Page 29 of Mistletoe, Mayhem & Mr. Grump
"That's beautiful," Teddy says, wiping his eyes.
"That's suspicious," Delia counters. "Kissing someone like you mean it is exactly what someone pretending to date you would do."
"That's... actually a good point," Wren admits.
"Thank you, I — wait, whose side are you on?" I ask her.
"I'm getting confused," she confesses under her breath.
"Me too," Teddy adds. "Are we for or against this relationship?"
"I'm for it," Giuseppe calls from the kitchen. "They ate with passion!"
"That's not a voting criterion," Delia says.
"It should be," Giuseppe argues, appearing with a tray of what might be cookies or possibly small weapons. "Love is about passion! And carbohydrates!"
"Those aren't related," I point out.
"Everything's related in matters of the heart," Giuseppe insists, forcing a cookie into my hand.
I take a bite. It's either delicious or deadly. Possibly both.
"Good?" Giuseppe asks eagerly.
"I'm having feelings," I say carefully.
"See? Cookies create feelings! Feelings create love! Love creates more cookie sales!" Giuseppe beams.
"That's not how economics works," I say.
"That's not how feelings work either," Wren adds.
"You two are perfect for each other," Mrs. Chang observes. "Both equally confused about everything."
"We're not confused," Wren protests.
"Then explain your relationship," Delia challenges. "Without looking at each other for help."
We immediately look at each other.
"That's what I thought," Delia says triumphantly.
"Fine," I say, standing up. "You want the truth?"
"Holden," Wren warns.
"Yes, I met Wren recently. Yes, the timing is convenient. Yes, my hands are suspiciously soft. But you know what? She makes me want to be someone who belongs here. Someone who knows how to fix cars and attends committee meetings and eat Giuseppe's possibly toxic cookies?—"
"Hey!" Giuseppe protests.
"And maybe that's not love yet, but it's something. And something is better than the nothing I had before," I finish.
Teddy is openly sobbing now, using his beard as a tissue. "That was beautiful," he manages between sobs.
"That was vague," Delia counters. "What nothing? Where's before?"
"Does it matter?" Wren asks, standing beside me. "He's here now. With me. Isn't that enough?"
