Page 11 of A Mistletoe Mix Up
“Well, I’ve seen the way you two look at each other.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
He has a knowing glint in his eyes. “You just need to stop pretending. Admit your feelings. And ask that girl out already.” He sternly nods.
Andrew shrugs like “well, he’s right.” And Randy holds his hand over his mouth, covering his smirk.
“Well, I’m off to see Gerald. The Captain doesn’t have all day. See you at home, Grayson.” He taps my shoulder, then turns to Andrew and Randy. “Gentleman, see you later.”
Randy lets out a low whistle, and Andrew claps me on the shoulder, sympathy etched on his face.
“He’s got a point,” Andrew says. “Love is a blessing, man. Look at Jane and me.”
“When you find the right girl, it’s worth it. You just have to take a leap of faith,” Randy says.
I agree with that. I know love is worth it. But is Tandy the right girl?
I don’t know. And we have a good thing going on already. Why ruin that? Why risk losing her?
Randy continues, “Worst-case scenario? You remain friends. Best-case? You’ve found the love of your life. The one you get to wake up to every day. Fall asleep next to every night. And make memories in between.”
“Is that what you did with Melissa?” I ask.
“You bet. Risked it, and I’d say it’s turned out better than I expected.”
Chapter Six
Tandy
The second my sock hits the floor, cold water soaks it.
“Wonderful,” I mutter to myself.
I must have spilled my water again. I’ve got to get a new bottle that doesn’t leak. As I stand up, I rub my eyes, then squint at the floor. A dim light shines its way through the window curtains,casting a glow across my house. It’s not a tiny spill; it’s a puddle. In fact, the entire hardwood floor is covered in a thin layer of water.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I grumble, stepping through the water toward the bathroom. My rug squelches under my feet, drenching the bottom of my pajama pants. I stand in the doorway to the bathroom to see water flowing from under the cabinet sink. I open the cabinet door, looking to see if there’s a way to stop it. I try what I think is a shutoff valve, but it does nothing. Panicked, I grab my phone and call Mr. Johnson.
The ringing tone pulses in my ear. “Come on!”
Throwing all the towels I have on the floor, I’m relieved when he finally answers and says he’ll be right over.
I’m sure it was only a few minutes, but it feels like hours before there’s a faint knock. I sprint to the door, almost slipping again.
“Oh dear!” Mrs. Johnson gasps. “I’ll get more towels.” She turns back toward their house.
“I’ll shut off the main water valve. Be back in a jiffy,” Mr. Johnson says before dashing off.
Alone again, I look around at my books and clothes scattered everywhere. I gather everything and pile it on my bed. This is a nightmare.
After the very exciting morning I’ve had (I say withheavysarcasm), I’m beyond ready for my break. Jane told me to take the day off, but I couldn’t fathom what I would even do. I gathered all my important belongings and put them in Wanderer. Mr. Johnson called the plumber who was there before I left for work. There’s nothing else for me to do. And according to Mr. Johnson, whatever is damaged should bereplaced through my renter’s insurance. They made sure I got it when I moved in.
I make my third cup of coffee, because on a day like this, two isn’t enough. Jane added a coffee station when she reopened the store, and all the customers are thrilled about it, especially the moms during story hour. I settle into my favorite place in Timeless Tales, a cozy armchair by the front window, with my sketchbook in hand.
I’ve always found solace in drawing. I love reading, but words aren’t my strong suit. I’ve filled my sketchbooks with my memories, pieces of me scattered across the pages. When I turned twenty, I said goodbye to my mama, hopped in my faded green Volkswagen van, and set off all across the US. My adventures are all in here—big cities, pine forests, clear blue lakes.
That’s actually how I stumbled upon Oakridge Hollow. I was traveling to New York City when Wanderer broke down on me. I got it towed into this small town, and it wasn’t a simple fix or a cheap one. So, I needed a job and a place to stay. That’s when I got wind of an opening at the bookstore.
Jane had just purchased it, and the other two employees, Erin and Dee, were on maternity leave or vacation, so she desperately needed help. I snagged the job, one I’d enjoy and could save up and fix Wanderer. I found a small back house that an elderly couple, the Johnsons, had available for cheap rent.
