UNDER THE WRONG MISTLETOE.

hallow and uneven, like my chest couldn't decide if it wanted to collapse or explode. I didn't even know what I was

ything like melted gold. My dress brushed against my legs as I moved, whispering, mocking my

murmured conversations, the soft clatter of cutlery. My cousins were already seated, faces eager a

th

i

collided

un Ha

shoulders beneath the black shirt he wore, the sleeves rolled a little up his forearms like he couldn't bother with full elega

at could pierce throug

ediately, heat ru

am I reactin

tating, weirdly comforting cousin. But even with Jeremy's constant

y meant o

mbered

ly here, Mr. Halston," Mom said,

." His eyes swept calmly across the room like he

ir that somehow made him look more powerful. His wife, beside him, was beautifully poise

soft hum of th

-no, snapped, toward

as desc

ect. She always did, like the world si

ood up instantly, walking to Betty as though she were a bride al

tewart," he said with a deep, approving tone.

oks gorgeous, Mrs. Stewart. You've don

htly and look

t look i

been forced to come here. He didn't look l

ropped my gaze,

e instantly, h

hand or something," Mrs. Hals

ly–annoyed? bore

ittle. I could tell she was nervous, though she t

er hand gently

ed inside me-ti

't be je

o right

awkward quietness. Even Jeremy stopped talking for a second, which was shock

pany downtown," Dad said, trying to warm up the a

Halston responded quickl

y began, her gaze landing directly on me. "

esturing to me. "This is Madeline, my daughter. She's a

t s

't have, b

ence boiled down to

rson-just a future

and forced a small smile at the Halstons.

ours, beauty," Mr.

ed ever so slightly, like som

s Calhoun's wife-to-be..." she began, befo

new she did

didn't lik

alone ir

he air. "I believe we'll be starting the prepara

, Betty spoke. "I'

lready, I thought-ouch!" Jeremy gasp

tly. "Well, you can't bla

ed at C

, like this entire dinner

d a single un

re, but no

weddings, arrangements, dates.

ing my shoulder gently. "You've b

new more about me than almost anyone-except th

oftly. "This is Beth

accepting m

during that time, so

t words I heard fro

did-a sharp vibration through my

ed. "Then I guess we'll have to resc

as soon as possible. I mean, if we have to

look before facing the Halstons

t inv

at this table

uldn't eve

e those grey eyes were still holding me down-not

l be back, I just need

ed absen

bathroom door behind me,

sigh and leaned

s a flushed pink. My che

what his gaze

did it on

imagining

er on my face, tryi

is Beth'

p out of what

rl who ruins her

rknob t

rply and alm

lh

like he belonged in that

ing even more ha

r falling slightly

culpt

dragged every bre

hose

made my body forg

n't be in here," I stammered, my voic

of his mo

so you did r

wly, casually, hands

in front of me, o

't even bothe