Page 127 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“Oh, yeah, fuck that guy. Oops, sorry Natalia,” Anthony called out to her mother, realizing the door was open and she could hear everything he said.

“That’s okay, carry on.”

Anthony laughed, his arms still looped around her waist. “So, does this earn me a check mark in the romantic column or the crazy-and-insecure column?”

“I’m going to put this in the one-of-the-million-reasons-why-I-love-him column.”

“Hmmm, does that mean I can come inside now?”

“You may, but first, I want to show you something.” Delilah whipped out her phone and signed into her sales tracking app, pointing at the screen. “Two thousand downloads of my book in just a day.”

“I’m so proud of you,” he told her with a beaming smile. “My girlfriend is famous.”

“Thank you.” Delilah stepped back, allowing him to pass inside. Anthony entered the kitchen where Natalia and Bernard were both sitting at the table waiting for them.

“Bernard, look who decided to join us.”

“Anthony, good to see you.”

Anthony swallowed hard, and Delilah bit back a laugh at his nervous expression. “It’s good to see you, too, sir.”

“Just to let you know,” Bernard said, his tone pleasant and nonchalant, “I fixed the lock on the basement door, so if you’re staying with us, you can lock it now to stop Delilah from sneaking down to the basement to have her way with you.”

Anthony banged his forehead on the table. “I told you he knew.”

“Well, if he didn’t before, he definitely does now!” Delilah cried, nudging him with her shoulder.

“I’m sorry about that, sir. I tried to tell her no, but she insisted.”

“So you’re saying”—Bernard leaned forward, steepling his fingers— “you are the innocent victim and you did not defile my daughter under my roof? That she took advantage of you?”

Anthony looked at Delilah and mouthed, Help me.

Delilah laughed. “Oh no, no, no, no. you’re trying to throw me under the bus! Now it’s your turn and you must suffer.”

“Just so we’re clear, sir, I didn’t defile her. I am in love with her. I even asked her to live with me when she got the letter saying she was gonna lose her rental.”

“So not only did you defile her, but then you wanted her to live in sin with you?” Bernard thundered, launching himself to his feet. “You, sir, are a villain.”

“Dad, stop.” Delilah was laughing so hard she had tears rolling down her face.

“Anthony, he’s messing with you,” Natalia assured him, shooting a disapproving look at her husband. “Right, Bernard?”

“Am I? I don’t know.” He walked away from the table, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll be in the garage if you want to find out, Anthony.”

Anthony looked at Delilah and said, “For such a skinny, kind of nondescript guy, your dad’s a little scary.”

“You haven’t seen her mom when Delilah’s had her heart broken,” Natalia said.

Anthony took Delilah’s hand and squeezed it. “As I don’t have any plans to ever break your daughter’s heart, I hope I never do.”

Epilogue

On Christmas day, Delilah and Anthony were visiting Anthony’s brother Bradley and his family at their Airbnb. Delilah and Audrey were in the kitchen cooking while Bradley and Anthony were busy installing batteries into various toys and appliances. Delilah looked beautiful in a green off-the-shoulder sweater and Anthony couldn’t stop staring at her, thankful that she was his.

Bradley raised a glass to Delilah. “To Delilah. May my little brother be good to you and I hope that joining my company will be a place you can call home.”

Delilah had applied for the copywriting position and Anthony knew she was excited that the salaried position would give her more time to write.