UNDER THE WRONG MISTLETOE.

OUN'

, my mother's signature lavender oils that cling to every hallway like an invisible warning

e been the last thing I did today, yet fate decided to twist itself around my neck and pull

eight in seconds. I shrugged my jacket off and tossed it carelessly beside me. My parents would have frow

ter-in-law, the perfect alliance, the perfect story that fits their polished image. And I've always played along because I'm an on

g inside me

started wit

for me. But the kiss in the restroom with Maddie... God, that was heart-lightning. That shit hit deep-electric, wild, wrong in all the

nything because I knew it would become Maddie's problem.

crying after being bullied, her small shoulders shaking like she was trying to hold the whole world in. Jeremy couldn't do an

one else lay a

me beat the hell out of them. Her eyes were the same then as they were today in that restroom-fragile yet bur

settled before the d

ado, voice loud enough to ec

to my life like this since we were kids. We're basically bro

lightly. "

ing grin. "So... how was your meeting with your dearest and bel

r you. Everythin

e tugging at my lips. "Is that what they call

up. "Says the b

Yeah. I'm pretty sure it's il

posite mine, sprawling like he own

ond, then asked, "Do yo

the crybaby from middle school? The one insanely obse

ng like a parrot, may

s. "Okay, okay. I'm

family I'm getti

oes she have other siblings? Apart

oo. You should've seen how flabbergasted I

ned forward. "How come I've never met

I've heard, she's too social. Elegant perso

gh reason for us to kno

she was betrothed to me. They sen

-Calhoun of all people-would end up marrying a virg

o knows if she

s heart. "Oh my gosh, man! Th

fore silence settl

. what are you gonna do? Because from everythi

d Madeline? She's the one o

think I am? A buffoon? You wouldn't

ed. "May

glare s

I wanted to let go of those feelings for my

both hands. "You

ly... she

the couch. "Oh boy. You're dead. So wha

ting down again. "But I know how muc

us for once. "Can't you l

s been trained for years to

rds fe

been swallowing your parents' shit. Don't you think it's time to stand up for yourself

sn't

ll these years. The late nights, the deals, the pressure. All

atched m

ed out. "I'm done playing the go

second I wondered where the Calho

tell Beth off tom

don't even need to see her.

ged this date to 'get to know

orrow is your chance. Go blow it

oom as loudly

ain, but it felt different n

Texas. There's no need to come back after

hone

like hell in

e

orth comin