The Hazards of Mistletoe by Alyssa Rose Ivy

secret is safe with me.” He stood up and moved back to his seat.
    I glanced at my original seat. The one next to Glen’s.
    “Come on, you know you want to do it.”
    “Why do you care so much?”
    “Because Glen’s a nice guy. He’s had a crappy year, and something tells me he’s going to be nicer to live with if things work out for you two. Plus he needs to get laid.”
    I looked away. “I can’t help with that last part.”
    “Whatever you say.”
    After a few more minutes of debate I moved back to my original seat. What was the point of sitting two seats away anyway?
    Just as the previews started Dalton and Glen returned with the food. Dalton took a glance at where I was sitting before stepping around me to my seat. He set my meal in front of me. “Moving around again?” He raised an eyebrow.
    “Just giving you your seat back.” I put my napkin on my lap.
    Glen settled in next to me. “Glad to have you back, neighbor.”
    “The person in front of this seat is shorter,” I whispered, finding the need to explain my actions.
    “Whatever you say.”
    I didn’t answer. I kept staring at the screen, waiting for the movie to start. I didn’t look away for over a half hour. Glen took the opportunity to grab my hand during a jumpy scene. I didn’t remove it from his right away. I liked the feel of his larger hand wrapped around mine, but I didn’t allow myself to enjoy the luxury for long. I couldn’t feel that way with Glen. He’d only hurt me again. I pulled my hand away.
    “Hey. I was using that,” he whispered against my ear before taking my hand again.
    “It’s mine.”
    “I thought you were good at sharing.”
    Winston looked around Glen and right at me. He winked. Dalton seemed oblivious. I guess he was just completely zoned in on the movie. Either that or he was being careful.
    I didn’t take my hand back the second time. I let him hold it. I tried not to focus on the way he rubbed his thumb over my hand, but it felt so good. So comforting. So familiar.
    I reluctantly pulled my hand back when the movie ended. Glen straightened up. “So where to now?”
    “What do you mean?” I stretched before slipping back into my jacket.
    “Where to now? It’s only nine.”
    “We’re going home.” There was only so much time I could spend around Glen. Holding his hand or not, that didn’t mean we were going to start hanging out again.
    “Oh. Maybe I could drive you home?”
    “Dalton’s going to drive me.”
    “If you change your mind in the next few minutes, let me know.” He smiled.
    “Doubtful, but thanks.” At least my stomach wasn’t in knots when I looked at him anymore. I hoped eventually the years of good memories would replace the one night of bad ones.

Chapter Nine
    Glen
     
    The feel of Savy’s hand in mine was like coming home. It’s a dramatic statement, but it’s a true one. Everything in my life was a mess, yet for the first time in a year I actually felt good. When she pulled her hand away at the end of the movie, she left me cold. It couldn’t be the last time I touched her. I needed more.
    I caught Winston’s eye as we headed out of the theatre. The first part of the plan had worked. Layden had told me her plans for the evening, and we’d made a huge step forward. She was talking to me, and she was also letting me hold her hand. Now I just had to keep moving things in that direction.
    We walked outside of the theater to the plaza at Solaris. It was another one of the swanky resort areas in Vail. In good weather it was actually a short walk from Lionshead, but I had no plans to let Savy walk.
    “Is that a sleigh?” Savy pointed to a horse drawn sleigh, complete with bells, waiting off to the side. “I haven’t been on one of those in years.” Her face brightened, and for a moment she looked like the Savy I knew again.
    “It is a sleigh,” I smiled, aching to grab her hand again, but fighting the impulse.
    “I didn’t take you as a sleigh ride person.”