Page 107 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“Oh, you want my advice now, huh?”

Delilah rolled her eyes. “Alright, any more of that and I’m going to lose service.”

Her mother laughed. “I would be honest with him, honey. If he isn’t ready, then you two know you are in different places. That way you know if you have to leave Mistletoe, you either need to make it work long distance or let it go and see if you get a second chance with him down the road. Sometimes relationships are all about timing.”

“Our timing has been awful, but I thought things were finally coming together.”

“Can I give you my unbiased opinion? No ulterior motives?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“I think that you are afraid to tell him everything because you don’t think he can handle it, which means you’re holding back because you’re unsure you can trust him.”

“I trust him.”

“Not as a person, sweetheart, but with your heart. You love him, but if you give him all your troubles and ask him to be your partner, you think he’s going to run.”

Delilah parked the car along the edge of Mistletoe Community Park, closing her eyes against the truth. How many times had she told Holly she thought he was going to panic? That he was a coward?

Maybe he wasn’t the only one.

“Thank you,” Delilah said.

“For what?”

“For listening.”

“Anytime, my darling,” her mother said, and Delilah could hear the smile in her voice. It made her miss seeing that smile in person.

“I’ve been thinking that maybe I could come see you guys this weekend?” Delilah said abruptly. “Maybe stay the night?”

“Of course, but aren’t there a bunch of Mistletoe Christmas events going on?”

“Yeah,” Delilah said, watching the garland that the town had stretched along the play structure sway in the wind, “but you know I’m not really into that stuff.”

“Well, if you want to come down here and hang, I will not argue. I miss being able to see my girl anytime I want.”

“You know, you guys could always sell your house and move back up here.”

“Now, you told me I couldn’t do that to you,” her mother scolded.

Delilah grinned. “I know, but you left yourself wide open.”

“As beautiful as it is up there, I can’t do more than a few inches of snow and neither can your father.” There was a brief pause before her mother came back with a wheedling tone. “You know what might get us back up that way someday?”

Delilah realized what her mother was about to say and shouted, “I love you, hanging up now.”

“Grandbabies! Lots of cute grandbabies. I love you, too!”

Delilah ended the call, her body shaking with laughter. Her mom was amazing, the best person in the whole world.

But she always had to find some way to be a giant pain in the ass.

Delilah climbed out of the car and headed toward the crowd of people setting up tents. The roar of a chainsaw buzzed to life and Delilah was a little afraid of the kind of winter games Adventures in Mistletoe had in store for them.

As she drew closer to where the games would take place, she noticed several men on the outdoor skating rink in full hockey gear running drills.

“Delilah!”