Page 86 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“Thanks.” He followed her out the door, then took her hand in his, and followed her around to the driver’s side to open her door.

“You don’t have to do all that.”

“This is still a date, even if I make a phone call.”

“Whatever you say.”

They climbed inside and Anthony pressed the call button, listening to it ring. It was almost eight thirty, but he wasn’t sure if his brother was already at work.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s Anthony.”

“Hey, bro! Guess who’s coming back to town?”

“You mean to visit?”

“Nope. We’re putting our house on the market and going to head down there for Christmas to start looking at houses.”

“Are you serious? That’s amazing, man!”

“We’re going to rent an Airbnb while we’re there, so you can come spend Christmas with us. I know you’re still living in that tin can in the woods.”

“Hey, that tin can has been my saving grace. Show her respect.”

“I’ll try, but hey, I’m at work and I gotta get loose ends tied up before I leave, so we’ll talk later. Audrey and the kids are excited.”

“Give ’em a hug for me and tell them I can’t wait.”

“Bye.”

Anthony ended the call and let out a whoop.

“Whoa, I guess it was a good call?” she laughed, coming to a stop at the four-way.

Anthony leaned across the seat and cupped the back of her head, bringing her in for a smacking kiss. “My brother Bradley and his family are moving back to Mistletoe.”

“I’m so happy for you.”

“Me, too. We talked about it a bit when we ducked out of Thanksgiving, but I never thought he’d pull the trigger.”

“Looks like you were wrong.” Delilah made a left onto the main road and followed the fork in the road to the right, claiming a parking spot in front of Lord of the Fries. “Look at that.”

“Things are really looking up for both of us, I think.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Let’s eat.”

They got out of the car and went into Lord of the Fries, a popular café in town. Pages of the classic book were placed under glass to form tables, along with other forms of book-related art and memorabilia on the walls. The owner, Harold Flanagan, said it was one of his favorite books growing up and he identified with the way the children had turned on one another during the course of the novel’s events.

The waitress brought over menus, and Delilah opened hers while Anthony left his at the end of the table. He turned his attention away for a minute to speak to the waitress and caught Delilah’s pained expression. He followed her gaze to a woman across the room who was watching them with a smile. The blonde got up and left her group of friends behind.

“Hi there, I am Aimee,” the blonde said, holding out her hand to Delilah. Then she transferred her attention to Anthony and gave him a dazzling smile. “It’s a pleasure.”

“I am Anthony and this is Delilah,” he said.

Delilah made a face. “Yeah, we went to middle school together,” Delilah mumbled and Anthony realized that the two of them had history.

“Ah, Delilah. I remember you,” she said looking her up and down briefly before turning to Anthony, “You are someone I’m unfamiliar with her.”

“Well, I’ve lived here my whole life,” he said, already annoyed with her.