Page 2 of Under the Mistletoe

As I listened to them, that mortified feeling I’d felt this afternoon fell over me again. I was finally sixteen, almost a grownup. I was excited to have more responsibility and hopefully to be able to start dating soon. I was also excited to spend the evening with my two best friends, even if we were under the watchful eye of my father’s best friend, Bentley Grey.

I shifted in my seat and rested my head on my hand, glancing over toward the bar where Bentley sat. He was tall, dark, and handsome, with a muscular build and the clearest glass-blueeyes that would melt anything and anyone who dared to look. It surprised me that he wasn’t married or in a relationship and, to my knowledge, never had been.

He’s also my father’s best friend, which is why we are sitting here and not having a house party because, as my father put it, he can monitor me.

He was at the house during my father’s lecture, watching me the entire time as my father rattled on and on about responsibility.

Kelsey let out a loud laugh, and Macy grabbed hold of me, shaking me, bringing me back to the moment. “What the hell are you so serious about?” Macy questioned, looking over her shoulder toward the bar. “Worried he’s going to report back to Mom and Dad?”

“No, nothing like that,” I quickly said, averting my eyes back to the drink in front of me.

“Really,” Kelsey said, giggling as she looked over her shoulder. “‘Cause you look like you are worried about something.”

“Nope, it’s nothing,” I repeated.

“Uh-huh,” Macy said, giving me that knowing look.

I’d broken down one night shortly after Mom and Dad’s annual Fourth of July party and told Macy that I was sure I had a crush on Bentley. Even though she laughed at me, I continued to share how I felt and had been feeling about Bentley Grey.

“What?” Kelsey questioned, turning and looking at the pair of us.

I glanced back over at the bar where I saw Bentley sitting at the end, working on his laptop.

“If you two will excuse me, I need to use the little girls’ room,” Macy said, getting up from the table. “You should take this time to fill in Kelsey.” She winked and took off toward the washrooms.

Kelsey looked at me with questions in her eyes. “Well, are you going to say anything, or am I going to guess?”

I could feel my face heating as she stared at me.

“It’s your secret crush, isn’t it?” Kelsey asked, leaning forward, resting her chin on her hand, waiting for me to answer.

I softly smiled before bringing the glass to my lips and drinking down the soda I’d ordered. Then I looked over at Bentley. A rush of heat fell over me as our eyes connected and all I could see were those glass-blue eyes staring at me from the other side of the bar, the same way they’d stared at me that afternoon as my father went on and on. He smiled, then grabbed one of his servers and nodded toward our table, whispering something to her.

I tore my eyes away and swallowed hard as I looked at Kelsey.

“Well? God, I can’t wait to hear who it is. I bet it’s the guy from your math class, isn’t it? The cute blond guy you’re always sitting with. Goodness, what is his name? Mike, Matt…no wait, Mark?”

“It’s Bentley Grey,” I said, stifling any more of her guesses.

Kelsey was just about to take a drink but froze. She looked over her shoulder at the bar, then back at me, and then burst into a fit of laughter. “God, Noelle, that is funny. Nice try. Now, who is it for real?”

“Bentley Grey,” I said without even so much as a hint of a smile on my face.

Kelsey was about to say something when the server approached our table.

“You girls need anything before your meal arrives?” she questioned.

“Maybe another soda?” I asked. “For all of us.”

The server smiled and grabbed the three empty glasses and made her way over to the bar, where she quickly poured threeother sodas and brought them back to the table just as Bentley arrived with our food.

He placed the three plates of burgers and fries down in front of us and then smiled as he placed a bottle of ketchup and vinegar down.

“I know how much you love vinegar, Noelle.” He winked.

It was true, I was nothing but a vinegar and salt girl with my fries, and Bentley knew it. In fact he’d been cooking fries for me for as long as I could remember.

“I salted those myself, darlin.” He winked.

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