He felt thankful that his assistant had reminded him about this engagement. His filming schedule was so hectic it was hard to remember what day it was sometimes. Without the reminder, Dante would have totally forgotten his promise to Tess.
As he made his way through the building, he easily spotted Tess, who was waiting for him in the hallway outside her classroom. She heaved a big sigh of relief when she saw him walking toward her. She was dressed in an adorable blue jumper with matching leggings and a pair of Mary Janes.
“Dante! You came! I was hoping you didn’t forget.” Tess wrapped her arms around his waist and grinned up at him. Not that he needed a payoff for stopping by Tess’s school for the special program, but if there was one, this was it.
“What? How could I forget about today? It’s the best invite in town.”
The smile Tess had on her face made him feel ten feet tall. She grabbed his hand and brought him into the classroom where she began introducing him to her classmates and teacher. Dante spoke to the kids about reaching for your dreams and never giving up on them. After a Q&A session followed by punch and cookies, Dante headed out of the classroom to a chorus of thank-yous and hugs. The kids had made him feel like an actual VIP with their enthusiasm and interest in his career.
On his way out back down the corridor, he crossed paths with Stella. She was dressed in a pair of dark slacks and a cream silk top. He’d totally forgotten she was a second-grade teacher at this very school. The job fit her personality since she exuded a gentle vibe. It angered him to know she’d been dealt such a bad hand with her fiancé.
“It’s official,” Stella said. “Tess thinks you hung the moon. It was sweet of you to come today as her special guest. I know the school district can’t wait to shout it from the rooftops.”
“It was my pleasure. Something tells me Tess usually gets what she wants,” he said with a throaty laugh. “I have to admire her pluck.”
“You’re not wrong about that,” Stella said, shaking her head. Her steely-eyed gaze went straight through him, and her mouth was settled in a harsh, thin line. He had the distinct impression she was itching to say something that had nothing to do with today’s school program.
“Dante, I have to know.” She knit her brows together. “You and Lucy? What’s going on there?”
“What exactly are you asking me, Stella?” he asked gruffly. Stella’s disapproval bounced off her in waves. It made him feel antsy, as if something bad was about to crash down on him. It was best she got straight to the point for both their sakes. He was about to jump out of his skin.
“I would ask what your intentions are, but then I’d sound like someone from a century ago.” She quirked her mouth. “Last time things didn’t end so well with the two of you. I don’t want to see Lucy hurt again. So, as her big sister, I’m just telling you to be careful with her.”
A sigh slipped past his lips. Why did it seem as if everyone in Mistletoe was just waiting for him to mess up again? It stung way more than he wanted to admit, even to himself. “I don’t blame you for being wary of me, but I’m not going to hurt her.”
“I always liked you, Dante. And I rooted for you and Lucy. But that was before you turned Lucy’s world upside down. I know what that feels like and I really don’t want to see her get slammed again.” Stella folded her arms across her chest. “Not by you. Not by anyone.”
“Neither do I,” Dante said in a quiet voice. He felt a little bit humbled by Stella’s words. The love she felt for Lucy shone like a beacon. She was being protective in the same way Dante would be if he viewed someone as a threat to Troy’s peace of mind. He didn’t know what else to say to reassure her. How could you prove that you wouldn’t hurt someone? It was near impossible to put into words the way he felt about Lucy.
“I’ve got to get back to class. Thanks again for coming,” Stella said, nodding her head before taking off at a fast clip down the hall.
As he walked back outside into the brisk chill of a Maine morning, Dante felt a shiver run across the back of his neck. Something about his conversation with Stella was bothering him. He’d basically promised not to break Lucy’s heart. It was a vow he intended to keep, but he was well aware that so many things were outside of his control. He hadn’t even discussed anything with Lucy about the future, most likely because he didn’t have a single clue as to what to say.
He felt things for Lucy he’d never experienced with any other woman, but was it crazy to try to make this thing between them official? With his hectic lifestyle in California, what could he offer Lucy? Her life was here in Mistletoe and his was on the West Coast. It was a lot more complicated than their feelings for each other.
Knowing he wanted to see her tonight, Dante pulled out his cell phone and messaged her. Hey there, beautiful. We’re filming at MHS tonight. Maybe we can grab dinner afterwards? 7 o’clock?
A few minutes later she texted him back. Sounds like a plan. I’ve been craving spaghetti all day. Followed by a smiley face emoji. Dante grinned at his phone screen. He would meet up with Lucy tonight and they would talk about where things were going with them. Dante had a feeling Lucy’s feelings mirrored his own. He was in love with Lucy. If she felt the same way about him, anything was possible. A smile tugged at his lips. Especially at this time of the year.
* * *
Lucy studied her reflection in the rearview mirror. “Not bad,” she said, giving herself high marks for her makeup application. She’d carefully blended her foundation on her face after using a primer, then used eye shadow and an eyeliner to highlight her eyes. Her lips were a berry red. As a final touch, Lucy had applied mascara and bronzer to accentuate her cheekbones. Her hair fell around her face in soft waves. Most days Lucy was fairly no-frills regarding makeup, but since she was surprising Dante on set before their dinner date, she’d wanted to get a little bit more glammed up than usual. She was wearing a red sweater dress with black leggings. Cute but comfy.
By showing up for the actual filming, she was being spontaneous, which had always been a bit difficult for her. Lucy liked order in most areas of her life. As a kid, the idea of coloring outside the lines had been shocking. Things like punctuality and following the rules were ingrained in her, although lately she’d been tempted to disrupt her orderly life and shake it up a bit. Lucy knew it had everything to do with Dante. He brought out this side of her.
Little by little, fun Lucy was coming out of the shadows. Dante had invited her to dinner and he’d let her know he was working this evening. He hadn’t invited her to stop by the set, but it would serve as a sweet surprise. It was fitting that Dante was filming at Mistletoe High School. Much of their love story had played out within these walls. She didn’t have to work too hard to figure out where all the action was taking place. Loud noises led her straight to the school gymnasium where cast and crew members were milling about. Lucy scanned the area for Dante, but she didn’t see him anywhere in the crowd.
After a few minutes of searching, Lucy figured her best bet was to ask one of the crew members. Luckily, she spotted one of the cameramen she’d met during the library shoot.
“Hey, Sam. Remember me? We met over at the library,” she said.
“Of course I do. Lucy, right?” Sam asked, smiling at her. “What can I do for you?”
“I was looking for Dante, but I can’t seem to find him.”
Sam looked around then turned back to her. “We’re on a short break, so he might have gone outside for a little air. I would go down the corridor and look out in the courtyard.”
“Thanks, Sam,” Lucy said. She knew exactly the area Sam mentioned. The courtyard had been Lucy and Dante’s lunch spot when they were upperclassmen. Lucy smiled remembering all the snowball fights that had broken out during lunch period with their friend group. Dante had always been at the forefront of the mischief with his impish grin and devil-may-care attitude. They’d shared some wonderful times over the years. She was looking forward to more in their future.
After roundin
g the corner, she headed toward the courtyard. Lucy peered through the window. When she caught a glimpse of Dante, her body tensed. He was standing in the courtyard locking lips with Missy. Lucy would recognize her anywhere with her long hair extensions and va-va-voom figure. Through a haze, Lucy saw Dante’s arms around Missy. A hiss escaped her lips as she quickly retreated back down the corridor and away from the sight of them. Almost on autopilot, she made her way outside, through the lot and to her car. Tears stung her eyes. She rested her head on the steering wheel and slowly counted to ten before she revved the engine and took off. Lucy needed to get as far away as possible even though she knew the image of Dante and Missy would be impossible to forget.
She felt so incredibly stupid and humiliated. How had she allowed Dante to crush her spirit once again? Why would he do this to her?
What had she expected? Dante hadn’t made her any promises. He hadn’t jerked her around. This time it had been all about her and the way she’d allowed her heart to rule her head. At twenty-eight years old she should have known better. Hadn’t Stella warned her about falling for Dante all over again? Hadn’t she seen all the warning signs about Missy? But Lucy had steadfastly ignored them. She’d gotten carried away by all the memories and the way he made her feel.
She let out a sob. Tears streamed down her face and she angrily wiped them away. Maybe she was just one of those people who would love only one person for her entire life. Perhaps Dante was that person.
She still loved him, and she’d foolishly let herself believe that there was a place for her in his life…and in his heart. Perhaps it had been the magic of the holidays. Or the memories that were hovering around them like ghosts of Christmases past. The truth was she’d never gotten over him. She’d loved him all this time. Oh, she’d stuffed it down into a little black hole where no one, including herself, could see it. But it had been there under the surface just waiting to make an appearance again. It had all come roaring back as soon as he’d returned to Mistletoe.
* * *
As soon as Dante felt Missy’s lips against his own he went into full-blown shock. It was as if his brain couldn’t process what was happening. Within seconds he placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed her away. Her mouth hung open with astonishment. She took a step toward him, but Dante held up his hand to ward her off.
“No!” he said sharply. “Stay where you are. That was way over the line, Missy.”
“I was just trying to show you how much I admire you, Dante.” Missy looked bewildered, as if she truly didn’t understand where she’d gone wrong.
He clenched his teeth. “That’s not how to do it. What if the rest of the crew had seen you kissing me? It’s inappropriate to say the least.”
“I’ve never had anyone complain about being kissed by me.” Missy’s inflection was teasing but completely unsuitable considering the circumstances. Was that a smirk on her face?
He frowned at her. “It’s not funny, Missy. I’m the director of this film. I set the tone for what happens on set, and I’m not going to allow your antics to ruin my reputation. I have rules about being involved with cast members. Up until now I’ve given you a pass about being flirtatious with me, but this is too much. I’m not interested in you in a romantic way. Period. Point-blank. This is your last warning to keep things professional. If you try something again, I’ll be forced to recast you and reshoot your scenes with another actress.”
The moment the words came out of his mouth, Missy burst into tears. Her shoulders heaved with huge sobs. “I-I’m so sorry, Dante. I promise you it’ll never happen again.” She swiped at her tears with the hem of her shirt. “It’s no excuse, but Scott and I have been going through a rough patch. I had a miscarriage a few months ago and it’s really taken its toll on our relationship.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “I want to be respected in this industry, so moving forward I have to remember to act like a professional. I’m sorry I put you in such an awkward position.”
Dante heard contrition in her voice, but he was a huge believer in actions speaking louder than words. “We’ll see,” he said in a clipped voice before turning away from Missy and heading back to the set.
On his way, he was stopped by Sam, one of his crew members. “Hey, Dante. Did Lucy find you?”
“Lucy? Was she here?” Dante asked, looking all around the area. “I haven’t seen her.”
“She headed toward the courtyard not too long ago,” Sam said, pointing down the hall. “Maybe you just missed her.”
Dante’s heart seized. The courtyard? Was it possible she’d seen him with Missy and misunderstood the situation? Although he wanted to believe there was some other explanation for her to have disappeared, he couldn’t think of a single one that made sense. Hoping to catch her before she left, he headed out to the parking lot and scoured the area for Lucy’s car. After a few minutes he pulled out his cell phone and called her. When she didn’t answer, Dante decided to text her. He was desperate to find out why she’d left without speaking to him.
A bad feeling settled over him as the minutes ticked by with no response from Lucy. Other than a sudden emergency, he couldn’t think of any reason why she would have vanished. Unless of course she’d seen him and Missy in the courtyard. And if that was the case, Dante knew it would blow up everything he’d been rebuilding with Lucy.
* * *
Lucy drove through town, gazing at Christmas lights and the festively decorated shops on Main Street. Despite the holiday cheer permeating the downtown area, Lucy felt dispirited. She continued driving as if on autopilot. Once she reached home she took a hot shower, changed into a comfy pair of pj’s, then fed Astro. Perhaps sensing her mood, Astro turned his nose up at his dinner and refused to eat. When Stella called to chat, Lucy couldn’t even pretend that she was fine. She’d been a sniffling mess.
A half an hour later, footsteps echoed noisily on the hardwood floors. Lucy was sitting in her living room on the sofa, nestled up with Astro.
Stella’s voice washed over her.
“Lucy, what’s wrong?” Stella asked. “You sounded absolutely wrecked on the phone. Did something happen with Dante?”
Lucy nodded. Although she didn’t want to spiral any further, she knew it was best to just tell Stella and get it over with. Her sister wouldn’t rest until she told her everything. It would be like ripping off a Band-Aid. It would hurt at first, but then the pain would fade. “You could say that. I saw Dante locking lips with one of the actresses in his film. He didn’t see me, but I saw plenty.”
Stella gasped. “The same busty brunette he’s been pictured with in the tabloids?”
“Yes. One and the same. Busty, big lashes, oozes sex appeal. That’s her,” she said, choking back a sob. “It’s not her fault, but I can’t stand her at the moment.”
“I hate her too,” Stella fumed. “Who does she think she is sweeping into town and kissing your boyfriend?”
If she didn’t feel so wounded, Lucy might have laughed out loud. Her sister had always helped Lucy fight her battles. This time was no different. “He’s not my boyfriend,” Lucy explained. “We never put a label on it, but we were together. And I thought it was something real.” Now that she was saying it out loud it sounded ridiculous. Why hadn’t she reined herself in? If she had, Lucy wouldn’t feel as if someone had run her over with a semitruck.
“What a snake! He was hooking up with you and her at the same time. What is it with some men?” Stella asked. “Such colossal liars!”
“He didn’t actually lie to me. He never said we were exclusive. But he told me that he cared for me.” That was the thing! He hadn’t made Lucy any promises. Even though she was upset with Dante, she knew deep down this wasn’t like last time. He’d never told her he loved her. It wasn’t his fault that she’d never stopped loving him.
“But he led you to believe you were. He—he made you fall for him,” Stella protested. Her face was getting flushed and she was clearly getting worked up.
“I d
id fall for him, but that was my own fault.” More tears slipped past her eyelids. She wiped them away with the last of her tissues. “I don’t think I’ll ever allow myself to go down this road again. It hurts too much. I put myself out there and look what happened.”
“What can I do?” Stella asked. “Even if it’s just listening, I want to be here for you.”
“I just need to get over him.” She let out a brittle laugh. “I’ve been in this situation before. I never imagined I’d be licking my wounds all over again. Talk about a glutton for punishment.”
Stella leaned in and placed her arm around Lucy. “Well, I’m not going to let you do it alone,” Stella said. “We can pig out on ice cream and watch Hallmark movies. I can run out and get some mint chocolate chip and cookies ’n cream.”
“That sounds amazing,” Lucy said. “You might need to pick up a few boxes of Kleenex too. I don’t think I’ve seen the last of these tears, and I’m fresh out of tissues.”
“Done,” Stella said. “I’ll be back in a flash with more Ben and Jerry’s and tissues than you can handle.” Stella squeezed her hand and stood up before grabbing her purse and heading out the door.
Lucy settled into the sudden silence. She’d turned off her phone’s ringer, not wanting to talk to anyone until she’d calmed down. A quick look at her messages showed several texts from Dante.
Where are you? I heard you dropped by the set.
I thought we had plans.
What about our spaghetti dinner?
About an hour later he’d sent a few sad-faced emojis. She resisted the impulse to send him a turd emoji in response. At this point, that’s what he deserved.
No Ordinary Christmas Page 22
