Page 61 of Mistletoe Misses
“I figured you’d thank me for that.”
“I’ll thank you for Jada—she is so hot.” He shoots me a grin over his shoulder and wiggles his dark brow. “But everyone else has been twice my age or older. More your speed.”
All three of our phones chime with a text, saving me from having to respond, and we dig into our pockets in unison.
Kendall:How’s it going? [kissy face emoji]
Aaron:Great until Madds dipped.
Me:I’m back so stop your whining.
Kendall:Why’d you leave? Did your lips get tired? [laughing emoji]
Cooper:Carmen cut in line, and he didn’t want an audience for that kiss.
Aaron:Which sucked. I wanted to witness their first kiss.
Me:Wasn’t the first.
Aaron:WHAT?!
Kendall:No way!
Cooper:Knew it.
Kendall:I need details … again with the secrets.
Me:I don’t kiss and tell. Hence the disappearing act.
Aaron:Damn.
Cooper:Can we get back to work, please?
Kendall:Kissing is work, Coop? You need to get out more.
Chapter 14
Maddox
Over the next two hours, every kiss compounds my need to erase them from my memory with the feel of Carmen’s skin. Addie must have changed her mind because after Cooper saw her in the beginning, she never reappeared. To say Aaron is disappointed would be the biggest understatement of the year, but he’ll have to drown his sorrows with someone else tonight. I have plans.
When the last woman exits the gazebo, I say goodbye to my brothers, jog across Main Street, and down Braddock Road to the hot cocoa stand. As promised, Carmen is waiting for me, but she’s not alone. Addie sits with her at a picnic table, and they’re deep in conversation.
She sees me stop inside the tent’s entrance, and I have all her attention. Following her gaze, Addie grins at me, then leaves to give us space. She and anyone with a view of us can hear our silent conversation this time. It’s loud, palpable, and as compelling as it has always been. So much for keeping our budding reconnection private.
On my way to her, she watches my every step and when I straddle the bench to sit facing her.
“Thank you for waiting.”
“I always will, Maddox. Until you say otherwise, and probably even then.”
I take her hand under the table to let her feel how much that statement affects me because I don’t have the words.
“Where’s Sadie?” I finally ask.
“Weekly grandparent’s sleepover,” she says, letting me know with her eyes that the offer for our own sleepover still stands. “Where’s Trixie?”
Jumping up in a panic, I bump my knee on the table and bounce through the radiating pain while searching for her. She’s not here. “I must have left her at the gazebo.”
