Page 9 of Under the Mistle-Foe

Kaysen eyed me. “Are you two still being all weird around each other? You guys have been at it since high school. It was amusing at first, but now it feels like this is some weird flirting ritual.”

“We arenotflirting,” I sputtered. How he even got that ridiculous idea was beyond me. Kaysen watched me skeptically. “And if anyone’s being weird, it’s him. I’m just minding my own business. He’s the one who won’t leave me alone.”

Kaysen hummed in a knowing manner while holding the door open for me into the museum where the fair was being held. What a gentleman.

“Look, all I know is that Jett’s a nice guy, and he’s always wanted to be your friend. You should give him a chance.”

In all the years I’d known Jett, he’d never tried to be friendly with me. Only sarcastic, judgmental statements passed through his mouth when he was around me.

I opened my mouth to deny Kaysen’s claims, but before Icould get a single word out, he was already focused on something else.

“Fuck, Hank’s hot. Heard he’s the new hockey director at the community center. Those kids are so lucky to be able to seethis hunk during practice,” Kaysen commented as we waded through the crowd.

“Does your boyfriend know you’re checking out other men?” I teased.

“My honey knows he’s the only one for me. Besides, if someone’s attractive, not looking doesn’t make them any less attractive, you know?”

I, in fact, didnotknow.

I’d been around tons of people who fit our society’s beauty standards, and sure, I could admire their looks, but I’d never felt an attraction to any of them, or anyone for that matter, not even the women I’d briefly dated.

When I was younger, I wondered if something was wrong with me, but nowadays, I didn’t bother thinking about it. It wasn’t like I was all that interested in dating, anyway. I liked the peace of being alone. And then there was the whole ‘letting someone into your heart and who knew when they’d be snatched away from you’ thing.

Just like how a heart attack had taken my mom from my dad.

No, thank you. I was fine without all that.

Finally reaching the stall, Hank greeted us with a smile. There were some sample dog treats placed on a table, as well as a sign stating they were homemade. The giant of a man selling the treats was not someone I’d picture lingering in a kitchen, much less one who made treats for furry friends, so I had to wonder if he’d made them himself.

“Do you think they’ll like the bone-shaped or heart-shaped ones more?” Kaysen asked.

“Don’t think they’ll care,” I replied, uninterested. TheArts and Crafts Fair was crowded, being the first day and all.There were all sorts of booths selling various goods, withtonsof Christmas-related goods to choose from. Naturally.

I spotted a huge crowd around the booth with the town’s famous hand-carved gnomes. Mom had purchased a set from Murphy before he’d blown up in fame. She’d placed the pair in the front yard—where they still resided—and called them her little fairy protectors. She would have been delighted to see just how popular they’d gotten over the years.

Shifting my gaze away before the nostalgia threatened to suffocate me in the middle of the freaking Festival Museum, I noticed the homemade baby quilt stall beside Hank’s. The older lady manning the stall frowned at her hands, like she was struggling with her electronics.

“I wonder if humans can eat these.” I returned my focus to Kaysen to see him pick up one of the samples, take a sniff, and then make a face.

“Why don’t you give it a try? Mytreat,” I said with a smirk.

His glare was interrupted by an amused chuckle. “They’re safe to eat, but I wouldn’t recommend it. But I can guarantee your doggy friends will absolutely love them.”

“I’ll take five bags!”

I could practically see the hearts shooting out of Kaysen’s eyes as Hank rang him up.

“How many dogs are y’all fostering again?” I asked, eyeing all the treats he’d purchased.

“Just two, but I’m sure I can donate whatever they don’t finish to the animal shelter. Heard they’re still looking for volunteer fosters since the pipes are still needing work. I wish we could take in more, but with how busy the holiday season is at the farm, two’s already a handful.”

Before I could answer, Kaysen was already dragging me to another stall. That went on for another half hour, him pulling to show me the next greatest thing he found. I was so wrapped up in his pace, and with all the people swirlingaround us, I was dizzy by the time he finally needed to return to the farm.

We said our goodbyes in the front, and as I was about to make my way back to the diner, a figure caught the corner of my eye. I turned to find Jett motherfucking Davis. It was like I couldn’t rid myself of the man.

I turned away, hoping to slip away before he saw me, but then another person appeared beside him. A cute, brown-haired man walked with him back to the main area of the fair. They were laughing while chatting—totally normal things to do with a friend—but for some reason, I couldn’t stop the nagging in the back of my mind.

The diner was waiting for me, and I was far too busy to mind what Jett was up to. I turned to the door, intending to leave; I really was. So why did I find myself heading back through the Festival Museum to rejoin the fair?

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