Page 81 of Mistletoe Kisses

Keaton chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. My shuttle’s approaching. I’ll let you know when I land. Proud of you, A.”

“Thank you. I couldn’t have made the decision without you supporting me and pumping me up all these years. Safe travels.”

Shaky laughter tumbled out of me as my shoulders slumped. I’d done it. Two big conversations down and one to go. I wasn’t ready to face the third yet. Instead, I wanted to unpack my suitcase.

Lucas was back in the room within thirty seconds and had me in his arms within thirty-one.

Chapter35

Arlo

“God,this movie is as cringy as it is hilarious.” I laughed at cousin Eddie unloading the waste from his RV inNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Keaton’s family watched it every Christmas Eve, and I was grateful to Lucas for continuing the tradition with me.

“Well, when one’s shitter is full, one has to take immediate action.” My hand bounced where it rested on Lucas’s stomach as he laughed.

“Wise words.” I grinned. “Keaton’s family practically recites the movie line-by-line.”

“Just wait until you watchEmpire Recordswith us tomorrow. It’s…a lot. When you find out that your family names are all represented by characters in a movie, you end up a little obsessed.”

I chuckled. “I can only imagine.”

Lucas’s family was amazing. I’d been nervous about meeting them at the community Christmas Eve party at Bee’s Dahlia Farm, but they were as welcoming and kind as Lucas had promised. They treated me like they’d known me for ages.

I’d enjoyed seeing people I’d gotten to know over the past two weeks. They acted like I was already a part of the community. Though I was nervous to start a life in Dahlia Springs, I knew I’d made the right decision. Instead of hiding at a table in the corner and hoping no one noticed me, I’d happily had conversations with people. I had listened more than I talked and escaped outside to look at the light displays in the dahlia fields to get a few introvert breaks, but I hadwantedto participate, which meant something.

A constant stream of people had congratulated Warren and Reed. I’d only known them for a fraction of their relationship, but I felt like I was a tiny part of their story, having been there for their proposal, and I was invested in their happiness. I heard someone offer to make tuxedos for their dogs. I hoped I would be there to see it.

I shivered in the cooling late-night air, and Lucas adjusted the wool blanket he’d draped over us as we cuddled on his couch.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to join you at Ron’s house for Christmas dinner?”

“Thank you, but no. You should be with your family. I’ll be okay. I’ll go, talk to them, then be at your place before dessert is served and the movie is cued.” If Ron hadn’t texted to remind me of his address and the invitation, I probably wouldn’t have gotten the nerve to go.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be there.” He glanced at his phone. “Looks like it’s midnight.” Lucas leaned in and kissed my neck. “Merry Christmas. The best gift I’ll get this year is you landing in my life and staying.”

My heart fluttered at his words. When I’d flown to Oregon, I’d thought, at best, I would catch an IRL glimpse of my family. I’d not only spent a lot of time with them, we’d built a relationship. Even though I needed to talk to them, I was growing more confident it would work out. Logic was finally winning out over fear.

I certainly never thought I would meet someone like Lucas and connect so strongly with him. I needed to stop letting fear rule me, particularly on things that mattered.

“You’re trying to make me blush.”

He flashed an impish grin. “Finally caught on to that, did you?”

I squirmed happily under his attention.

“I’ll go grab your gift.”

He’d gotten me something? I got up to retrieve his from where I’d been hiding it in my suitcase. I’d planned to leave it for him when I flew home.

When I returned to the living room, Lucas sat on the couch donning a Santa hat with a box on his lap. Was it a coincidence, or had he remembered what I’d said about the tradition I wanted to start?

I sat facing him on the couch, holding the envelope as my heart galloped. It was too soon to want a lifetime of opening Christmas gifts with Lucas at midnight, but I couldn’t stop craving a life with him. I wanted us to work out more than anything. When I imagined my new life in Dahlia Springs, Lucas was there for every moment.

Lucas handed me the box covered in awkwardly wrapped candy cane paper. It was perfect. The box was rectangular, over a foot wide, and about two inches deep. As I slid my finger underneath a crookedly taped edge, I caught sight of a reindeer face printed on the box. When I peeled the paper back, there was a Christmas scene of Santa and his reindeer parked on a rooftop at night. There were perforated boxes with a number on each.

“You got me an advent calendar?”

“It’s full of boozy chocolate truffles.”

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