Page 58 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“That is her Nintendo Switch,” Melissa screeched. “It is more than a hundred dollars!”

“Seems like a fair trade for Lillianne’s doll and emotional damages.”

Anthony ignored mother’s and daughter’s protests and walked out of the kitchen, disappointed when he saw Bradley and his family putting on their coats by the front door.

He approached them and held out the gaming console. “Melissa wanted you to have this with her apologies.”

Bradley took it with a grin. “You sure that’s what happened?”

“Where are you going?” Gregory Russo finally looked up from the game to ask.

“We’re not staying for dinner,” Bradley said.

Their father got up from the chair and climbed the stairs. “Why the hell not? You drove eight hours to get here.”

“And that was a mistake.”

Suddenly, Evelyn marched out of the kitchen and past them, grabbing her purse and coat off the hooks by the door.

“Now, where are you going?” Gregory asked.

“I’m leaving.”

“What are you talking about?”

Evelyn swirled on her heels and blasted him with a voice full of bitterness. “I’ve wasted thirty years of my life, and I’m not sacrificing another moment. Turkey needs to come out at two. Potatoes must be drained and smashed, and all casseroles are in the fridge with cooking instructions on the top.”

“Evelyn,” their dad shouted, but she was already slamming the door on him.

The rest of their brothers had gathered at the bottom of the living room steps, exchanging wide-eyed expressions.

“That was a twist,” Bradley said.

“What did she mean?” Anthony asked softly, facing his father for the first time since he arrived. “When she said she’d wasted thirty years of her life on you?”

Everyone stood silently while Anthony stared at his father, puzzle pieces snapping into place.

“You son of a bitch.”

Before he realized what he was about to do, he threw a punch that knocked his father backward into Cam and Paul, all three of them ending up on the floor. He shook out his hand, glaring down at Gregory Russo.

“I think that’s our cue to leave,” Bradley said, taking his arm. “Come on, little brother.”

Chapter Sixteen

Delilah stood at the kitchen sink, scrubbing the remainder of the dinner dishes and humming along to a Sam Hunt song playing on her parents’ Alexa. Her dad was in the garage tinkering with Marie, while her mom sat at the table, dishing out dessert. So far, they’d avoided the topic of her writing and living several hours away from them, but Delilah could feel the moment coming.

“So, I haven’t wanted to annoy you,” her mom prodded, drumming her nails on the tabletop, “but I am curious about Anthony.”

Delilah paused in her scrubbing but didn’t turn around. “What about him?”

“I’ve just never heard you mention him before. Last time you talked about anyone, it was that red-haired loudmouth.”

Delilah snorted. “You mean Pike?”

“Yes!” her mother said, a tinge of disgust in her tone, “Good-looking man but kind of obnoxious from what I remember.”

“He’s really not, but it doesn’t matter.” Delilah returned to her scrubbing as she added, casually, “I’m not interested in him anymore.”