Page 68 of Just Add Mistletoe

Brandy had scolded her last night in a phone call when Lori had admitted to her maudlin thoughts. “Good things can happen to you, Lori. Enjoy the moments. Enjoy the process of falling in love.”

Lori wasn’t falling in love, no. She was just becoming comfortable, and maybe even confident, when she was around this man. Waking up each morning, and wondering if Malcom would ghost her, and she’d never see him again . . . that hadn’t happened yet. And having him in her kitchen this morning felt completely natural. Like they’d been together forever.

As if on cue, her phone started to buzz with incoming texts.

“Your friends all worked up?” Malcom said with a half smile.

Lori smirked and reached for her phone. “Looks like it.”

The group text was buzzing with everyone chatting about their Thanksgiving plans. Julie said she was going to have to take anti-anxiety meds to survive the weekend with her in-laws. Everly and Brandy would be doing a big shindig at their mom’s, and Everly’s in-laws were coming into town for that.

Stephenie and Cal would be serving the dinner at the senior center, dragging her grandpa with them.

Lori, you’re going to have the best time in Florida,Brandy wrote.With that hunk of a man charming your parents’ socks off.

Lori sent a laughing emoji.

I hope Malcom’s not too sad about the issues with his family,Everly chimed in.

That sobered Lori, and she wrote,It will be a new experience for him, that’s for sure.

“You’ve gone through like ten different facial expressions in two minutes,” Malcom said. “Must be some intense stuff.”

Lori looked at him and found his gaze on hers. She set her phone down. “Everyone’s excited about our trip—maybe even jealous.”

Malcom chuckled. “They’re jealous of us flying on the busiest traveling day of the year?”

She smirked. “Everly also said she hopes you’re doing okay—you know, with the turmoil of your family and you not having Thanksgiving with them.”

His brows shot up. “She said that?”

“Basically.”

Malcom didn’t speak for a moment. “Is that what you think?”

“Maybe?” Lori shrugged. “You haven’t said anything to me, but I do wonder if flying to Florida and being around another person’s family will be hard.”

“I don’t think I’ve had a normal or traditional Thanksgiving since I was a kid,” Malcom said. “If it was ever normal back then. I remember one year my mom ordered Chinese food. She didn’t want to cook, and the Chinese restaurant always stayed open on holidays.”

She stared at him. “That sounds pretty cool, actually.”

Malcom leaned back in his chair. “Another year, my mom was sick, so I opened a can of SpaghettiOs.”

Lori blinked. “You didn’t have neighbors, or an uncle or aunt to feed you?”

He shook his head. “The first year I lived with my dad and Bronson, my stepmom invited everyone in her family over. Her brother started talking about politics, which ended up in a shouting match with their other brother.”

“Wow.” She cracked a smile. “I promise not to talk politics this weekend.”

Malcom shifted forward and leaned his elbows on the table. “Wherever you are, that’s where I’ll be, Lori. I’m not going to worry about what my family might or might not be doing.Believe me, there is no traditional Thanksgiving dinner that I’m pining for. For me, it’s about what I’m grateful for in my life, and not the meal or house the meal is in.”

Lori exhaled. “You’re kind of a poet, Malcom. I mean, if you ever change your mind about building stuff—”

He pushed up from the table and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. She laughed as he wrapped her into a bear hug.

“Take it back, or I’ll keep you trapped like this forever.”

She laughed against his neck. “Okay, I take it back. But you can keep me trapped if you want.”

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