Snow was finally starting to fall outside as Calum flipped through all of the Christmas specials playing on TV. "All of these are trash," he sighed, going to throw down the remote.
"Wait! Rudolph's on!" Luke squealed, lunging for the remote to change the channel.
Michael scoffed, giving his best friend a sharp look as he drained his cup of eggnog. Ashton had gone heavy with the booze this year and everyone was nearly wasted. "You're such a child, Luke. You still like that movie?"
I chuck the pillow next to me at his face. "Not all of us are complete assholes like you," I snapped. "Let him have his fun."
"Now, is that how you're going to talk to your future husband?" Michael drawled with a lazy grin.
I rolled my eyes, leaning back against the foot of the couch as I crossed my arms over my chest. Arrogant, self-absorbed jerk. "How many times have I told you that nothing is ever going to happen between us? I don't date pricks."
Another quick grin. "Say what you want, Y/N, I know you find me hopelessly attractive."
"Hopelessly idiotic, maybe," Calum grumbled. Ashton snorted from his spot perched on the edge of Cal's chair. Michael shot them both a dark look.
Luke frowned as he looked out the window, a string of the lights we'd hung along the gutters a few hours ago hanging half-off the house. "The lights fell down," he mumbled.
I sighed as I got to my feet, shoving the blanket off my lap. "I'll fix it."
Snow crunched under my boots as I walked over to the end of the house to adjust the part on the edge. The small ladder I lugged from the garage left a long trail in the powdery white, following my path. I stepped up onto the first rung, the cold metal biting into my hands. Shivering, I stretched up to reach the string of lights, trying to pull it tight across the gutter.
As I went up onto my tiptoes to wrap my fingers around the thin wire, I lost my balance and fell backward, my hand still caught up in the lights. The Christmas lights corded tight around my limbs, binding my wrists behind my back.
I swore under my breath, glancing up hopefully at the sound of approaching footsteps.
Michael gave me a slow, self-satisfied smile. "Oh I must have been good this year."
I glared back. "Just help me get down."
He shook his head, sliding his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "Why would I do that? This is quite possibly the best day of my life. Santa Claus got my wish right!"
"This is what you wished for? You're even more messed up than I thought."
"I guess that's supposed to say something, then," he said as he examined the string of lights wrapped around me. Michael kneeled in the snow next to me as he quickly untangled the wire, sighing as he undid the last knot to free me.
I stood up so fast I almost fell over again, nearly tripping over myself in an attempt to put as much space between me and Michael as possible.
"Oh please, I'm not gonna bite," he said as he rolled his eyes. A sly smirk crossed his face as an afterthought. "Well, not unless you ask me to."
"You're a menace to society," I muttered as I started back into the house, abandoning the ladder in the front yard.
"What, no thank-you?" he called after me.
"I don't make a habit of thanking my sworn enemies," I yelled over my shoulder.
I slammed the front door shut behind me, so loudly I almost missed when he said softly behind me, "One day, I'll make you mine."
