Page 59 of Welcome Home for Christmas
Although she had no idea what she’d say. She was mad that he’d taken from so many people. He’d tried to steal from her, too. Just another example of how clueless she was at reading people.
Good luck tonight,Julie texted then.Whether you’re admitting it yet or not, you like this guy.
Admitting it,Allison replied.
Eek!
Allison could only imagine her friend’s ear-piercing shriek.
It’s your turn to find love and happiness. You deserve it.
Allison grinned.Thanks,she typed back. Then she set her phone down and handled a few last-minute touches.
The doorbell rang right on time. No standing her up tonight. She tapped in her code and turned off her security alarm, then opened her front door.
Before she could even say hello, Troy stepped in and kissed her. “I love mistletoe,” he said.
“You don’t need it to get a kiss from me anymore.”
“Because you and I are a thing now.” Troy grinned. His brown eyes twinkled the way she’d grown to love. “I’m a little nervous,” he admitted then.
“Don’t be. You’ll be fine,” she said. Because she had a plan that wouldn’t allow for anything other than fine.
Allison did her best to not completely hyperventilate all the way to Dew Drop Lane in a prestigious waterside neighborhood on the outer edge of Seaside. All the large brick houses were decorated to the max. It was a sport in this community. A competition that she never understood.
“We need a code word. So if you’re about to completely do or say something that my mom will find fault with, I’ll say something to warn you,” she said.
“I thought there was no getting around your mom finding something on me. That’s why you chose me to bring.”
“But that was before…you know.”
“Before you decided it might be fun to keep me around?” He slid her a glance.
“I want my mom and stepdad to like you.”
“All I care about is you liking me,” he said seriously. “But, since their approval is important to you, what’s our code word?”
She tapped a finger to her chin. “It has to be something we wouldn’t say in natural conversation, so we don’t confuse things.”
He nodded. “Right. And it can be hard to get my attention sometimes, you know.” He reached for something on his dash and lifted up a branch of mistletoe. “They were selling this stuff like hotcakes at the café this morning. I thought it might do me some good to have it on hand, in case you didn’t readily forgive me for standing you up last night.”
Allison took the mistletoe in her hand and inspected the shiny green leaves and pearly white beads.
“If you need to shut me up, just say ‘mistletoe’ and hold it over my head. Kissing you will always grab my attention.”
They pulled into her parents’ driveway. There was no time for arguing or coming up with anything better. “Fine,” she said, stuffing the mistletoe into her pocket, and hoping with everything inside her that she wouldn’t have to use it.
—
Troy felt like he was walking into a hostage situation.
Careful steps.
Stay quiet.
No sudden movements.
Allison was at stake.
