The first location was a no-brainer. She hurried to the playground a block away from her house. It was empty that time of morning. Only joggers were up with her. No need to think twice. She headed for the monkey bars.
There on the last rung was taped a rose and a note. She climbed up the ladder and ripped the flower and the letter from the transparent binding. Bits of tape remained on the iron bar, but Stella was too busy smelling the rose and reading the note to bother.
In Will’s neat hand, it said:
Roses are red.
I made you blue.
The holidays are just around the corner,
So let me make it up to you.
The rhyme was terrible. But a smile still stretched across Stella’s lips. At the bottom of the paper was the next clue. It instructed her to head to the place where double the sweetness could be found.
Easy! The diner.
The second she walked in, the waitress on duty pointed at the booth at the corner. Her booth. The one she always used.
The ancient springs creaked beneath her weight as she slid into the seat. The fried smells and aroma of fresh coffee filled her lungs. The smooth table beneath her palms featured the never-changing menu on its laminated surface.
If this was the place in the clue, Stella had no idea where to find the next one. No notes were tucked anywhere she could see. She bent down and checked underneath the table. Besides dried globs of gum, nothing clue-like caught her attention.
The waitress arrived when she sat up. She slid a tall glass of double-chocolate milk shake in front of Stella. Along with an envelope. Dizzy excitement filled Stella’s chest as she sipped the sweet goodness. She didn’t care that it was six in the morning. It was never too early or late for a milk shake.
She tore into the envelope as the waitress left her table. She almost ripped the paper in half. With shaking hands, she unfolded the note. It said, “When you’re down, nothing like a double-chocolate milk shake to brighten your day.”
A blush rushed over Stella’s face. It warmed her insides that Will knew about her go-to drink.
At the bottom of the page wasn’t a clue. It was a single line. “I’ll be waiting for you at the place you love most in Oak Hills.”
There was only one location that matched that description. Stella finished her milk shake as fast as she could. She gritted her teeth through two brain freezes. Then she rushed to the counter to pay, but of course Will had taken care of it already. The waitress waved her off with a “Good luck.”
Heart full to bursting, Stella exited the diner. She left without looking back. At the end of the block, she veered right toward the park and ran as fast as her sneakers would take her.
Will knew her. The mini scavenger hunt proved it. He knew what made her happy. He knew what gave her confidence. He knew what she loved.
Breathless, she ran into the park and followed the path that led to the center. Tall ponderosa pines stretched toward the sky. The smell of the needles filled her lungs with freshness that brought her back to life.
When she reached the picnic area with the many benches lining the path, she stopped. Will stood in the middle of the path. He had his back to her, waiting. His hands were in his pockets. It wasn’t that cold for December in Oak Hills, but a light jacket was definitely called for. Will wore his favorite one. Army-inspired camo.
Tears flooded Stella’s vision at the relief that seeing him again brought. It had been weeks. She had missed him terribly. And the second he was back, he’d given her a scavenger hunt. As if he knew she needed the boost it would give. She blinked the tears away. No one was crying that day.
“Will,” she said.
He turned around, and immediately a huge smile spread across his face. “Hey.”
She ran. He opened his arms. She jumped into them. The second they hugged, he lifted her up and spun them around. Joyous laughter escaped her lungs, erasing all the stress, the worry, the sadness. Like a newly charged battery, Will brought her back to life.
“You’re here!” she said when Will finally set her down. “You’re really here.”
He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t come home to visit before.”
She shook her head. “Nothing to be sorry for. I knew you were busy.”
“I worked hard to finish everything early so I could come back here. We have the rest of the holidays together.”
“Really?” She did the mental calculations. “That’s almost three weeks.”
“About eighteen days,” Will corrected.
“Not nearly enough, but I’ll take it!”
They looked into each other’s eyes as if for the first time. Stella searched for him and Will searched for her in equal measure. Then she pushed to her toes and kissed him. Kissed him like she had wanted to all the weekends that he hadn’t made it home. Showed him in that one kiss how happy she was that he was back.
They were both breathless when their lips finally parted.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” she whispered, holding onto his arms.
“There’s actually something I want to ask you,” he said in all seriousness.
Stella made sure she had both feet on the ground before she nodded.
Will smiled as he said, “Stella Marie Patterson, will you go to winter formal with me?”
“Really?” She couldn’t believe it.
“Yeah, really.” He touched his forehead against hers.
Stella felt all her emotions come up like a geyser gurgling from the depths of the earth. The tears she had been holding back finally freed themselves from her control.
“Is that a yes?” Will asked, drying her cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.
She laughed and nodded. “Yes.”
ELEVEN
MISLEADING MISTLETOE
It was Christmas Eve and Will was living in the clouds. His parents had flown in for the occasion. They could stay only for the day, but he’d take all the hours they could spend together that he could get. The call to the agent had turned out to be legit. He’d put together a submission sample of the comic, and the agent had sent it out to interested editors, saying the soonest they would hear back was the second or third week of January. And, best of all, Stella was in his life. His chest was like a balloon filled with helium every time they saw each other.
The Pattersons were coming over. It was another one of their families’ traditions: Christmas Eve at the Montgomerys’. Will already had the perfect gift for Stella tucked away in his room. Actually, there were two presents. The one under the tree was a decoy to throw Cam off the scent. A pair of socks. Nothing romantic about a pair of socks. The real gift, Will would give when they got some time alone. He already had a plan in place on how to get Stella to his room without anyone noticing.
Since his parents were home for the first time in months, Nana decided to kick the party up a notch by inviting the neighborhood. The Montgomery house got crazy, with tons of food, overflowing eggnog, and all the Christmas carols available on iTunes.
The doorbell rang just as Will set down a fresh bowl of his nana’s famous fruit salad on the buffet table.
“I’ll get it,” Will announced over the small talk and happy music. His heart beat faster the closer he got to the door, and he opened it.
Cam was the first to step forward, pulling him into a back-slapping hug. “Merry Christmas, bro.”
“Merry Christmas,” he returned. “It’s a madhouse today.”
“All’s good. Now where’s that fruit salad at?”
Will pointed over his shoulder. “Just put down a fresh batch.”
Cam rubbed his hands together and went in search of his bounty. Will then welcomed Mrs. Patterson, giving Stella’s mom a kiss on the cheek. Mrs. Patterson handed over a pie, saying it was made with young coconut—her specialty. Will thanked her with his most charming smile. He stepped aside and let her through, pointing out where he had last seen his parents.
Stella brought up the rear and stopped
Will’s heart in a red dress with a white bow on her collar. His eyes fell out of his skull. How lucky was he to have her in his life?
He looked over his shoulder. Only when he was sure no one was paying them any attention did he step out and wrap an arm around Stella’s waist, bringing her close. He inhaled her scent.
“You’re the best present in the world,” he whispered into her ear. “Thank you, Santa.”
“Don’t think so.” She lifted a wrapped box the size of a Rubik’s Cube. “This is your gift, mister.”
Smiling, he leaned in and gave her a kiss. She melted into him. The murmurs that she made were so damn hot.
Before he forgot that they were standing by the door of a packed house, Will stepped back. But not before planting another kiss. This time on the corner of her sweet, sweet lips. She giggled, blushing prettily.
“Well,” she said, breathless. “A ho, ho, ho to you. Please don’t tell me that was your gift.”
“Nuh-uh. But if more of that is my gift, then I’ll take it,” Will whispered back, grinning ear to ear. And he meant every word.
“You’re so easy to please.” Stella scrunched her cute nose. “What am I going to do with this, then?” She indicated the box again.
“You’re too good to me.” He took her hand and led her inside. But as soon as the front door closed behind them, he let go, as much as he didn’t want to.
“Good call,” Stella said. “Too many eyes. I’ll put this under the tree. Catch you later.”
If Will had it his way, he’d have his arm around her the entire night, introducing her as his girlfriend to anyone who would listen. But Cam wouldn’t appreciate that. As far as he knew, Will was just staying present in Stella’s life so unworthy guys stayed away from her.
Pushing his conflicting emotions aside, Will headed straight for the kitchen and deposited the pie into the fridge. Soon after, he was pulled into a conversation about how he was doing in school.
* * *
NO MATTER HOW full the house, Stella always kept an eye out for Will. Once in a while their gazes met and a shock of electricity ran through her. She was so aware of him, even when they were on opposite sides of the room.
Nursing a cup of warm apple cider, she mingled. Answering questions about her future. What colleges she had applied to. Had she heard back yet? Some schools were already sending out responses.
Every time she mentioned fashion, she got one of two reactions. The first was dismayed pity, because for the people she was talking to, fashion wasn’t a real career, usually followed by suggestions of alternatives like medicine or law. Or even becoming a physical therapist because someone’s aunt said it was an in-demand job at the moment. The second reaction was of impressed awe and requests for clothes when she got famous. On both occasions, she just smiled until her cheeks ached.
Needing a break, Stella excused herself from the latest group to demand her attention only to bump into someone.
“Oh, sorry!” she said, immediately turning to see Will’s smile. It seemed like hours since the last time they’d stood so close.
“Did you eat?” was Will’s concerned question. “All I’ve seen you holding is that cup.”
As if in response to his words, Stella’s stomach growled. Even in the crowded room, her body’s demand seemed so loud. They shared a chuckle.
“Now that I think about it…” She rubbed her belly.
The air around them stilled. It was like the calm before the starting gun of a race. Stella looked around. Will did too. It seemed like all eyes were on them.
Oh no! she thought. Had they been that obvious? Was their cover blown? Stella replayed her interaction with Will. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Just two friends catching up. Had she been so used to being with Will that any action looked more than innocent? Her heart sputtered. Panic quickly filled her insides.
Then someone said, “Kiss her already!”
“What?” Stella yelped.
She looked to Will for an explanation. His expression was as panicked as she felt. Her gaze picked that time to land on her brother. Cam watched them.
To add fuel to the fire, a chant began: “Kiss her. Kiss her.”
Still, Stella had no clue as to why everyone wanted them to kiss until Cam pointed at the ceiling. She glanced up. Will did the same.
“Ah, crap,” he said under his breath. “I completely forgot about that.”
By that, Will meant the sprig of mistletoe looming over them. Stella’s heart leaped to her throat, then just as fast plunged into the deepest depths of her stomach. Not good. So not good. How were they going to kiss and not reveal their secret?
All Will had to do was stand near Stella and her knees grew weak. A kiss? A kiss turned her to mush.
Will’s hands closing around her arms pulled her away from her thoughts. Their eyes met. His gaze seemed to say everything was going to be okay. Stella didn’t believe him. Just one quick kiss, she could see him trying to tell her silently. She would have shaken her head if it wouldn’t have been too obvious.
“On three,” Will whispered so softly that she almost didn’t hear him.
There was no avoiding it. Her heart beat so hard, she thought she was going to pass out. Sweat covered her hands. Her skin prickled. It must have been impossible for Will not to feel Cam’s gaze drilling a hole between them.
Taking a deep breath, Stella puckered her lips. As did Will. If she had been watching them, she would have been laughing her ass off. Their mouths barely grazed each other before they were flinging their bodies in opposite directions. A round of applause and laughter engulfed them. Will was whisked away by a group of guys, hassling him for the lame kiss.
Stella was pulled into an overly cheery conversation. She gave what was being said only half an ear. Her face was too hot. And Cam was nowhere in sight. What was going through her brother’s mind?
“Meet me in my room,” Will said discreetly as he passed her. “Ten minutes.”
Stella nodded once, keeping a fake smile on her face though her insides were in knots. Will walked away. She breathed in and out through lungs that felt like they weren’t taking in air.
* * *
EXACTLY TEN MINUTES LATER, Will climbed the stairs that led to the second floor of Nana’s house. He couldn’t get away from the party fast enough. The look on Cam’s face had bothered him. It was as if he knew too much. But maybe he was being paranoid.
At the top of the stairs, Will turned left. His room was at the end of the hallway. He swallowed. A light sweat covered the hands he’d stuffed into his pockets. The girl of his dreams was in his room. A part of him felt as nervous and unsure as a twelve-year-old going on his first date. Another part of him was excited. If he were a dog, his tail would have been wagging frantically.
Outside his room, Will paused. His hand shook as he reached for the knob. Nothing was going to happen. He just wanted to talk. Touch base about that awkward-as-hell mistletoe kiss.
He didn’t know how to feel about it. Maybe Stella would have answers. He turned the knob and pushed into his room. A step in, he stopped. Stella stood at his desk, studying the panels he had been working on for the Christmas special of his comic.
His chest ached. She was so beautiful. So soft. So delicate. Yet she possessed a strength that blew him away. He couldn’t breathe. His fingers itched to touch her. To comb through her hair. To glide up the curve of her back.
“Which part of the story is this?”
Her voice unstuck his legs. He shut the door and traversed the five steps that separated them. He pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. She smelled of Christmas and sweetness.
Stella wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. He was sure she heard how hard his heart was beating for her. He loved how quickly she embraced him. She was his reason. For everything.
“You’re extra clingy today,” she teased. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“What do you think?” he aske
d into her hair. “Did we do a good-enough acting job?”
She stilled. “I don’t know. Maybe? Stupid mistletoe. That wasn’t how I imagined that kiss going.”
He lifted her chin with his finger and bent down. The softness of her lips welcomed him without hesitation. Without needing encouragement, she opened for him, craving the touch of his tongue as much as he did hers. He tasted the apple cider she had been nursing all night and the sweetness of peppermint.
His other hand traced the line of her back until he reached her hair. His fingers plunged greedily into the soft strands. She shifted to her toes, and he supported her weight against him. The feel of her was warmth and all things incredible.
A small voice reminded him that not three steps away was his bed. He could easily move them. But Will pushed the thought away. He didn’t ask her to his room for that, no matter how much he wanted to.
Will savored a minute more of the kiss before he set Stella down. He ran his thumb below her bottom lip, taking some of her smudged lipstick with it. She reached up and traced the corners of her mouth with her fingers. A part of Will took primal pleasure in being the one responsible for smearing her lipstick. If it wouldn’t raise questions, he would walk the party proud with her lipstick on his lips. The urge to kiss her again was strong. Every time they touched, it was all he wanted.
Instead, calling on all his self-control, he closed his hand around hers and kissed the center of her palm before saying, “That should have been our first mistletoe kiss.”
“I can’t feel my legs.”
“That good, huh?”
She smacked his chest playfully before turning in his arms to face his desk. “The comic?”
He nudged them forward. “It’s a side story. Morla celebrates the holidays with the fae. Hilarity ensues the second she gets drunk on fae wine.”
Stella looked over her shoulder at him and frowned. “You’re not going to make me do anything crazy.”
She looked so adorable that he kissed the tip of her nose. “First, I love that you think of yourself as Morla. And second, nothing too embarrassing.”
The Boyfriend Bracket Page 11
