Page 108 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

She turned at the sound of Anthony’s voice and spotted him jogging toward her across the snow-covered lawn, his unbuttoned flannel flapping behind him like a cape. With all the work he and Pike had put into this event, she could believe he was a superhero.

“Hi,” she said, lifting her face up for his kiss.

Anthony started to lean down and winced, clutching the back of his neck. “I can’t wait until you are healed so I can pick you up. All this bending over is giving me a crick in the neck.”

“Shut up,” she said, laughing. He grinned before leaning down and finally giving her a hello kiss, fast and sweet.

“How are your ribs?” she asked.

“Better. You should see Pike’s eye though. It’s more green than purple.”

“That sounds gross,” she said, watching several mean waving chainsaws in the air over his shoulder. “Can I ask what the chainsaws are for?”

“We’re filming a horror film. Mistletoe Christmas Chainsaw Massacre,” he deadpanned.

“That isn’t even clever. It’s too long and wordy.”

“It’s a working title,” he quipped. “We can workshop better ones later.” He slung an arm over her shoulder, leading her toward the noise. “No, the chainsaws are for the ice sculpture contest.”

“You’re going to have people carve ice sculptures using chainsaws?” Even out loud it sounded insane. “Did you make sure the ambulance would be on sight or are we to watch people bleed out in the snow?”

“You have a gruesome imagination, but no. We are taking precautions and the people signing up are professionals. It’s the relay race where all bets are off.”

“What are you doing for the relay race?” she asked.

“The players are going to start by the elementary school,” he said, pointing at the hill in the distance that blocked the view of Mistletoe Elementary, “and work their way to the park, gathering their snowmen supplies using a set of clues.”

“Like a scavenger hunt?”

“Yes, I was inspired by the night we officially met.”

Delilah snorted. “We’ve known each other for years.”

“Not really,” he said, leaning down to nuzzle her ear. “We knew of each other, acknowledged the other’s existence, but didn’t know-know each other until that night.”

“You have a point. Continue.”

“So, the track will run from the elementary school to the hill, where the first person will sled down. The sledder tags in the skier at the bottom of the hill, who will cruise down Main Street, finally tapping in our reindeer—”

“Reindeer?” she questioned.

“Yeah, the person who runs the final leg will have to put on a reindeer costume and gather up the rest of the scavenger hunt supplies while dodging snowballs.”

Delilah shook her head. “I feel like you’re doing too much here.”

“I disagree, but I will let you have your opinion. The third player will build an epic snowman using only what they gathered. First to finish wins the race.”

“It sounds like chaos,” she laughed, scanning the people and tent, her attention returning to the men skating in full hockey gear. “What are the hockey guys doing on the outdoor rink?”

“Oh, we’re going to have a hockey game as the finale.”

“Um, are you playing?” she asked, her heart thundering in her chest.

“Yeah, why?”

“Because I like your teeth right where they are?”

Anthony kissed her forehead. “I’ll be fine.”