The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards #4)(15)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Tough luck. It’s a package deal.”

“I guess I’ll see it another time then.”

“Come on. Cut me a break here.”

“Why? You can easily see the movie alone too. Or ask my Dad. You seem to get along well.”

“I don’t want to go with your dad. I want to go with you.”

Wait. What was going on here? Was this all some weird twisted thing because he liked me? Was that why he was being so weird about Glen? Ugh, I didn’t need that. “Ok, our parents are dating. That means don’t go there.”

“I’m not asking you out.” Then he seemed to think over his words. “Not that you’re not great and all, but you’re right. Our parents are dating. I want to hang out and get to know each other. Whether you like it or not, we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other.”

“Oh yeah? You know something I don’t?”

He sighed. “Some, but don’t blow this into something it’s not. I promise to put all my cards on the table if you do the same thing.”

“Why? Why should I tell you anything?”

“Because you need someone to talk to. You might not want to admit it, but it’s true. And contrary to my earlier behavior, I’m not judgmental.”

I laughed dryly. “You’re one of the most judgmental people I’ve ever met.”

“I was just angry.”

“You had no reason to be mad.”

“I was annoyed and worried. Agree to come out. We can talk about all this later.”

I thought about it. If what Dalton was hinting at was true, then our parents were even more serious than I thought. That meant I’d be seeing Dalton if I ever wanted to see my dad, and considering how awkward visiting my mom was now, I wasn’t interested in making my dad’s visits bad too. “Fine. Truce accepted, but if you’re a jerk again I’m not forgiving you.”

“Fair terms.” He held out his hand. “Let’s shake on it.”

I laughed. “You’re something else.”

“So are you. You’re definitely different than your dad made you sound.”

“Do I want to know how he described me?”

“Kind of quiet, shy, and with a little bit of an attitude.”

“He didn’t.”

“He did.” Dalton nodded. “Don’t worry. My mom excitedly told him how great it was that I’d have someone just like me around.”

I laughed. “None of those words describe you.”

“Nor do they describe you. Obviously our parents don’t know us that well.”

“Sometimes that’s a good thing. If they knew the real us they probably wouldn’t let us go out on the town.”

He smiled. “Nope. They’d fear we were heading out for a night of wild clubbing and debauchery.”

“In Vail?”

He shrugged. “There has to be some of that here, right? Where do all the rich kids get plastered?”

Rich kids. That made me think of Glen and my chest tightened. “I wouldn’t know.”

Dalton seemed to sense the change in me. “All right, I’m leaving before you change your mind. The movie’s at six.”

“All right. Sounds good.” I stood up and stretched as soon as he closed the door behind him. At least we were going to see a good movie. I needed a distraction.

I took a quick shower and called Jade.

“Hey!” She answered right away. “Still having fun?”

“Not exactly.”

“Did you see him?”

“Glen?”

“Who else would I be taking about?” She covered the phone. “Mom, I’m on the phone with a friend. I’ll be down in a little bit.”

“Making sure she knows your every move?”

She groaned. “Don’t get me started. She actually tried to set me up on a blind date.”

“Ugh. That sounds awful.”

“Luckily the guy got sick.” She must have realized how her words sounded. “I don’t mean lucky he was sick because I want him sick. I meant so I didn’t—”

“I get it.”

“Ok, good. Now fill me in. What happened with Glen?”

“He told me we needed to talk, and I pretty much told him to hit the road.”

“Good for you. I told you you’d be fine.”

“Hopefully I can avoid another run-in.”

“You can do it, and it sounds like you’ve got people to hang out with.”

“Don’t even get me started there.”

“Uh oh.” She made some sort of rustling sound, but I didn’t ask what she was doing. “I thought they were cool.”

“They are. Well, the girl is. The guy, Dalton, is good at pushing my buttons.”

“Maybe that’s good. It can keep your mind off Glen.”

“Let’s hope.”

“Jade!” Someone yelled.

“I’m guessing you’ve got to go?”

“I’ll call you later.”

“Ok, talk soon.” I hung up. It sounded like Jade wasn’t having any more fun than I was.

***

“Why did you tell me the movie started at six?” I glanced at the marquee again. Dalton didn’t strike me as the kind of guy who would get a movie time wrong. He was too precise and calculated for that.

“I thought we could use the time to hang out before. I knew you wouldn’t have wanted to come early otherwise.”

I groaned. “Is this punishment for me splashing water on you? Because you are the one who called the truce.”

“I did call the truce, and I stand by it. Sit down. I’m not going to be able to pull what I did the other day, so what nonalcoholic drink can I get you from the bar?”

“Pineapple juice.”

“Pineapple juice? Interesting choice.”

“It’s sweet but not too sweet. What’s not to like?”

“If you say so.”

I took a seat at a long, high table with about ten chairs. I figured there was no reason to look for anything more intimate. I didn’t particularly want to talk to Dalton about anything. I people watched for a few minutes, half listening in on a conversation between two women who were probably in their early thirties. They were bemoaning the guys left in the dating pool after twenty-nine.

“Interesting conversation?” Dalton nudged me before he set my pineapple juice in front of me. “As tempted as I was to try the juice I went for a Coke.”