Page 39 of 12 Days of Mistletoe

“One-thirty? Really, Elliot. You’re a school teacher for goodness’ sake.”

“I teach P.E., Gran, not English.”

“You are an educator, and as such, you should be better at spelling.”

Bill hums out a chuckle. “What’s up with Bon Bon?”

I swallow. No sense in lying to either of them. I was wrong and I don’t deserve getting out of it. “I hurt her feelings.”

Gran’s brows pull together.

I quickly add, “I didn’t mean to. But I did. And then, I didn’t apologize very well.”

Wrinkles form around the tight O Gran has made with her disapproving mouth. “Well, go try again. Do better this time.”

“I’m not sure how.”

“Are you trying to get out of your kiss today? Because I won’t have it, Elliot James. We made a deal.”

That’s what she’s worried about?

“You know I have plenty of mistletoe back at my place. We could?—”

“No need,” I say, not liking the way Bill White is looking at my grandmother. “Mistletoe isn’t going to fix this, Gran.”

“Then go talk to her. You can’t be as bad at apologizing as you are at Scrabble,” Bill says.

Gran harrumphs one more time. “Elliot, you go make things right with that sweet girl. Right now.”

NINETEEN

bonnie

I seeElliot Eaton sitting next to the head table. I also ignore him as if he were a pesky poltergeist, invisible to the naked eye.

“T, red beard,” I call into the microphone.

With each and every pause, Elliot whispers my name. But if he thinks I’m pausing the very popular pirate bingo just so he can apologize for his lame apology, he is wrong. Besides, can I really be angry if the man doesn’t get it? Most don’t. Noel isn’t just my pet or companion. She is a service animal. Yes, she is the love of my life and the best girl I know. But I would not be where I am without her. Life would not be the same for me. For a blink, I thought he understood that—in a kind, compassionate way.

I was wrong.

My relationship with Noel is foreign and odd to him.

He has nothing to apologize for—he can’t help that, and I will get over it. I feel silly for letting this bother me as much as it has already.

Elliot isn’t my actual boyfriend—you know that, right, brain?

Whew. It knows.

So, why do I care if Elliot thinks I’m an odd duck?

Ignoring my inner turmoil, I keep the game running. “E, eye patch.”

“Bonnie,” Elliot whispers. “I wasn’t thinking. I?—”

“Everyone doing all right?” I say into the microphone, interrupting him. “Can everyone hear me?”

“Loud and clear, Bon Bon,” Bill calls from the back.

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