Page 84 of That Time We Kissed Under the Mistletoe
My lids flutter, fighting tears. “Your appointment’s in the morning. You really should get some rest.”
“Nope, thanks,” he says. He waits until I’m done blinking, then our eyes lock. “I told you I’d clean up tonight,” he says. “And I’m never breaking my word to you again.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sara
Eleven Years Ago: August
I can’t sleep knowing my mom’s making me go back to the city with her tomorrow, two whole days earlier than we actually have to leave.
Apparently, she’s tired of only being with my dad when he visits on weekends, and she just wants to be with him full-time again. Yeah, Mom. I get it.
I just want to be with Three full-time too.I’d evensettle for two more days.
But surprise, surprise, Katherine Hathaway won. She’s the adult, so she wins. Every time.That’s why we hardly ever fight. I haven’t told Three yet, but he’ll probably be a good sport about it. He’s so understanding. And he’s all about respecting our parents.
I just don’t want to end such an amazing summer on a sour note.And I hate fighting with my mom, which only makes sleeping harder.
Why can’t loving people be easier?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Sara
“Sare-Bear!” Bristol’s face fills the screen and a massive smile hijacks her face. Until she gets a load of me and my poor tear-streaked cheeks. “What’s wrong? Are you crying?”
“Not too much,” I snuffle.
She frowns so deep I’m afraid the crease might slice her skull. “Is it Three? Do you need me to fly there tonight to beat him up? I’ll totally cancel my plans.”
“You can’t do that.” I throw myself backward on the bed, holding the phone up above my face.
“I’m not even kidding,” she says. “I mean, I probably couldn’tactuallyget a flight on such short notice, but Iwouldblow off my date if you want to talk. In fact, I’m going to text the guy right now. We’ve never even gone out before, so I don’t need to?—”
“No, don’t cancel.” I sniffle and flip over onto my stomach. “Maybe just stay on the phone with me until you have to leave?”
“Of course.” Bristol tips her head, and her blonde bob swings across her chin. “So what’s going on? Did Three do something awful?”
I glance at the shut bedroom door. “Right now, he’s in the kitchen washing all the dishes and cleaning up after dinner.”
“Okaaaay.” Bristol processes the information, then her frown softens. “I’m sorry, Sara, but that kind of sounds like heaven in a man.”
“I know.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“He just shared something with me. About the past. And I don’t know if it’s true, or if it’s just some warped version of reality that makes him feel better about what happened with us.”
“Got it.” Bristol nods. “So what does your gut tell you?”
I chew my lip. If I had the answer to that I probably wouldn’t have spent the past five minutes crying. “A part of me wants to believe him,” I say, “because that would mean he really did love me at one point. But the other part …” My breath catches.
“Hold on.” She props her phone on the vanity and pulls her stool out from under the counter. “This sounds like a long story.”
“It is!” I let out a hiccup-y breath. “And your inoculation totally wore off!”
Bristol sends me a small, sympathetic smile. “There’s plenty more where that came from, my friend.Ifyou need it. But I’ll need more details if I’m going to help you. Do you mind if I put on my makeup while we talk?”
