Page 35 of Mistletoe Kisses

After the families moved on, we stood silently and watched the light show cycle through two more times.

Lucas turned to me with a forced, cheery smile. “Ready to keep going?”

Lucas had been a safe harbor for me this week, and I wanted to return the favor. “What was their problem?” I turned and glared at their backs. “If you’re comfortable, I’d like to know what’s up with the weird comments. But you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’m happy to listen. You’ve listened to enough of my stuff this week.” I caught my lip with my teeth.

Lucas grinned, a more genuine one that time. “Is that your way of saying, ‘I’ve opened up to you, now it’s your turn?’”

“I mean, I’m not going to blackmail you for details about your life, but if you’re amenable to sharing, I’d like to listen.”

Lucas let out a warm chuckle. “I’m comfortable sharing with you.”

Warmth rushed through me that had nothing to do with my coat. Lucas made me feel alive. Instead of wanting to hide, I tilted toward his sunshine, trying to soak it all up.

“We might as well find the hot chocolate for this story.” His smile turned self-deprecating. Luckily, the hot chocolate table was just ahead.

“Two, please. Extra marshmallows?” Lucas looked to me for approval, and I nodded.

Once we had our drinks, we moved to an empty bench in front of a tree wrapped in blue lights. I waited for him to speak.

“I sing and play guitar.”

That wasn’t the opening I’d expected, but it explained the calluses. “That’s awesome. I admire people with that talent. I couldn’t even play recorder in elementary school.”

Lucas leaned toward me with a twinkle in his eyes. “Trust me. No one can play recorder.”

I laughed and took a drink of the cocoa.

“You’ve got a little something.” He pointed to his lip.

I tried to reach it with my tongue.

“Here, I’ve got it.” He leaned forward and kissed the corner of my mouth.

Fireworks burst in my chest like it was midnight on New Year’s Eve. I wanted him to kiss me for real. Not under the mistletoe in front of his brother. Not under the guise of catching cocoa on my mustache. But a real kiss.

I stared at him and noticed a scar above his eyebrow. How had he gotten it? A childhood mishap? A fight while defending someone?

I racked my brain and tried to figure out what Keaton would do. He had a response for everything and enough boldness for the both of us.

“That’s either a novel way to wipe off whipped cream, or you’re smooth.”

His eyes widened for a fraction of a moment before his lips curled into a tantalizing grin. “Definitely both.”

I smiled. “Are you stalling?”

The air steamed when he exhaled with laughter. “Maybe. It’s embarrassing, and I don’t want to tell you.”

Forcing boldness, I squeezed his leg. “You don’t have to tell me anything.”

Lucas scooted closer on the bench. “You’re too goddamn cute. It’s not that I don’t want to divulge my secrets, but more that I don’t want to look ridiculous in front of the hot guy I’m on a date with.”

It is a date!

“I promise I won’t think worse of you.” I held up three fingers in the Boy Scouts’ honor. My mom had kept me in Scouts for years. It was a great form of babysitting because she could drop me at a neighbor’s house before the meeting, I’d go with him and his mom, and then I’d wait there until Mom picked me up. Too bad that kid hated my guts, and his mom didn’t know what to do with me.

“In high school, I started performing at an event called Making Spirits Bright during the Festival of Lights. It happens before Christmas each year. There are vendors and activities, and on stage, there are live performances. It’s a huge draw to town. Something embarrassing happened to me every time. Each year got worse than the last.”

I winced. “Including taking out a set for a play?”

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