Read Online The Hazards of Mistletoe by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Free Book Online Page A

least.
    “Don’t worry. I don’t think you’ll have trouble landing a guy.” He patted my shoulder and sat down. Had he been eavesdropping too?
    “Because I’m so concerned with your opinion on the subject?”
    “I don’t know what you’re concerned with. I only know what I’m concerned with.”
    “And that is what? Annoying me?”
    “My mom’s happiness.”
    “What?” I wasn’t expecting that.
    “My mom’s in love with your dad. She’s like a different person around him. I haven’t seen her like that in years.”
    “That’s great. What’s your concern then?”
    “You.”
    “Me?” I put a hand to my chest. “What do I have to do with anything?”
    “I’m going to hope you’re oblivious and not doing any of this on purpose.”
    “Meaning?” My chest tightened. What was he about to accuse me of?
    He sipped his Coke. “Your dad’s already worried about you. He’s afraid of making things worse. He won’t propose because of it, and Mom thinks it’s because he’s not committed.”
    “Making what worse? And why is he worried?”
    Dalton looked me straight in the eyes. “What happened last Christmas? I heard your mom got engaged.”
    I sighed. “Please. Do we have to do this?”
    “Yes. Yes we do.”
    “Ok, fine. Yes, my mom got engaged. Her then boyfriend did it when all of his kids were there, and he knew I wouldn’t be. He then planned a family trip knowing I couldn’t come.”
    “Ouch. That sucks.”
    “Yeah, but I don’t see why it has anything to do with my dad. It’s over. Amazingly enough I was invited to the wedding.”
    “And what about you? Are you really that okay with it?”
    “With my mom getting married? Sure. Mac doesn’t like me. There’s nothing I can do to change that, but I love my mom, and she seems happy with him.”
    “So why is your dad convinced you’re going to go off the deep end if he proposes to my mom?”
    “How am I supposed to know? I barely saw him last Christmas. I left early.”
    “Why did you leave early?” Dalton rested his elbows on the table.
    “Not going there.”
    “Ok. So that brings us back to the guy.”
    “Can we please talk about something else? I prefer talking about my mom’s marriage to this.”
    “But if you’re telling me your moodiness didn’t come from your mom, then it’s the guy. You’re dad has it all wrong.”
    “Moodiness?”
    “Yeah. Your dad says you’re like a different person.”
    “That’s not true. I was peppy enough to get into a sorority.” I laughed. “Ok, that sounded bad.”
    “Meaning you can fake it.” He stirred his straw around his glass. “So what I’m trying to figure out is what the guy could have done to make you miserable, weight obsessed, and into dating risky men.”
    “Hey! None of that is true.”
    “It’s not?”
    “No.”
    “Then explain it.”
    “Explain what?” I pushed away my juice. It was too sweet for the mood I was in.
    “Explain why you date older men. Let’s start there.”
    “You’re not my therapist.”
    “But you have one?”
    “Dalton, I’m about to walk out of here.”
    “And walk home?”
    “It’s only a half mile or so.”
    “In the cold.”
    “Then I’ll call my dad.”
    “With what?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    He pulled my phone out of his pocket and grinned. “I know it’s creepy, but I’m desperate. My mom is going to give up on your dad if he doesn’t pop the question soon.”
    “Fine. I’ll tell my dad how I can’t imagine better step-siblings, so he needs to propose.”
    Dalton laughed. “Good try, but talking to your dad about your feelings can’t hurt.”
    “Except he’s going to pester me with questions just like you are.”
    “And that’s a bad thing? He’s your parent. He’s supposed to pester you.”
    “But you’re not a parent, or even related to me, so you shouldn’t be pestering me at all.”
    “I’ll stop if you promise to talk to your dad. But I’m here. I really don’t mind