Midnight Mistletoe

Katherine Bennett

On the way back to my parent’s house, all I could think about was the fact that Derek had my picture in his wallet. I can’t help but wonder how long he has had it.

Why hasn’t he said anything?

“Maybe because he was too occupied to be between your legs.” A little voice says inside my head.

Would it be considered cynical if I were to tell that voice to shut up?

“So, Katy, how did you two finally end up together?” My grandmother asks, pulling me back to reality.

Should I be honest and tell the truth, or should I keep with the lie I concocted with Derek?

Tough choice.

It’s not that complicated if you ask me.

No one asked you.

I let out a sigh before answering Nana’s question. “Struggling with our loss drew us closer together. When Seamus ended things with me, I needed to talk to someone, and that someone was Derek. I learned what Amanda had done and suggested to him if he wanted to meet for a coffee, and little by little, we realized that we should give this a try.”

“Mm-hmm.” Nana mumbles. “What an incredible story this was. Now, tell me the truth.”

My lips parted in surprise. “Say what?”

“Oh, come on now. Do you think I was born yesterday?” Nana expresses herself. “Real story now, or I will tell the truth to your mother. I can’t believe they fell for that lie.” She shakes her head.

Derek chuckles.

“And you.” She turns her head to him. “Don’t think I forgot about you. It takes two to tango. I will also tell the truth to your mother, and it will break her heart. Is that what you want?”

Derek clears his throat as he keeps on driving. His mouth stays closed as he doesn’t dare to say anything.

Nana may be little, but no one dares to defy her. When she wants to, she can be terrifying.

“Come on, darling. I’m still waiting.” Nana adds.

I look at Derek through the rearview mirror. He nods at me, giving me his approval to tell the whole truth.

Well, not everything. She’s my Nana, and she doesn’t need to hear the juicy stuff between me and Derek.

I take a deep breath. “After Seamus broke things up with me, I learned what Amands had done to Derek. I asked him if he wanted to be my fake boyfriend for Christmas so my mother wouldn’t be disappointed with me. I persuaded Derek, telling him that after we broke up, our mothers would stop insisting that we be an item. He was so kind to accept.”

Okay, to tell the truth, he didn’t accept right away, but I neglected to say that part.

“And now, are you still pretending?” Nana wonders with curiosity.

I chew the inside of my lips before I give her an answer. “Yes and no.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Derek said he wanted to give it a go, but he wasn’t ready to label our relationship.

Derek coughs. “What Katherine is trying to say is although we aren’t exclusive, we’re open to see where things go. We both just got out of a serious relationship. We should hasten what we have because if we do, it may not work.”

Huh! I never saw it that way.

What he said makes a lot of sense.

Derek thinks rationally about our relationship.

Even if it’s sudden for me to say this, what Derek and I found can end at any point. If we are meant to be, we will find a way to make this work.

“This is nonsense!” Nana lets out. “Completely nonsense! You are meant to be together.”

“Nana!” I’m shocked by her words.

“I’m just speculating the truth. Do not worry, since you told me the truth. I won’t say anything to anyone.”

Phew!

“Now, let’s talk about children.”

“NANA!!!”

For a split second, Derek lost control of the car as he was driving after Nana mentioned the word children.

She looks at him and smiles. “My boy, I was only kidding.”

Hn! Why do I have a hard time believing her?

Luckily, Nana refrained from speaking about children or inquiring further about me and Derek for the rest of the drive.

We exit the car when Derek parks. I approach Nana, offering my hand to help her. I don’t want to take the risk and let her fall and hurt herself.

“What are you doing?” Dereks asks me as I can hear the humour in his voice.

“Isn’t it obvious?” I reply. “I’m helping my Nana so she would slip and fall and hurt herself.”

Derek wraps my grandmother’s arm around his before I have the chance to do anything. “I got it from here.”

I frown, looking at him.

Did I sense the humour in his voice?

“We both know how clumsy you can be.” He has a smug on his face, feeling proud of himself.

How I wish to smack that smug out of his face.

I angrily take one step, and what do you know? The universe must be against me because, once again, I slip. Thankfully, this time, I managed to keep my balance without falling on my ass.

But it doesn’t stop Derek from laughing at me.

Knowing him, he would say, I’m not laughing at you; I’m laughing with you.

That man can be so annoying when he wants to.

Ugh!

“Come on, freckles. I have another one.” He offers me his free arm to wrap my own around his.

Looking at Nana, I realize as she watches us, it’s as if she has the time of her life.

“Come on, Katy.” She encourages me. “He’s a true gentleman. You can’t refuse his help.”

Derek looks at me with a glint in his eyes.

How on earth can I fall for a man such as him?

I snort as I wrap my arm around his.

My annoyance fades as Derek’s lips graze my cheek.

“Stop making that face. You know how much I like teasing you.” Derek whispers in the shell of my ear.

I nod my head, letting him guide me and Nana inside my parent’s house.