Page 5 of Mr. Mistletoe
“I miss this.” Dad says.
We all do and this was worth it. My family means the world to me.
Kimberly
I’ve been running around like a headless chicken all morning after getting off the phone with Deacon. My stomach is in knots and it shouldn’t be. My leg starts to bounce as we wait for my mom to pick me and my fake fiancée, James, up.
So, my crazy behind decided on an elaborate plan. One that only Mack and my best friend, Arden, can help me with. I know that it’s insane, but I need Deacon to see that I’d fight for him. There are so many wrongs that I need to right with him. This is my way of declaring my love for him and fighting for him at the same time. His entire family and mine are on board, just not Deacon, and my mom only knows a little bit because she can’t keep a damned secret. I’m going to plan our wedding but under the guise that I’m planning a wedding with James. He’s helpful too because James is a close friend that I met during my residency in New York. He’s going to play the part of a really shitty fiancée and man, so that will help Deacon want me again. It’s a very risky plan, but it’s the only one that I have that can make me think of getting him back. I messed up so many times and I stayed away from him. Kept him at arm’s length and now, I want to be in his arms.
To Deacon, James is the head surgeon at the hospital that I’ve been working for in New York. We met when I first started doing my residency. I started becoming lonely because I didn’t have time to come back home to visit my mom, my best friends, and the families. My mom tried calling me, but I was trying so hard to work at that hospital and not miss any hours that I never had time to sit with her. That is the story I’m going with, and I’ve repeated it to everyone to the point that I almost sent notes just to make sure they had it down, but Mack advised me against it because it leaves evidence for Deacon to find. It goes with how life is for me. How I was facing my own issues and staying away from Fairhope. I did get busy, and I had no time for even family. It made me sad, but I accepted it.
Mom stopped visiting, and I always postponed things with everyone else. Arden definitely forced her way into making always talk to her. I love her for that—her and Mack.
Deacon tried his best but backed off when he got into a relationship with Annabelle. Apparently, they broke up and now I know it’s my chance. I can’t give him up for anyone else and I don’t want anyone to have him either. He’s meant for me; emotions spike when I get a text from Mack saying my mom told them to come to pick us up.
By them, I figure he means Arden, but that is not who walks into the Fairhope-Winters international Airport with him. My eyes widen as I take in not one but two Fairhope men standing there. I didn't even know when I started walking towards Deacon until I came to a stop. I don’t think I’m breathing as I take in both of them, it’s been years since I’ve seen these two—my favorite Fairhope boys. Now, I take in Mack first being that he’s a safer bet. His grey t-shirt hugs his body along with his fitted jeans and boots. He winks at me. He looks good, but when I sneak a glance at Deacon, I almost run back towards the gate I exit to tell them, I’m in the wrong city, actually no scratch that state.
Those piercing light mismatched eyes keep me frozen on the spot. Deacon smirks at me and I swear my heart beats out of order. Deacon Hiram Fairhope, Cowboy Casanova, does not smile, he smirks and when that happens, you know he’s happy to see you. I bite my bottom lip as I take him in. I forget about everything and everyone around as I hyper-focus on Deacon. I’ll say New York has finally stepped foot back in Fairhope. His dark t-shirt hugs his chest showing all the muscles I hadn’t seen in years or rather when was the last time I honestly stalked on Instagram? I lowly groan as my eyes venture lower to his power thighs and legs in his dark faded jeans with the boots like his brother but got damn, it makes me smile when I see that signature Deacon look; his Stetsons. This one matches the t-shirt.
“If it isn’t sweet Kimberly St. Andrews,” Mack breaks my concentration and walks towards me first.
He yanks me up off the floor and hugs me tight. I chuckle hugging him back, I forgot how much I miss his bear hugs. “Hi, Mack. I missed you.” I wrap my arms around him. “You couldn’t tell me you were bringing your brother?” I whisper.
Mack chuckles. “It makes your plan go much smoother now, don’t you think?”
“Yes. Thank you for helping me.”
Mack hugs me tighter. “I’m not just helping you, I’m helping him too. Deac will never love another as he loves you and now, you own up your grown woman status. You’re showing your present what your future will be like together.”
I return the tight hug. Grateful for Mack. “I’ll love you forever.”
Mack chuckles. “Does your friend have all the details, though?”
My mind goes blank. Did I forget to mention that I didn’t give my fake fiancée all the details about Deacon Fairhope? That he was the man who took my virginity at 18-years- old and I broke his heart when I chose to go back to the Big Apple for Med school instead of staying to be with him. Deacon isn’t the type to dwell on such things because from the fact that he’s engaged to Annabelle, it means he’s moved on. “By the way, I might’ve also forgotten to mention that Annabelle and Deacon broke things off more than six months ago not recently,” Mack whispers in my ear.
“What? I could’ve done this sooner? why didn’t you tell me?” I ask as he spins me a bit.
“Don’t worry bout’ it. Just glad you’re here,” Mack whispers back as he kisses my cheek.
Before he can let me go, I feel myself being pulled away from Mack. An arm wraps around my waist, yet my feet don’t set on the floor. “Now that ain’t the kinda greetin’ you give your best friend now is it, Mamita?” Deacon teases with my favorite nickname from him. I never thought being called that would even be cute. Deacon leans into my ear. “Give me what I deserve.”
My eyes widen and I try to wiggle out of his hold. I forget that I’m playing a damned part right now. I’m acting. What the hell, Kimberly. Snap out of it and act right! For now, “You need to put me down, Deacon.”
Deacon wraps his other arm around me and the second he takes a deep breath, I feel his front on my back. I forget what it is I should be doing and I relax leaning into him. A million memories combust in my head of fingers touching, caressing—kisses all over my body and him, Deacon. As if Deacon can read where my mind went, he puts me down and turns me around.
Deacon cocks his brow. “It’s good to see you, sweet thing,” he says.
I melt at the nickname and do what I naturally do when he calls me that. I close the space between us, wrap my arms around his waist, pulling at his shirt tight in my hands and lay my head on his front. My head comes right underneath his chest—since that’s as tall as I’m getting with this giant at five foot three— and I shut my eyes as he hugs me back. “I’ve missed you so, so much, Deacon.”
I hear him snort. “I’ve missed your little ass too, sweet thing. Now, introduce me to the man that I’ve never heard of,” he says, and the tone in his words makes my whole body freeze up.
I clear my throat and get out of the hold, embarrassed that I lost my composure. He thinks James is my real fiancée. I need to act right. I turn towards my fiancée who is chatting it up with Mack. “James, honey,” I go to him and grab his hand. “I want you to meet my other best friend, Deacon.”
I turn to look at an unrecognizable expression from Deacon. His signature cocked brow tells me he’s not impressed, and he’s angry, but he smiles, showing his smile, the one that is usually followed by an insult. He looks down at our joined hands and back up at James. James doesn’t understand it and smiles back instead. “Hi, heard a lot about you, I’m James Quinton Johnson, the 3rd, you may call me James if you’d like.” He stretches his hand out.
Deacon stares at James not giving his hand out. “I haven’ heard shit all about you. Says a lot about all of this, doesn’t it?” He says and tips the bridge of his Stetson, “I’m parked out front, I’m sure you’ve got the bags.” He snorts and walks out.
Mack chuckles. “Welcome to Fairhope, James Quinton Johnson the 3rd. I’ve got the bags, ya’ll go out to the truck, Deacon’s drivin’.”
