Page 61 of We're At It Again

“If you say so.” He said, leaning closer. His warm breath tickled my cheeks. My breath hitched as our lips were about to brush, but he pulled away at the last second. “If that’s the case,” He whispered. “I won’t kiss you until you ask me to.”

He excused himself to get a drink, leaving me stunned and my heart racing. Frustration and longing bubbled inside me as I watched him walk away. The party continued around me, but all I could think about was the kiss that had turned my world upside down.

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36

HUDSON

I NEVER THOUGHT I would ever spend Christmas with the Delgato family again. The last Christmas I spent with them was when my mother was alive. Yet, here I am, in their kitchen, helping Luna bake cookies. I admired how cute she looked. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she read the recipe, ensuring everything was perfect. My intrusive thoughts took over my body, and I reached for a handful of flour. With a flick of my wrist, I tossed it at her. She squealed in surprise, flour dusting her hair and shoulders.

“Why, Hudson?” she asked, half-laughing, half-indignant.

“It was funny.”

Unable to contain her smile, she retaliated, tossing a handful back at me. I laughed and charged towards her, wrapping my arms around her waist. As we playfully struggled, I glanced up and dragged her towards the doorway. I feigned surprise at the sight of mistletoe hanging above the doorway.

“Well, would you look at that.” I said, with exaggerated innocence. “Mistletoe.”

She raised an eyebrow, seeing through my act.

“I’m not kissing you.” She said, however, her eyes sparkled with amusement.

I shrugged and loosened my grip around her.

“Fair enough. I promised I wouldn’t kiss you until you started it.”

With that, I moved to step away. Before I could get far, she grabbed my arm and pulled me back, her lips meeting mine in a swift, tender kiss.

“It’s a rule to kiss under the mistletoe.” She whispered against my lips, her voice soft and teasing. “And you know I hate breaking the rules.”

Laughter rumbled in my chest, and I leaned down to kiss her again, deeper this time. The world melted away until the sound of a throat clearing broke us apart. We turned to see her mother standing in the doorway; her face radiating happiness, tinged with the satisfaction of a long-awaited moment. Embarrassment flushed our cheeks.

“I’ll, uh, go find my dad.” I said, stepping away and bolting out of the room.

I had no intention of finding my father. I’d been avoiding him ever since I’d found my mother’s letter. We’d always had an honest relationship, at least I thought we did.

I wandered outside to the snow-covered patio, the cold air nipping at my skin. My mind churned as I gazed into their backyard, ignoring the cold seeping through my jacket. The festive cheers around me contrasted with the turmoil in my heart. As I stood in the stillness, watching the snowflakes fall, I couldn’t help but think of Luna. Of how much she’d changed my world for the better since she’d returned to my life. It’s as if she had woken me up from dormancy.

The quiet crunch of footsteps drew my attention, and I turned to see my father hovering in the doorway. Tension coiled in my muscles. He looked at me with a mix of concern and determination.

“Why have you been avoiding me?” My jaw clenched as I remained silent. He stepped closer until he was beside me. “Talk to me, kid.”

“Why did you and Mom lie to me?” I asked, annoyance flaring up inside me.

His shoulders slumped as realization dawned on him.

“So, you opened the box.”

I nodded, anger and hurt flashing in my eyes.

“You both let me believe everything was fine. Why would you do that?”

His face softened with sorrow and regret. He pinched the bridge of his nose, as if trying to hold back from breaking down.

“Your mother asked to keep it a secret. She didn’t want you to worry or feel you could fix it, but we didn’t want to keep it from you forever.” We stood in silence, the weight of the past pressing heavily between us. My dad sighed before speaking, his voice thick with emotion. “Your mother would be so proud of the man you’ve become. And I know nothing would have made her happier than you rekindling with Luna.”

My eyes filled with tears as I fought to hold them back. Nothing would have broken my mother’s heart more than my estrangement with Luna. I reached out and embraced my dad, our shared grief and love expressed without words. We cried on each other’s shoulders, finding solace in each other. After a while, we pulled away, and my dad looked at me with a proud smile.

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