“Look, Lindsey—cards on the table—I’m not seeing anyone else. It’s okay if you are. I don’t want you to feel pressured in any way, but I want you to know, I’m serious. I care about you.”
“I’m not seeing anyone else,” I say, squeezing his fingers.
Oliver gives me a smile that makes my heart flutter so fast I think it could carry us up into the trees.
“Good,” he says. “All right, then.”
“All right,” I echo, turning my eyes skyward. I chuckle to myself when I realize where we’re standing.
“What’s so funny?”
“Look up,” I say, and he does.
We’re standing beneath one of the many glowing trees, and hanging from its lowest branch is a sprig of mistletoe wrapped in twinkle lights.
“You know, one of the secrets of Mistletoe Fest is that this stuff is strung all along the path,” I say. “There’s probably hundreds of those things around here.”
Our eyes meet again, and he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Then I hope we find every single one.”
By the timewe make it through the light display, we’re all exhausted and start heading our separate ways.
“It’s been fun, everybody,” Kayla says as we approach the exit. “But I’m gonna head on out.”
A chorus of goodbyes and good nights follow her.
“Dinner at two tomorrow?” Lucy asks.
Mom smiles. “Yep.”
“See y’all then,” Ellie says as she and Ben carry a sleepy Emily and Noah to the car.
Rose yawns, tossing a wave over her shoulder. “Good night, y’all. Nice meeting you, Ron.”
“You too,” he calls. “G’night.”
“Well, Ron, are you ready to hit the road?” Oliver asks, his fingers still laced through mine.
“Sure am,” Ron says. “Myra Jean, Doc, it’s been wonderful.”
“What do you say we do it again tomorrow?” Mom asks, causing me to turn my head so quickly it nearly gives me whiplash.
Ron chuckles. “I’m pretty sure the festival is a one-day-only event.”
“Come to dinner at my house tomorrow,” Mom says. “Both of you. Ron, you can bring June Bug too, if you like.”
“You should,” I add. “It’ll be fun.”
Ron’s lips quirk into a grin. “I’d like that. Count me in.”
“Me too,” Oliver agrees.
Mom gives a single nod. “We’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
Ron hugs me and then my mother, and Oliver kisses my temple before the two of them start toward the parking lot.
“Come on,” I say, gesturing to the right. “I’m over that way.”
Once inside my car, I turn the ignition and get the heat going. The chill I’ve tried to hold off has burrowed its way into my bones and made itself comfortable, causing my entire body to throb.
