The Hazards of Mistletoe (Hazards #4)(3)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Hey, I haven’t said it yet.”

“I can tell that you’re going to.” He fidgeted with the zipper on his deep red ski jacket.

“It is possible for a girl to say no to you.”

“I don’t doubt it, but not this time. This time you’re all about skating with me.”

“I hope you can keep up.” I headed over to the skate rental line. I didn’t mind if we had to wait. I was in no rush to get back to the condo.

“I played hockey for twelve years. I wouldn’t worry.” His shoulder brushed against mine as he waited right next to me.

“Hockey shmocky, that doesn’t mean you have my grace or speed.”

He laughed. “Ok, you’re totally over that stuff with your mom.”

I wasn’t, but I was good at pretending things didn’t bother me. I understood that no one wanted to be around someone in a bad mood. The line moved slowly, but finally we reached the counter. Glen insisted on paying for my skates, so I let him. I took my white skates and sat down to put them on. The cold seeped through my jeans making me wish I was wearing my long pea coat.

With our skates on, we stepped onto the ice that was lit up by bright white lights strung up above the rink. Despite my bragging about speed, that wasn’t going to happen on the crowded ice. Still, it felt good to glide around, and I did get to show off a few of my tricks. My years of lessons had paid off, even if ice skating wasn’t the most popular activity in South Carolina.

For his part, Glen nearly made me fall over laughing as he sang along to White Christmas in an absolutely horrid take on a crooner voice.

Just when I thought the night couldn’t get any more picturesque the snow started. The snow was light at first, but it was enough to have everyone excited. “Looks like your song worked.”

“You shouldn’t be surprised. I’m very talented.” He put an arm around me. “Are you ready to go, Tinker Bell?”

“Tinker Bell? Since when do fairies ice skate?”

“I don’t know. It’s the blonde hair and green jacket I guess.”

I laughed. “You watch too many Disney movies.”

“You can never watch any Peter Pan adaptation too many times.”

“Why? Because you share Peter’s mantra, ‘never grow up’?” Glen definitely had an immature streak in him, but it didn’t bother me as much as it did with other guys. He knew when to shut it off.

He leaned in close. “Growing up is overrated.”

“It is.” I sighed. I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea that I was graduating. College had always seemed like this far off place or idea I’d never actually reach. I was down to only eight months.

“Before we go, I need a picture.”

“A picture?” I was never much of a picture person. I wasn’t photogenic.

“Yeah, to remember I went skating with Tinker Bell.”

I laughed. “Sure. How can I deprive you of that?”

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.