A Mate For Christmas

Chapter 3.

Chapter 3: Unspoken

I wake up the next morning feeling strange, like I’ve just woken from a dream I can’t remember but that somehow feels too real to ignore. The events of last night are still fresh in my mind—the kisses under the mistletoe, the unexpected trip to the frozen lake, the way Logan’s hand felt in mine as he helped me steady myself on the ice.

I pull the blanket tighter around me, curling into a ball and burying my face in the pillow. What was that all about? Why did the Silver triplets suddenly decide to pay attention to me?

And why do I keep thinking about Seth’s kiss?

I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts swirling around in my brain. The last thing I need is to get tangled up in feelings for them—especially not when the whole situation is so confusing.

Mia’s voice cuts through the quiet of the morning as she knocks on my door. “Ava, you up yet? You’re gonna be late for school!”

I groan. “I don’t feel like going.”

“You think I do?” she calls back, sounding exasperated. “Get up, Ava. The Silver triplets kissed you last night. You can’t just ignore that. You owe me the details.”

I roll my eyes, but I know she’s right. I can’t hide from this. As much as I’d like to pretend it didn’t happen, I have to face it.

I throw the covers off and get out of bed, moving through my morning routine like a zombie. The thought of seeing Logan, Derek, and Seth again makes my stomach flip, but at least I’ll have Mia by my side. I can’t imagine what it would be like to face them alone.

I’m barely dressed when Mia barges in, her eyes wide with excitement. “Okay, spill. What happened last night? Did you kiss them back? Were there fireworks?”

I shoot her a glare. “No, there were no fireworks. Just three guys who—” I hesitate. “They were just messing around. They were probably drunk or something.”

Mia crosses her arms, clearly unconvinced. “You think they were drunk? Those guys don’t drink. They’re not like everyone else.”

I roll my eyes and grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder. “Yeah, well, I’m not like everyone else either. I’m going to class.”

Mia follows me out the door, still pestering me. “Come on, Ava. You can’t just act like nothing happened. You’ve got three of the most popular guys in school interested in you. You’re not going to act like it’s nothing, right?”

I don’t answer. I don’t even know what I’d say. What am I supposed to do with this sudden attention? The more I try to brush it off, the more I find myself thinking about Logan’s smile, Derek’s teasing, and Seth’s kiss.

The day drags on, each class more difficult than the last. I can’t focus on anything, my mind always drifting back to the Silver triplets. Every time I walk down the hall, I half-expect to see them waiting for me. But they don’t.

Lunchtime comes, and I sit with Mia, picking at my salad and trying to act normal. But even the cafeteria seems too noisy today. Everywhere I look, people are gossiping about last night’s party.

“So, what’s the deal with you and the triplets?” Mia asks, raising an eyebrow.

I stare at her, feeling like the walls are closing in. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.” She leans forward. “You can’t keep pretending nothing’s going on. I saw the way they looked at you. And I saw the way you looked at them.”

I groan and push my tray away. “I don’t know, Mia. It’s all too much. They’re just… I don’t even know them.”

“Exactly. And that’s the fun part.” Mia grins. “You get to figure them out. You get to see what they really want. I mean, they kissed you, Ava. They don’t do that for just anyone.”

I want to argue, but I can’t. Part of me agrees with her. I’ve never seen them act that way with anyone else.

As if on cue, I see them across the cafeteria. Logan, Derek, and Seth are sitting at their usual spot, their heads together, talking. I quickly look away, my heart skipping a beat.

“Are they staring at you?” Mia asks, her voice filled with curiosity.

“I don’t know,” I mutter, staring at my salad like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

“They’re totally staring at you,” Mia whispers. “You’re not getting away with this, Ava. Not today.”

“Shut up,” I mutter. “It’s just… weird.”

Mia laughs. “Weird? That’s one way to put it. But I get it. This isn’t like anything you’ve ever dealt with. But trust me, it’s not as complicated as you think. Just talk to them. See where it goes.”

I nod, but deep down, I feel more uncertain than ever. What if they don’t actually want me? What if they’re just bored, looking for someone to toy with?

The bell rings, signaling the end of lunch, and I drag myself to my next class. But as I walk down the hall, I run into Logan. He’s leaning against the lockers, looking casual, like he’s waiting for something. Or someone.

I freeze.

“Ava,” he says, his voice soft, almost like he’s trying to sound casual, but I can hear the tension in it.

“Logan,” I reply, my throat tight.

He smiles, and it’s warm, but there’s a certain unreadable quality to his expression. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Uh, sure,” I say, my heart racing.

We move away from the bustling hallway, finding a quieter corner near the windows. Logan leans against the wall, his arms crossed, but he’s still watching me carefully.

“So,” he starts, his tone light, but I can tell he’s trying to gauge my reaction. “About last night…”

I feel a nervous knot twist in my stomach. “What about it?”

He shrugs. “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t… uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot or anything.”

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. His words are unexpectedly considerate, and it throws me off.

“I’m not uncomfortable,” I finally manage to say. “Just… confused. I didn’t expect you guys to do that.”

“I know,” Logan says, his gaze never leaving mine. “But I want you to know that it wasn’t just… random. It was real.”

“Real?” I repeat, trying to understand. “What do you mean?”

His lips curl into a half-smile. “I mean, it wasn’t a joke, Ava. We like you. Derek and Seth and I… we’ve been talking about you.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Talking about me?”

He nods. “Yeah. We don’t usually do this. We don’t usually… let ourselves get distracted by girls. But you’re different. You’re not like anyone else we know.”

I swallow hard, my mind reeling. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything right now,” Logan says gently. “I just wanted to make sure you understood. We’re not playing games here.”

“I’m not sure what to do with that,” I admit. “I don’t even know what’s going on. I mean, you’re the Silver triplets. Everyone thinks you’re perfect.”

Logan’s smile fades slightly, and he takes a step closer. “We’re not perfect, Ava. We’re just… guys trying to figure things out, same as everyone else.”

I blink, feeling a mix of emotions—confusion, uncertainty, and maybe even a little hope. “And what are you trying to figure out?”

He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he looks at me with something in his eyes that feels a little too intense. “You. I’m trying to figure you out.”

I feel a shiver run down my spine. There’s something about the way he looks at me that makes me feel like I’m standing on the edge of something I can’t predict. Something that could change everything.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” I say softly.

“You don’t have to be ready yet,” Logan says, his voice steady. “But maybe we could start with just… being friends.”

I glance at him, unsure whether I believe him. “Friends?”

“Yeah,” he says, giving me a playful wink. “Friends. For now.”

As he walks away, I’m left standing there, my mind buzzing with questions.