Mistletoe Kisses

by Anna B. Doe

  I almost get choked up over it.

  “Hello,” I call as I make my way toward the kitchen. It’s warm. It smells like something’s baking, and I know no candle can replicate that scent, though Ava has been trying to find the perfect sugar cookie candle since she was twelve.

  “Autumn? Is that you?” Mom appears in the kitchen doorway, completely domesticated in her cheery red apron that’s currently covered with flour, her blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail. Her green eyes light up and she runs toward me, embracing me so hard a soft whimper escapes me.

  She’s still really strong. And covering my sweatshirt in flour, I just know it.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” she croons by my ear before she delivers a noisy kiss to my cheek. “Now all my babies are home.”

  None of her other babies have left the nest yet, except for me. I go to college at UC Santa Barbara, and it’s so beautiful. I love living there. But it’s also expensive. And while I’ve made friends and have had some great classes, sometimes I get lonely. There are about two hundred and forty miles between my boyfriend and I—it takes roughly four hours one way for one of us to visit the other.

  Long distance relationships suck, but somehow, we make it work.

  “Autumn.” Ava embraces me next, hugging me tight. “You made it.”

  “The drive kind of sucked,” I say as I settle onto a nearby barstool. “Weather was bad. Traffic was worse.”

  “Glad you came earlier in the week, honey.” Mom smiles before she walks over to the oven and takes a peek inside. “Traffic is only going to get worse the closer we get to Christmas. And the weather forecast is saying it could snow.”

  “We’d have a white Christmas,” Ava adds, her eyes sparkling. “Won’t that be fun?”

  “From the temperature my car said it was when I got here, I think it could snow tonight.” I go to the window that faces the backyard, watching the heavy rain fall. It’s becoming darker, and it’s not even four o’clock yet.

  Winter is pretty gloomy. It’s definitely not my favorite season, though I do love Christmas.

  “When is Ash coming over?” Mom asks as she turns off the oven and pulls out a baking dish. It’s a bread of some sort. I’m guessing pumpkin or cranberry. “He’ll be here for dinner, right?”

  “Definitely,” I say with a nod. “He says he has a surprise for me.”

  “Oh my God, maybe he’ll ask you to marry him,” Ava says excitedly.

  I roll my eyes. “We’re too young.”

  “Your father and I got married about that young,” Mom says as she goes to the sink and starts to wash her hands. “We were very young, but I knew.”

  “You knew what?” I ask as I shrug out of my heavy sweatshirt and leave it draped over the barstool next to mine.

  “That he was the one,” Mom says, shutting off the water. She sends Ava and I a look, one of those Mom things when we know we’re going to get a little lecture. “When it’s right, you know it. If it’s constant torture, or you just don’t care? That’s when you need to reassess.”

  “Don’t you think we’re too young to be so…seriously involved?” I ask, wrinkling my nose. I hear it all the time from my friends at college. They can’t believe I’m still with my high school boyfriend. And worse? That he doesn’t even live there. They’re shocked I can wander the campus and not be tempted by one cute boy who passes by.

  Look, I can admit there are a lot of cute guys on campus. Some are downright gorgeous. I’ve had a few flirt with me. I’ve had a few try and get my number or ask me out on a date. But I always politely decline.

  But I’m not even tempted. I have a boyfriend who I’m madly in love with.

  “How can I complain?” Mom says with a little shrug. “Every one of my children is with a person who treats them like gold. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

  “Awww,” Ava and I say in unison, just before we crack up.

  “Oh stop, it’s true.” Mom glares at us for a moment before she starts laughing as well. “I’d kick Ash and Eli’s asses if I ever heard they were treating either of you badly. And I’d cut off all of Hannah’s glorious red hair when she was sleeping if she ever did Jake wrong.”

  “Damn, Mom, fierce,” I say as Ava makes an “oooh” sound.

  Mom laughs. “I’m kidding.” She pauses. “Sort of.”

  Not really, is what I want to say to her, but I keep quiet. Because she probably totally means it.

  We chat some more and eventually our little brother Beck comes downstairs, asking Mom when are we going to eat dinner. He’s growing so fast, getting taller and taller, but he doesn’t have to gain too many inches to bypass my height. I’m the shrimp of the family, just like Mom.

  Dad and Jake soon arrive home, bringing with them to go boxes of pizza. The scent hits me the moment they enter the kitchen, and I’m immediately starving. I don’t even bother giving either of them a hug, I’m so hungry.

  I’m pushing open the lid of one of the pizza boxes when Dad asks, “Isn’t Ash coming for dinner?”

  Turning toward him, I wrap him up in a quick hug before I return my attention to the pizza. “He should be here soon.”

  I have no idea if that’s true. I know Ash said he would try his best to arrive by dinnertime, but I feel like we’re eating a little earlier than usual.

  “You should text him,” Jake suggests. “The weather’s getting worse. Tell him he needs to leave if he hasn’t already.”

  I glance out the window once more. Jake’s right. The rain is coming down. And the temperature is just going to keep dropping.

  My boyfriend needs to get here and soon, before he becomes stuck in the snow.

  Chapter Two

  Ash

  It’s raining like a son of a bitch, and I keep my hands steady on the wheel, my gaze focused, my speed slow. Basically, the complete opposite of how I normally drive, because I don’t want to risk it. I don’t want to get in a wreck on these slick roads and ruin everyone’s Christmas.

  Including my own.

  I’m eager to see my woman. It’s been too long. Haven’t touched her since Thanksgiving, and that’s messed up. This long distance relationship shit is for the birds, but lucky for us, we only have another year and a half of this before it’s over.

  Hopefully.

  Frowning, I press on the gas as the car climbs uphill. Thank God there’s not a lot of traffic on the road now. But it’s past seven, and while Autumn texted me earlier, asking if I’d left yet, unfortunately I was still at my apartment. She told me her dad and brother just showed up with pizza, but she’d save me a couple of slices.

  I don’t even care about the pizza. All I want is to see her. Touch her. But that’s going to be kind of difficult, considering we’ll be surrounded by family for the rest of the week.

  That’s why I have a little plan. A secret early Christmas gift that I think she’ll approve of. I already ran it by her parents, and they were fine with it. We’ll only be gone for approximately twenty-four hours, and even then, we won’t be too far away.

  My girl and I need a little getaway. I booked a cabin at one of the nearby resorts months ago, knowing they would sell out fast. A man has to do what he can to get his girlfriend alone so he can get her naked.

  You know, the important stuff.

  The reservation is for tomorrow, and I can’t freaking wait. For Autumn and me to be all alone. In a small cabin all to ourselves. No nosy siblings around. No parents always keeping an eye on us.

  Hey, I love the Callahan family, and Christmas is amazing at their house. They’ve made me feel welcome, like I’m a part of their family ever since Autumn and I got together. But…

  We need a break. We haven’t been alone for a while. We get tired of sneaking into each other’s rooms after a while. We’re not teenagers in high school anymore. We’re adults.

  It takes me a little longer than usual, but I finally arrive at the Callahan house around seven-thirty. The rain is slushy, with little flecks of snow
falling mixed in with the rain drops, and I grab my duffel bag and make my way to the front door as fast as possible, ringing the doorbell repeatedly once I arrive. It’s too damn cold for me to stand out here for too long.

  The door swings open and there’s Drew Callahan himself, smiling at me. “Ash! You finally made it.”

  I practically run inside, nearly colliding into the gigantic tree that’s overtaken their living room. “It’s cold as hell out there,” I tell him as I brush flecks of snow off my shoulders and onto their bare wood floors.

  Oops.

  “It’s not even that bad,” Jake drawls when he sees me, sauntering into the living room and grinning like the smug bastard he is. Jake and I, we have a love-to-hate-you relationship. Though it borders closer to love now than hate. Not so much a few years ago, when I first got together with Autumn, but he’s loosened up since then.

  So have I.

  “Whatever,” I mutter as we give each other a lackluster high five. I smile at him. He smiles in return. I glance over at the couch to see his girlfriend Hannah is sitting there, smiling up at me.

  “Hi Asher.” She’s pretty. Quiet. A little shy. The complete opposite of Jake, but opposites attract and I think she’s good for him. He seems to have mellowed out since they’ve gotten together.

  Ava and her mom enter the living room next, and they greet me with hugs and questions about school, football, the holidays. Everything, as usual. Ava’s boyfriend Eli is with them, and we start talking. He’s going to graduate high school in the spring, and hopefully become a Bulldog with me in the fall. My little baby freshman quarterback to my senior year, top dog QB. He’ll be my protégé, and honestly? I’m looking forward to it. I like the kid. He has a lot of potential.

  Jake is even better. The Callahan family both creates football talent and surrounds themselves with football talent.

  It’s kind of wild.

  “Ash, you’re here!”

  I turn to watch my girlfriend descend the staircase hurriedly, dressed in a cute gray sweatshirt and matching sweats dotted with white stars, her hair hanging loose and damp past her shoulders. She comes barreling towards me and throws herself at me, her arms going around my neck as mine automatically wrap around her waist. Bending down, I kiss her, forgetting myself for a moment, drowning in the taste of her, until her little brother Beck brings me back to reality.

  “Get a room!”

  Everyone in the living room starts laughing. Autumn blushes. Eli and Jake say stupid shit until I glare at each of them and they immediately shut up. Autumn starts laughing and squeezes me harder, whispering in my ear, “Let’s go to your room.”

  We leave the living room and head down the wing—yes, the Callahan house has actual wings—that leads toward Drew’s office and the guest room. The guest room that just so happens to pretty much be my room, since no one else stays in it but me.

  Once we’re inside, Autumn closes the door and basically attacks me, pulling my head down so her lips touch mine. The kiss deepens in an instant, and my hands start roaming. So do hers. Until we’re both staggering toward the bed, and I pull her down with me onto the mattress, my arms cradling her to soften the fall.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” she breathes moments later, when our lips finally break apart so we can catch our breath. “You don’t even know.”

  “I know.” Grabbing her hand, I settle it on top of my erection. “See?”

  She laughs, and the sound fills me with warmth. You don’t even know you’re walking around cold and lonely until the very one who takes those feelings away is back in your life, shining her light on you.

  That’s Autumn for me. My life used to be complete shit. She changed that for me. Her parents helped me, gave me opportunities I would’ve never received if I hadn’t met them. If I hadn’t started chasing after their daughter.

  Now, I’m on top of the world. Life is pretty damn good. There’s only one thing missing.

  Seeing Autumn every single day. But if we can survive this—and we have so far—I believe we can survive anything. She is my go-to, my ride or die, and I know I’m the same for her.

  “Do you think we can get away with a quickie?” she asks, her fingers starting to stroke me.

  I settle my hand over hers, stopping her. “In about five minutes Beck will come barging through that door. Or Jake will knock on it, asking what we’re doing. Or worse, your mom will start knocking, asking if we want a snack or whatever.”

  Autumn slumps against me, pressing her forehead to mine. “You’re so right. It’s impossible to find privacy around here.”

  “Besides, it’s early. I can’t strip you naked and expect them to leave us alone.” I pull away slightly so I can look into her eyes. “Later tonight. After everyone’s asleep.”

  She makes a little face. “When we have to be quiet so no one will hear us.”

  My girlfriend can be a screamer when she wants to be. Sweet, perfect Autumn Callahan can get pretty wild in bed.

  Lucky me.

  I start kissing her again, though I shouldn’t. I’ll just drive us both out of our minds with lust, yet we won’t do anything about it. We’ll wait until everyone’s gone to their rooms, and then she’ll sneak down into mine, and we’ll have sex. Quiet, urgent sex.

  This is why I got that cabin tomorrow. This is why the day after Christmas, Autumn is coming down to my apartment with me and we can do whatever the hell we want. I may have a roommate, but that dude went home for the holidays so we have the place all to ourselves. The only reason we’re here is for her family.

  The moment I start kissing Autumn’s neck is when Beck barges right into the room, just as I predicted. He comes to a full stop at the foot of the bed, making a disgusted noise, and when I lift my head, I see he’s watching us as if he’s seeing the worst, goriest horror movie of all time.

  “You two are so gross,” he says, shaking his head, his gaze landing on mine. “I was hoping you’d come to my room and play Madden with me.”

  I frown. “Don’t you play that with Jake?”

  Beck makes a dismissive noise. “I kick his ass on the daily.”

  “Beck, you shouldn’t say that,” Autumn chastises, but he doesn’t even blink.

  “How about Eli?” I suggest.

  “He was a worthy opponent, but in the end, I destroyed him,” Beck says with utmost sincerity. “Come on, Ash. Please? Do you play it?”

  I lift myself away from Autumn and sit up, running a hand through my hair. “You know I do. I live for that game.”

  Beck nods eagerly. “Same! So let’s go play. Come on, meet me in my room.”

  I watch as he runs out before I turn to look at Autumn. She’s sitting up as well, her lips swollen, her hair mussed thanks to my hands. Reaching out, I touch her cheek. Her mouth. She smiles. “Go play with him.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “No.” She smiles. Sighs. “I have you for the next few weeks. I don’t have to be so greedy. I’m sure he’s bored with winter break already anyway, and is looking for any distraction.”

  “Meet me here around eleven-thirty or so?” I raise my brows.

  “Of course.”

  We kiss. Whisper I love you’s before we part.

  Damn, I have the best girlfriend ever.

  Chapter Three

  Autumn

  I didn’t meet Ash in his room at eleven-thirty last night. I went up to my room around ten-thirty, and I could hear all of the boys—Ash, Jake and Eli—in Beck’s room, yelling and carrying on while they played video games. I draped myself across the bed and thought I would rest for a bit.

  Turns out I fell asleep and didn’t wake up until early the next morning. Figures, am I right? I’ve been dying to see my boyfriend for what feels like forever, and somehow I fall asleep and bail on our secret date.

  Lame.

  I make my way down the stairs and to the kitchen only to find everyone’s already there, including Ash. I’m the last to wake up, which is unusual. Eli and Av
a are fully dressed, wearing boots and heavy coats and scarves, and they’re standing close to the door that leads out to the garage, like they’re about to leave.

  “Where are you two going?” I ask them.

  “Up to the snow,” Ava says, smiling when Eli slings his arm around her shoulders and pulls her in close. “We want to make a snowman.”

  “She wants to make a snowman,” Eli stresses. “I want to have a snowball fight.”

  “Oh, did it snow last night?” I glance toward the giant window that faces the backyard to find it’s patchy with snow, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to stick, thanks to the rain that is still falling.

  “Nope, but it’s still forecasted to snow. Possibly tonight,” Mom says to me. “You want coffee?”

  “Sure,” I say absently as everyone yells their goodbyes to Ava and Eli. It feels chaotic around here, and it’s not even nine in the morning yet. Aren’t teenagers supposed to sleep in during school breaks? Why is everyone bright and cheery? Even Jake is sitting at the table talking with Dad, wearing a smile on his face.

  What in the world is happening right now?

  “Hey.” Hands settle on my waist and I glance over my shoulder to find Ash standing behind me, his lips formed into a barely there curve. “I missed you last night.”

  I turn to face him, and also so it’s easier for me to talk barely above a whisper. “I’m so sorry. I fell asleep.”

  “It’s okay. I figured. You had a long drive yesterday and you seemed really tired.” He kisses my forehead, his lips lingering and I close my eyes, savoring the sensation. “I have a surprise for you today.”

  “Really?” I pull away so I can look into his dark brown eyes. “What is it?”

  “I can’t tell you, or it wouldn’t be a surprise,” he says, sounding perfectly logical and I sort of hate him for it.