Page 17 of Mishaps and Mistletoe

Josie looked around. “That’s weird. I haven’t seen anyone in this section. It looks like somebody cut one and then left.”

“That’s what I usually do.”

“But you said you’ve never chopped down a tree before.”

Kevin’s shoulders shook, the result of laughter percolating that he was desperately trying to contain. “That’s a fact.” It was everything she could do not to burst into laughter once she caught on to the joke. Flatulence humor was beneath her. Except it wasn’t. And Kevin had her laughing for the second time since they’d come to the farm.

Maybe there was hope after all. Perhaps she could find a little joy in these moments. At least enough to help her find ideas for this big pitch she was working on.

Tree chopped and tied to Kevin’s car, he walked into the barn to pay for it. A large sign at the register that saidFresh Mistletoecaught her eye. When she saw Kevin leave the register with a small paper bag, she wondered if the sign had caught his attention as well.

After the most festive Target run in the history of Target runs—seriously, Kevin got enough decorations to bedazzle at least five trees—they returned to his house. “Gotta go big at the holidays, right?” he’d said as he plopped box after box of ornaments in their cart, and a small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She’d thought the same when she brought home that gargantuan tree with Courtney and Max.

When they got back to Kevin’s house, they set the tree up in front of a picture window that overlooked a wooded valley.

“Okay, I think this thing goes in just like this. The lady said it’ll make watering the tree easier, so we’ll see.” He pulled a funnel-shaped plastic apparatus out of a paper bag and stuck it into the tree stand.

“Oh, I thought you bought some of the fresh mistletoe they had near the register.”

Kevin scrunched his nose. “Nah, I don’t have anyone to kiss.”

Why did that piece of information make her mouth dry? “I can appreciate that. I don’t date anymore.”

“Same here. And besides, I’ve always kinda preferred seaweed to mistletoe, anyway.”

* * *

Last week,Kevin returned the streaming stick he’d bought for his new television because the picture kept freezing whenever he watched a show.

The characters looked a lot like Josie did right now. Without the buffering circle, of course.

“What did you just say?” she asked, though he wasn’t sure how—her facial muscles looked completely slackened and her mouth still hung wide enough to eat an entire donut in one bite.

“I’m pretty sure you heard me.” He was certain, in fact. A slow smile crawled up her face, Grinch-style—though not at all creepy. But in keeping with the theme of the movie, his heart did grow three sizes.

“Kevin East? Is that really you?” she whispered. Her deep green eyes widened, competing for real estate on her face as her grin spread with each passing second.

“How many guys have you kissed under sprigs of seaweed?” A snort-laugh escaped her mouth, and he tipped his head back at the sound, one he never dreamed he’d hear again. He looked back at her, arms spread wide. “It’s really me, Jojo. Though, it’s Kevin McCann, now.”

She gasped, sprinting to him, and nearly knocked him over when she launched herself into his arms. He fought to hold his center of balance so they both didn’t end up falling into the tree. But he should have been more prepared. The Jojo he remembered didn’t do anything small—hugs included. And he’d gotten several of these hugs from her in the two weeks they hung out on the beach.

“The McCanns adopted you?” she asked, a thickness coating her words. He took a deep breath and let the citrus scent of her hair into his lungs. Its brightness reminded him so much of the girl he knew all those years ago, shades of a girl he was beginning to see again.

“They did. Two weeks after we met.”

Still clinging to him like a koala on a tree trunk, she craned her neck to look up at his face. He held onto her, something inside begging him not to let her go. “You got everything you wanted.”

She tucked her head against his chest and gave him another squeeze before she unwrapped her legs from around him. He missed the warmth her body gave him—because he was a native of Florida and not used to these elements. That was the reason.

She shook her head and rubbed her brow. “Gosh, I can’t believe this. When did you realize it was me?”

“The first time I saw you at Mountain Brew, I thought you looked familiar. But it wasn’t until yesterday when you said that line about never being too old for holiday magic. The pieces started falling into place after that. And when Johnny called you ‘Jojo,’ I was certain.”

She chuckled. “He’s the only one who still calls me that.”

“Oh, I’ll stop then.”

“Don’t.” Kevin’s head jerked up to meet her. “I mean, I’d like that—if you called me that. It’s… it’s up to you.” Her chin dipped to her chest.

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