsor

"I don't know if I can do this, Ace," I whispered as we walked off the plane. "They're going to see right through me. I'm going to screw this up. Three weeks. We have to do this for three weeks. Going out on dates is different than spending Christmas with your family."

Ace held out his hand. "If you want to go home at any time, we will go home." He stopped, making me do the same. I turned to face him. "We've gone through everything possible. Just cozy up to me, smile at me, and I'll do the same. I can even do the talking. My family is very respectful of boundaries. If you need a break, you can hang out in my old bedroom. Which we are sharing. By the way."

My cheeks heated. "We're sharing a bed?"

He waved me off like it was no big deal. "We've slept in the same bed plenty of times."

Right, except I was usually drunk, or we simply fell asleep. This was a plan. I loved plans. But I didn't love plans that involved lying to Ace's family. They were going to find out, and even if they didn't, how could I ever show my face around them when we broke off our fake engagement?

Hell, how was I going to recover after this?

But if I knew one thing, Ace would take me home the minute I asked. I agreed to this because I did like the idea of getting away from New York. There was no way my parents could show up and try to get to me.

Yet, that was another thing I struggled with. Ace's family had to know what my brothers and I were put through. I already struggled with maintaining eye contact—I most certainly didn't want to see pity when they stared back at me.

It was the worst, and all three of us kept going through it to this day.

Ace's hand was still outstretched toward me, and I realized he wanted me to take it. We'd gone on a couple of outings prior to flying to North Carolina. We were photographed—Ace changed his profile pictures...everywhere. It seemed like we were genuinely a couple.

And we weren't.

When this was all over, it was going to hurt like hell. But I had no one to blame except myself. Ace had no idea what I felt for him. How could he? I would never tell him. He believed he was trying to help me, and he was. The media stopped going after stories of me about my abuse and moved on to my engagement.

Sighing, I grabbed his hand. I actively had to attempt not to shiver at the warmth. Why did he have to be the one my heart decided to choose? Every time I saw him smile at me, or looked into his eyes—mostly against my will—I melted all over again. It wasn't healthy. When this fake engagement ended, I would need time apart from him.

No matter how much I didn't want it.

I swore I only blinked, but when I did again, there was someone in front of me. I backed away—scattered away—from the unfamiliar boy. He frowned and slowly turned toward Ace. "I like this one."

Ace rolled his eyes. "No, Ethan." Oh, his brother. Right. "There is one who looks just like him somewhere behind us."

Ethan crossed his arms. "I don't want that one. I like this one."

"Should I be offended?" I heard Carter ask from behind me. "Because I'm a little offended."

He flicked his gaze behind me. "No." He smiled. "Ace has never brought anyone home before, and it's very entertaining. Oh! Alastair!" He disappeared quickly, and I spun around quickly enough to see him hug the soul from Alastair. "My favorite big brother."

Ethan was only twenty-three, to Ace being twenty-seven. I'd never asked much about his family prior to this visit because he had an amazing childhood. Maybe it was jealousy—I wasn't particularly sure, but I never asked. Ace didn't willingly share information anyway, and there was no need for me to dig further than what he offered.