Page 1 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

Chapter One

Delilah Gill took the last turn into Evergreen Circle like she was rounding the final lap on a NASCAR track, and her Subaru fishtailed briefly before she could straighten it back out. She parallel parked in front of her best friend’s house, shoving the gearshift into park harder than necessary, frustration pulsating through her body like a detonated bomb ready to explode. Delilah took a deep, trembling breath as she surveyed the quiet neighborhood. In a week, it would be lit with Christmas lights and displays, with lines of cars and people coming from around the state to see the jolly sight. She loved this small town but could definitely do without the traffic.

All part of Mistletoe’s charm.

On this chilly November morning, no creature was stirring as Delilah exited her car and marched carefully up the driveway to the walkway, avoiding any patches glistening with ice. Holly must not be up yet since she hadn’t salted her sidewalks, and Delilah wasn’t looking to add a slip and fall to her day. That would be the frosting on her already sad cake. Idaho was predicted to have a wet, cold winter this year, and Delilah was not ready for the severe windchills. She pulled her purple scarf over the lower half of her face when it started to tingle like a thousand tiny needles simultaneously pricking her skin.

When she reached Holly’s red front door, she didn’t knock. Holly’s boyfriend, Declan, was out of town until the next day, so Delilah had been having coffee with Holly all week, and today, she desperately needed it. Delilah used her leopard-spotted key on the door, pushing in the heavy wood plank with a creak. The house was quiet except for the tinkling of a bell as Declan’s cat, Leo, came trotting down the hallway to greet her. The orange cat’s big belly swayed back and forth as he moved; his sweet, chirping meow making her smile.

“Good morning, Leo.” She dropped down on her haunches to pet the fur ball behind his ears.

“Should we get some coffee?” she said, standing back up and brushing the rogue cat hair from her leggings.

“Delilah!” Holly hollered from down the hall.

“Yeah, sorry,” she said, making her way toward the kitchen, “I know it’s early, but I need to—Yip!” Delilah yelped when she spotted her best friend on the counter, a kitchen towel clutched against her chest. Her legs were crossed, shielding Delilah’s gaze from her other naked parts, and Delilah slapped her hands over her mouth in horror. “Why is your bare ass perched on the counter?” she yelled.

Delilah spotted the top of Declan Gallagher’s dark head peeking around the island before he responded, “Because we were in the middle of something.”

“Sorry!” Delilah turned her back on the scene, déjà vu washing over her as this wasn’t the first time she’d walked in on her best friend and Declan in a compromising position. “I thought you were out of town!”

“I forgot to text you; he got back this morning. It was a bit … spontaneous.”

Delilah could hear the laughter in Holly’s voice and groaned. “I am trying to be mature about this, bestie. Walking in on Declan cooking sans clothes in your kitchen is one thing, but interrupting your naked Olympics is another story! This is almost as bad as the time I played third wheel to you and Jake Masters at homecoming when he tried to feel you up and grabbed my breast instead.”

“Delilah?” Declan said.

“Yes?”

“Do you think the two of you could rehash this later when Holly and I aren’t so nude?”

Delilah smothered a giggle and stepped toward the hallway. While she loved teasing Holly’s boyfriend, even she could take a hint.

“Alright, I will drag myself out of here and let the two of you continue your escapades. Holly, can you call me later? I need to talk.”

“Yes, I’ll call you in ten—” she let out a squeal, and Delilah tried not to imagine what Declan had done to emit such a sound from her, before Holly amended, “I mean, later.”

Delilah practically jumped over Leo to get out the front door before she heard something she couldn’t unhear. The cold blasted against her face, instantly numbing her nose. She carefully made her way down the sidewalk and driveway to her car, her gloominess returning without the prospect of coffee and a chat with Holly. She’d have to settle for a mocha from Kiss My Donut as a consolation.

Today is just not my day.

“Hi, Ms. Gill!”

Delilah looked up when she heard her name, recognizing J. J. Cox walking past the entrance to Evergreen Circle. The seventh grader was bundled up in a blue puffer jacket and gray beanie, strands of blond hair poking out from beneath his hat.

“What are you doing up so early? It’s Saturday!”

“Heading to Chris’s to play Fortnite.”

“No cap?” she teased, earning a groan from the kid.

“You’re so cringe.”

She loved being a substitute teacher at the middle school. High schoolers were too ready for adulthood, and while elementary school kids were adorable, it was like herding cats most days. Seventh and eighth graders were the sweet spot, although the pay in Idaho was insanely low in education. At least what she earned from subbing paid her rent.

“Have a great Thanksgiving break. Don’t forget to finish your poem for Mrs. Paulsen’s class!”

JJ shot her a sheepish grin, spinning around so he was walking backward. “I’ll get it done, Ms. Gill. I swear.”