Page 11 of Dare To Kiss You
“I’m trying to convince your father we need a dog, but so far, he’s not on board. Says the house is busy enough with all of you kids coming in and out.”
“He’s not wrong.” It’s true, my parents have always had an open door for any of us. Whether it’s stopping by for dinner, grabbing some of Mom’s baking, or just coming to visit, it seems one of us is always around.
“Anyway, back to the movie choices,” I say, trying to refocus the conversation. “Are we jumping straight in with the corny Christmas movies, or starting with something different?”
“It’s not Christmas cookie day if we don’t watch at least one cheesy movie,” Mom reasons.
“Deal.”
With the movie on, we finally get to work decorating the dozens of gingerbread cookies Mom and I use as gifts for people in the town each year. It’s a labour of love, that’s for sure, but it’s also a major stress reliever for me. Which right now, leading up to exam week, I need.
Several hours and too many cookies to count later, we’re done. And with a steaming mug of mulled wine in hand, we each sink down on the couch in my parents’ living room.
“Phew. I swear, every year I tell myself this is it, no more cookies. And every year, we find ourselves here again, covered in flour and sprinkles.”
“Come on, Mom. You love it.” I nudge her with my foot.
“I do, but it’s not the cookies. It’s spending time with my girl.” Her hand pats my leg. “It’s only a matter of time before you find someone, fall madly in love, and start making your own traditions. Then, days like this will be just a fond memory.”
I snort lightly. “There are so many things wrong with what you just said. First of all, I don’t care what’s going on in my life, I willalwayswant to have cookie day with you. And second of all, just who am I going to fall madly in love with? Look at how well that turned out with Tyson. Besides, there’s not exactly a lot of prospects in Dogwood Cove, not when almost every guy my age has already been scared off by the boys.”
“Tyson was not worth the dirt he stands on,” Mom deadpans. ”And don’t be so hard on your brothers, they just want you to be happy.”
“Then maybe they should back off a little,” I grumble, taking a sip of my mulled wine.
“Is there someone in particular you’re hoping they’ll back off on?” she asks, giving me an innocent-looking smile.
“No, nope. Of course not. No one,” I answer quickly, avoiding her curious gaze. Dang it, her mom radar is pinging, I just know it.
“It would be okay if there was, my sweet girl. It’s been a few months since…the incident.” I hide my smile at how she lowers her voice to say that. “No one would think any less of you if you started putting yourself out there.”
“I know,” I say quietly, knowing she’s right. Truthfully, Tyson only came to town twice, so it’s not as if people really knew him at all. Heck, I bet a lot of people never realized I was in a relationship to begin with.
“Are you and Lily going to the animal shelter gala together, then?”
“Well, actually, there is someone I want to ask, but I’m scared the boys will just scare him off,” I blurt out, wincing at my confession. Okay, my partial confession. Worrying about my brothers is only half of my reluctance, the other half is this deep-seated fear that Hunter might say no.
“Oh honey, your brothers mean well. But if you want them to back off, just tell them that.”
“I have,” I grumble. “Every single time they interfered with a guy I was dating or interested in, I told them to stay out of it, and they never do.”
“Well, any man worthy of you would be plenty strong enough to stand up to the boys.”
I take another sip of my warm drink, and cautiously, slowly, allow myself to imagine the reality in which I actually ask Hunter to go as my date to the gala. More importantly, I imagine the possibility of him saying yes.
It’s scary. Really scary. To think about putting myself out there again brings up unfamiliar and uncomfortable questions of self-doubt. If I wasn’t enough for my ex, what’s to say I’m enough for anyone? What if Lily’s wrong and Hunter isn’t into me? What if my crush for him is completely one-sided and he sees me as nothing more than a neighbour and the woman who serves him soup and sandwiches?
Still, the thing is, Lily hasn’t stopped bugging me about her stupid dare for days. I’ve never backed down from a dare, not since we were kids. She knows it’s the only way, when I’m nervous, to get me to just push through the fear and do something. And maybe this time, it’s exactly the nudge I need.
“I know you’ve been focused on school, and work, and your future. But don’t forget, you’re entitled to have a little fun in life. Okay, sweetie? And if that fun happens to come wrapped up in a big, burly man, all the better.”
I rest my head on my mom’s shoulder, soaking in the comfort she’s offering.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“So, you’ll think about asking this mystery guy?”
There’s no more thinking to be done. Because Lily’s right, I’ve never backed down from a dare. I have to push through my fear that Hunter doesn’t want me the way I want him, and just do it.
