The Hazards of Mistletoe Read online

  He took a photo of us with his phone, and miraculously neither of us fell over in the process.

  “How about we go over to the café and get some hot cocoa?”

  “Ice skating and hot cocoa? What are you buttering me up for?” I sat down on the bench and unlaced my skates. The snow was falling a little bit heavier, but the flakes were still light and more pleasant than a nuisance.

  “I’m just enjoying an evening with a beautiful woman. I do have a romantic side you know.”

  “Romantic?” What was Glen playing at? I’d had a crush on him for years, but things had stayed completely platonic. We were good friends who saw each other once a year, and teased each other through text messages and late night phone calls. That was it.

  He didn’t hear me. He was already in line to return our skates. I waited for him to return with my boots, and not for the first time I was glad I’d worn wool socks. It was cold during the day, but the nights were absolutely freezing.

  “Here you go, my lady.” He bent down and proceeded to put my foot into my boot.

  I pulled away from him. “Knock it off. What’s gotten into you tonight?” As charming as Glen was being something seemed off with him. I wondered if maybe I wasn’t the only one who was upset.

  He proceeded to move on to my next boot. “It’s Christmas Eve. Aren’t you Miss Holiday Spirit?”

  “Usually.”

  “Exactly.” He put on his shoes and tugged on my hand to pull me to standing. “Let’s get those hot chocolates.”

  The line at the café on the other side of the rink was nearly out the door, but I was enjoying Glen’s company so much I didn’t mind.

  He insisted on buying my hot cocoa for me, and considering he’d already paid for my skate rental, I was starting to feel uncomfortable. Glen had all the money he could ever need, but I wasn’t used to guys buying me anything. My dating experience wasn’t extensive, and it involved boys who were all about going dutch. “I really don’t mind paying.”

  “Yeah, but I want to pay. Stop arguing and enjoy yourself.” He lightly bumped his shoulder into mine.

  “Well, thanks.”

  We walked around the village sipping our hot chocolate and not saying much. After a while we took a seat on a bench. It was underneath a tree, and the pine needles blocked some of the falling snow. I closed my eyes and listened to the chatter of people walking by mixed with the low hum of holiday music.

  “You guys need to kiss.”

  I opened my eyes and saw a girl who was probably ten staring at us. “You’re sitting under mistletoe. That’s the rules. You’re under mistletoe, you kiss.”

  I looked up. Sure enough there was mistletoe hanging over us from the tree. It wasn’t real, it was just the decorative stuff they used, but it had the same unmistakable appearance.

  Glen put an arm around me. “I think she’s right, Savy.”

  I turned to glare at him. “Don’t even start.”

  “Why not? Scared to kiss me?” he teased.

  Yes. I was scared. Terrified. This was Glen. Kissing him wasn’t something I was prepared to do casually while sitting on a bench in the snow with a bunch of onlookers. Of course I couldn’t tell him that though. “Why would I be scared?”

  “I don’t know. Just checking.” He got a twinkle in his eye. That twinkle should have given me all the warning I needed, but it didn’t. I was wholly unprepared when his lips made contact with mine. They were warm and soft, and they moved perfectly against mine. I kissed him back, desperately wanting to know what his mouth tasted like, and if his tongue felt half as good as his lips—but the giggles of the little girl brought me back to earth. I jerked away. Glen sat there staring at me.

  “Merry Christmas,” the girl said in a sing song voice before hurrying off after her parents.

  “Our first kiss. It took a few years.” Glen was back to joking. That was usually how he handled things.

  “Yup. Was it all you wanted it to be?”

  Glen shook his head. “No.”

  I tried not to let his words get to me. I looked off. “Good, I wouldn’t want you getting too attached.”

  “I mean I wish it could have been more.”

  “Oh.” That changed things. “You mean you didn’t want to make out in front of a ten-year-old?”

  He laughed. “Not on my to-do list.” He opened his mouth like he was going to say more, but then he stopped.

  “What?”

  “What are your plans for the rest of the night?”

  “Nothing really.”

  “Any interest in watching a movie or something?”

  “That depends. What type?”

  “We can watch a Christmas one. It’s too cold to hang out here much longer, but I don’t really want to turn in yet.”

  “Ok. Let me just tell my dad where I’m going.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll do it. My parents are with your family. I think everyone went to see that show over at Vail Village tonight.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  He stood up and offered his arm. “Our movie awaits.”

  There was something different about walking with Glen after that kiss. I knew it didn’t mean anything to him, but I’d felt something I wasn’t sure I wanted to feel.

  “You still with me?” he asked as he opened the door to the main lobby of the building both of our families had rented condos in. We’d been spending Christmas week at the same place for years.

  “Yeah, sorry.”

  We walked through the busy lobby, past the families chatting over by the fireplace. I didn’t know what was bugging Glen, but he obviously wasn’t in the mood to hang out with family either. I figured his reason didn’t matter. At least I had some good company.

  We took the elevator up, and he opened the door to his condo. He gestured for me to enter.

  “Thanks.” I glanced around to make sure he was right about no one else being home. His family was nice, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk to them, especially after that kiss.

  “Let’s make this authentic. I’ll pour us some egg nog. You flip through the stations and find something Christmassy.”

  I walked over to the large picture windows and looked out. It was dark, but I could still make out the shadow of the mountain. “Do you have Christmas cookies too? I mean if we’re going all authentic.”

  “I do.” He headed into the kitchen. “Be right back.”

  After taking a seat on the plush couch, I slipped off my boots and curled my feet up under me. His condo was a mirror image of the one I was staying in down the hall. Even the furnishings were all the same. I’d just settled on Miracle on 34th Street, the original, when he walked back in balancing two glasses of egg nog and a plate of perfectly frosted cookies. “Refreshments have arrived.”

  He flipped the switch on the gas fireplace and turned off all but one lamp. “Now we’ve got the atmosphere. Let me grab a blanket though. It’s cold in here.”

  Glen returned a minute later with a blanket and sat down next to me. He put his arm around my shoulder. “Now we’re set.”

  “Ice skating, hot cocoa, and now this? I’m starting to worry about you, Glen.”

  “You forgot the mistletoe kiss.” He laid the blanket out over both of us. “You know I paid that little girl to do that.”

  “Oh yeah? What are child actors charging these days?”

  He grinned. “You don’t want to know.”

  I picked up my glass of egg nog, and Glen lightly tapped his glass against mine. “To our own version of Christmas Eve.”

  “Yes. To new traditions.” I snuggled into his side. Friends could snuggle. They could also kiss under mistletoe I reminded myself. The egg nog was strong, really strong, so I tried to drink it slowly.

  We watched a few minutes of the movie, but before long Glen’s commentary about the film took over, and neither us were really watching it. I turned around so I could look at him better. “This was really nice. I kind of needed it tonight. I’m glad we ran into each othe
r.”

  “We didn’t run into each other.” He leaned back against the arm of the couch, stretching out his long legs alongside my body.

  “We didn’t?”

  “No. You stopped in time.”

  I smiled. “Oh yes, physically we didn’t.”

  “You’ve gotten even prettier.” He watched me as he sipped his egg nog. “You’re probably one of those girls that’s going to be even hotter in your twenties and thirties. You’ll age well.”

  “Oh yeah? You know a lot about women in their twenties and thirties?” I set down my glass on the coffee table.

  “I’m just saying, you get prettier every year.” His eyes fixed on mine.

  I could feel blood rushing to my face. “Well you get more attractive too.”

  “I do?” He sat up and grabbed me around my waist. He lay back down, pulling me with him.

  “Yeah, you do. I don’t know if it’s going to continue into your thirties though. I can’t tell.”

  He laughed. “You’ll have to tell me then.”

  “You think we’ll still know each other then? I mean you’re only nineteen now.”

  “We will.” He slipped his hand underneath the hem of my sweater and ran two fingers over my skin. “I know we will. That’s the best part of only seeing each other once a year. There’s no reason for us to start hating each other.”

  “That’s a good point.” I closed my eyes, his fingers were cool from holding the cold eggnog, and they felt good as he brushed them against my skin again and again.

  “You’re going to have to be careful next year. When you start school.”

  “Why?” I asked carefully. I didn’t want to do anything that stopped him from touching me. His fingers had moved up slightly higher, and he was continuing the back and forth motion.

  “Because of what you look like. Guys are going to want to take advantage of you. You need to be smart.”

  “I can handle guys.”

  “Can you?” His hand moved up even higher, and I took in a deep breath. I wasn’t sure what game he was playing, but I liked it. The problem is I wanted more.

  “I’m very capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I know you are. I just worry about you.”

  “You already told me that.”

  “And I wish you didn’t live so far away.”

  “Didn’t you just tell me it’s better that we hardly see each other because we won’t hate each other?”

  “Yeah, that’s not true. I wouldn’t hate you if I saw you every day. We’d still be friends.” His hand brushed right underneath my bra. Why was he talking about being friends as he touched me in a very un-friend like way?

  Was he waiting for me to disagree? Was this when I was supposed to make a choice? “Do you think we always have to keep things just as friends? I mean you did hire that girl to make us kiss.” I decided to continue along with his joke.

  “I did.”

  “And you are practically feeling me up right now.” I expected him to pull his hand back, and prepared myself for the lack of contact.

  Instead his hand only stilled. “Does this bother you?”

  “No.” It didn’t. The only thing that bothered me was that he was stopping. I slipped my hand under his t-shirt.

  His hand started moving again, and he slipped his fingers underneath my bra, still just missing my breast. It was like torture.

  “You can keep moving up you know. I like the way your hand feels.”

  “Were you telling me the truth when you told me about that guy?”

  “Hmm?” I didn’t really want to talk about any other guy.

  “The one you said you slept with. We were texting at like one a.m. a few months ago.”

  “That was actually three a.m. for me.”

  “Same difference. Were you telling me the truth?”

  “Yes.” Why was he doing this? Why was he bringing up bad memories?

  “And it was really that bad? You really didn’t enjoy it?”

  “Are you trying to embarrass me?”

  “No. I’m just asking. I hate that your first experience with a guy sucked like that. A girl like you deserves better.”

  “And who’s going to give me better? You?”

  “I wish.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He pulled his hand out from under my shirt. “We shouldn’t be doing this.”

  “Why not? I’m eighteen and we’re not kids anymore. We’ve known each other for years.”

  “Because my parents could be home at any time.”

  “They won’t be back for an hour, and you have your own room. Why can’t we move there?” I wasn’t sure why I was pushing for it so hard, but once the possibility entered my mind, I wanted it.

  His jovial flirtatious side disappeared and was replaced by a seriousness that was at odds with his usual personality. “See this is why you’re going to get yourself hurt next year.”

  “I’m not going to get hurt.” I didn’t think, I just acted. I pressed my lips against his as I climbed onto his lap, straddling him while he still reclined on the couch. He didn’t respond at first, but then moments later he was pushing for access to my mouth. I gladly gave it. He hand moved under my sweater again, but this time he pushed it right under my bra, cupping my breast in the same motion. He squeezed my breast as his tongue continued to move with mine.

  I struggled with his belt, wanting to feel him in my hand. Wanting to know if he wanted me the same way I wanted him. He helped me, easing his zipper down, and adjusting himself before letting me take him in my hand. He groaned, squeezing my breast harder as I stroked him. He broke the kiss. “Not out here.”

  I moved off his lap, releasing him so I could walk toward the room I knew was his. He caught up with me, closing and locking the door before he nearly tackled me to the bed. He leaned over me. “You’re such a trouble maker.”

  “So are you. What’s the problem?” I sat up enough to pull off my sweater. He’d already unclasped my bra, so it just hung off me. Before I could get rid of it he did it himself. He lowered his mouth down to my breast. I reached for him again. He released my breast. “Want me to make that easier for you?”

  “Yes.” This was happening. I was going to have sex for the second time, and this time was going to be so much better than the first.

  He pushed off his jeans and boxers, standing there in only his shirt. “I guess I should take this off too.” He tossed his shirt.

  My eyes widened as I watched him standing there completely naked. He was so muscular, so strong. “Now I feel overdressed,” I joked, hoping he’d get the hint and get rid of my jeans. He got the hint all right. He had my jeans, panties, and socks off all at once.

  “You’re so damn beautiful.” He just stood there looking at me. “And so innocent.”

  I sat up slightly.

  “We can’t do this.” He started getting dressed.

  “Wait. What? You’re stopping again?” I held my sweater up against my chest. “Why? I thought you said I was beautiful?” I could feel the tears stinging in the corners of my eyes.

  “Too beautiful for someone like me.” He grabbed the rest of his clothes. “Do us both a favor and get dressed and get out of here before I get back. We can pretend this never happened.” He didn’t look back. He disappeared out the doorway.

  I lay there motionless for a moment. What had just happened? Had Glenn undressed me and rejected me? Too beautiful for him? What bullshit. I’d never been more humiliated in my entire life. I snapped out of my daze and quickly got dressed.

  I knew I could do one of two things. I could run and hide, or I could face him head on. I ran out of his condo and downstairs. I couldn’t find him at first, but finally there he was. He was right by the ice rink. He turned around and his eyes met mine. He scowled and turned away.

  It was as though someone had punched me in the gut. My stomach churned, and I could feel the egg nog coming up. After one last glance at Glen’s back, I
ran upstairs to our condo.

  “Savy, is that you?” Dad called when I walked in.

  “Oh, hi, Dad.” I tried to pull myself together. I hadn’t expected anyone to be there.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I need to talk to you though.”

  “About what?” Dad patted the seat next to him on the couch.

  I stayed standing. “Can we leave after tomorrow and do something just us?” I crossed my fingers that he’d agree. I couldn’t risk facing Glen again.

  His face fell. “I’m actually planning to leave on Monday anyway. I’ve got a meeting.”

  “Oh, well then I might leave at the same time.”

  “You want to see your mom?”

  Technically that was true even though she definitely wouldn’t be home. “Yeah. Would you mind changing my ticket?”

  “It’s fine, but I’ll let you tell your grandparents.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” I stood up. “I’m going to turn in.”

  In the end the only flight Dad could get me on was the next night. I plastered a smile on my face during the Christmas festivities for the sake of my family, but I didn’t leave the condo. I held myself together as best I could, and before I knew it I was saying goodbye to my dad at the airport.

  It wasn’t until I was seated on the plane that I let the tears start. I was never going back. Nothing could make me face Glen again. I’d never been more humiliated in my life. I’d visit my grandparents another time. I’d make it up to them for running out. I was going to be okay, but I was never going to be the same. And neither was Christmas.

  Chapter Two

  Savannah

  One Year Later

  “Savannah, you ready?” Jade asked from the doorway. By the end of first semester she’d become one of my best friends at Harrison University. We’d bonded over the fact that neither of us really belonged in a sorority. We faked it well though. Although we didn’t go out together a lot, we spent a lot of late nights talking and trying to settle into our new lives at school.

  “I think so, but I wish you could help me come up with an excuse to get me out of this.”

  She sat down on the end of my bed. “It’s the holidays with your family. Whether you want to go or not, it’s pretty much required.”