For　the　past　few　days；　they’d　spent　every　waking　hour　with　the　family：　Pete’s　former　U。S。　senator　dad；　Chappy；　his　Boston　debutante　mom；　Jane；　his　three　older　brothers；　their　wives；　and　assorted　cherubic　nephews　and　nieces　whom　Blair　couldn’t　even　try　to　keep　straight。　It　sounded　like　a　nightmare；　but　it　was　actually　heavenly。　Mr。　Carlson　was　barrel…chested　and　red…faced　and　told　corny　jokes　in　a　way　that　made　everyone　crack　up；　and　his　mom　would　randomly　recite　Anne　Sexton　poetry　at　the　dinner　table　without　being　drunk。　The　brothers　were　good…looking；　friendly；　and　smart；　their　wives　were　polished　and　weling；　and　even　the　kids　were　polite。　So　far；　it　had　been　a　perfect　holiday。

And　it　was　about　to　get　even　better。　To　celebrate　the　New　Year；　Chappy　had　booked　the　entire　family　at　an　exclusive　five…star　resort　in　Costa　Rica。　Obviously；　Blair　could　do　without　the　rain　forest　adventure　part；　but　she’d　heard　the　beaches　were　pristine；　the　sun　was　hot；　and　the　villas　had　the　most　incredible　mattresses。

Just　then；　there　was　a　knock　at　the　door。　“You　kids　decent？”　Pete’s　older　brother　Jason　called　as　he　entered。　He　had　the　same　lanky　frame　as　Pete。　Tall；　strawberry　blond；　and　handsome；　all　four　of　the　Carlson　brothers—Everett；　Randy；　Jason；　and　Pete—looked　like　they　could　be　quadruplets；　even　though　there　was　a　two…year　age　difference　between　each　of　them。　A　second…year　law　student　at　UPenn；　Jason　was　the　second　youngest　of　the　Carlson　brothers。　He　was　adorable；　and　Blair　would’ve　had　a　crush　on　him　if　she　wasn’t　dating　Pete。

At　least　she　has　a　backup。

“We’re　playing　charades。　Carlson　Christmas　tradition。　Your　presence　has　been　requested。”

“Do　we　have　to？”　Blair　suppressed　a　groan。　It　was　cute　in　theory；　but　they’d　played　charades；　Pictio