Page 31 of Mistletoe Kisses

It would break her to learn I’d not only discovered his identity, not only sought out the identity of his closest family but wasacross the countryon a dare to meet them. Even traveling without telling her where I was made my stomach queasy. She always wanted to know where I was. I never took it as a controlling thing, but more that her job had made her see some things that made her worry about me more, and knowing where I was helped ease that for her. If anyone understood wanting to ease anxiety, it was me.

When Keaton had asked if I’d planned to tell her about my trip, I’d given him a firm no. If I died while away, then I wouldn’t have to worry about telling her. If I was wounded, I’d made Keaton promise he would tell her where I was since he was the one who’d sent me so far away. I figured he’d love that. He’d admitted numerous times that he was dying to have some “real talk” with her.

Why were parental relationships so freaking complicated?

“My shift starts soon. I’ve got to go. Call me next week, okay? I get worried when I don’t hear from you for several days.”

“Okay, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you too, Arlo. Be safe.”

Safe? I was jobless, lying to my mom, withholding information from a family who had been nothing but kind to me, falling for a guy I’d just met, and was heartbroken to be leaving Dahlia Springs in a couple of days when I was only starting to get to know the town. There was nothing “safe” about the state of my life.

As I finished getting ready, I tried to focus on my breathing to ease the tension in my chest. I didn’t want to carry the heaviness into my time with Lucas when we had so little of it left.

He was due to pick me up in five minutes, so I went downstairs. On the way, I passed Deb setting out a plate of sugar cookies and wearing a Rudolph nose that was a new addition to the lit reindeer antler headband and blinking Christmas light necklace since I’d seen her earlier.

“Arlo! I’m so glad to run into you. Cookie?”

“Uh, sure. Thank you.” I took a bite, and the dry cookie crumbled onto my jacket.

“Where are you off to?”

“To look at the lights on Dahlia Lane.”

She clapped her hands together and held them in front of her chest. “One of my favorite events of the season. Did you know that event started in 1964? The town founders lived on Dahlia Lane and wanted to do something special.”

“That’s very interesting. Um, I need to go meet someone, but thanks for the cookie.”

She waggled her eyebrows. “I’m ordained by an online church to perform weddings and offer a package including the honeymoon suite and a wedding ceremony. It’s my finest room. Keep that in mind.”

I shuddered at the thought of the nightmare fuel behind whichever door that was. “Sure. Thanks. ’Night.”

“Enjoy the lights! Drink a cocoa for me.” She waved me off.

As soon as I was outside, I shoved the rest of the cookie into my pocket. I’d deal with the crumbs later. A car pulled up, and Lucas smiled at me through the passenger window. The knot in my chest eased.

Chapter13

Lucas

A whistle pulledmy attention from speeding through the restocking checklist at closing. I turned toward Kayla. “What?”

“Got a hot date or something? You’re working so fast there’s basically smoke coming off you.” She popped a huge bubble from her gum.

I stopped and huffed out a laugh. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Well then, you’d better let me finish so you can spruce up. You brought something to change into, right? Or are you planning to go in your server chic?”

I smiled gratefully. “I brought clothes. Thanks, Kayla. I owe you one.”

She waved me off. “You’ll do it for me if I ever decide to wade into the shark-infested dating pool again.”

“You know it.”

I hurried to the restroom to change and freshen up. After a spritz of cologne and combing my hair back into place, I returned to the dining room and found Kayla waiting to lock up.

“Where are you off to? The Lucky Tongue?” She turned off the lights as I opened the front door.

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