Page 109 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“Hmmm, those skates are also super sharp. They could easily slice your balls and then that would be all she wrote.”

“Okay, I think someone has been watching too many Christmas horror films and not enough Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

“Rudolph is a horror movie,” she argued. “Rudolph was bullied and his friend was eaten by a yeti.”

Anthony burst out laughing, wrapping her in a hug. “Man, what is with you? You have a bit of the Grinch in you today. What do I need to do to make your heart grow ten times bigger?”

Delilah sighed. “Sorry, I just got some bad news is all.”

“You want to talk about it?” he asked.

“No,” she said, returning his hug. “I want to spend time with you and hear more about these wild winter games.”

“Oh, I like that. Remind me next year to use that.”

Delilah’s chest tightened, hoping that there would be a next year for not just the games, but the two of them together.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Anthony parked his truck against the curb in front of his brother’s Airbnb, throwing it into park. It would be nice to have his brother and his family visit during the holidays, especially as he hoped to share all future festivities with the woman sitting beside him.

“This is a nice place,” Delilah said from the passenger seat, staring out the window at the beautiful three-bedroom house in one of the newer neighborhoods. They were built just outside of town to accommodate the one-acre parcels that went along with them.

“My brother has good taste.”

“Are you sure I should be here? He invited you to dinner and I don’t want to impose.”

“How could introducing my brother to the woman I’m in love with be an imposition?” Anthony leaned across the seat and kissed her, sensing an unease in her that had been hovering beneath the surface since yesterday. Anthony didn’t have any doubts that she loved him, but maybe all his house talk made her feel rushed or uncomfortable and she didn’t know how to tell him.

“I don’t know. I’m just nervous. I’ve never been brought home to meet a guy’s family.”

“Technically this isn’t home. It’s like a glorified hotel.”

“Whew,” Delilah breathed, pretending to wipe sweat off her brow, “pressure off then.”

“If you’ll recall, I spent an entire weekend with your parents.”

“We weren’t technically together then.”

“Are you saying it doesn’t count?” He placed his hand over his heart, feigning affront. “I think it counts, especially since I lost nine years off my life each night you snuck into that basement, worrying that your dad was going to hear you when you came.”

Delilah covered his mouth with her hand, giggling. “Stop. I am not that loud.”

“Oh, baby, even with your face buried in a pillow, I guarantee they heard you. The looks your dad gave me the next day chilled me to the bone. I kept waiting to wake up and find him hovering over me with a socket wrench in hand, ready to beat me to death.”

“You know,” Delilah said, stroking her chin thoughtfully, “I used to wonder how you and Pike were such good friends because you seemed so different, but I see it now.”

“What’s that?” he asked.

Delilah leaned in and gave him a quick, hard kiss. “You’re both drama queens.”

“I resent that! I prefer to be called theatrical.” Anthony climbed out and rounded the front of the truck, but she had already exited before he could open her door. “You’re getting faster at climbing out of the truck. I’m going to have to step up my game to be a good boyfriend.”

“I don’t care if you get my door. Just don’t leave me alone tonight. Your brother is probably going to take one look at me and wonder what you’re doing with me.”

Anthony glanced down at her in a light blue sweater and jeans and had no clue what she was talking about. He circled her neck with his arm and bent down to kiss the top of her head. “No, he is going to think I tricked you into coming with me tonight.”

Delilah snorted and when they reached the other side of the street, Anthony leaned over, cupping her chin to make sure she was paying attention. “Hey. I love you and they will, too.”