Midnight Mistletoe

Derek Sawyer

I’m lying down on my couch, my eyes fixed on the ceiling, with a beer in my hand. I feel pathetic.

It’s been two weeks since I discovered Amanda cheated on me. We’d been together for almost a year, and I was ready to pop the question. I loved her, and I still do.

What a bitch!

Two weeks from now, I will be heading over to the Bennett’s house to celebrate Christmas with them...

While I am lost in my thoughts, a knock at the door startles me and pulls me back to reality.

“It’s open!” I scream to whoever is at the other side of the door.

With a jolt, I spring up from the couch, nearly spilling my beer as I see who has the audacity to enter the apartment.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” My stupid heart is happy to see her.

It didn’t get the memo that it was over with her the moment I learned she cheated on me.

Although it’s difficult, my heart needs to come to terms with the fact that the relationship with her is over because I refuse to allow a cheater to be a part of my life again.

“Isn’t it obvious? I came to grab my stuff.” She rolls her eyes at me.

“Didn’t I ask you to ask one of your friends to come and pick them up?” I grit my teeth as I try to remain calm.

“It’s not my issue if you can't cope with me being here.” Amanda flings her hair over her shoulder as she spins to go toward my room.

I fold my arms in front of my chest. “And where do you think you're going?”

“Duh! To our room.”

As I feel my frustration building up, I quickly set my bottle of beer on the counter to prevent myself from acting on my impulses and throwing it against the wall.

“Our room? Are you kidding me right now? You think this is still your room? You lost that right when you spread your legs for your fucking ex!” I remind her.

Her jaw hit the floor as she couldn’t believe the way I spoke to her.

And here come the tears.

Not so long ago, I would have done anything not to see her cry, but now after what she did to me, I couldn’t care less.

Amanda whipped the tears with the back of her hand. “And you think you are better?” She sniffs.

I frown. “What’s that supposed to mean? I never once cheated on you.”

“Yeah, and what about her?” Amanda asks me.

“Her? Her, who?”

I’m lost here.

“Don’t play dumb with me. The picture you hide in your wallet. You know the dark brown-haired girl.”

“Ha ha!” I burst out laughing directly in her face. “You mean, Freckles? You think I fucked her. I never did.”

“Then why do you have a picture of her in your wallet?” She has the audacity to point the finger at me when she’s the one in the wrong here.

“I already told you. Our fathers are best friends. I have known her since I can remember. My mother put that picture in my wallet because she wants Kate and me to be together, and so does her mother.”

Which is the truth. Our mothers would be thrilled if Katherine and I were to become a couple.

That will never happen. I don’t see her that way, and neither does she.

Amanda snorts. “Yeah, right!”

Did she cheat on me because of a fuckinfg picture?

I’m sure it was only an excuse. Amana just found a reason to sleep with her ex. If she truly loved me, she would have confronted me about that picture a long time ago. It shows how much I meant to her.

A look of disapproval crossed my face. “I don’t have to justify myself to you. I need you to leave, NOW!”

Amanda shrugs her shoulders. “Well, too bad because I’m not leaving without my stuff.”

“If that will make you leave faster, then let me give you a hand. Don’t fucking move!” I warn her as I walk away.

The idea that Kate and I slept together never even crossed my mind, so it’s surprising to hear Amanda thought that. The only reason we hang out is because our families are so close to each other, otherwise, we wouldn’t spend time together.

I open my wardrobe and take the box to the shelf above my head.

I’m fucking glad I didn’t throw her stuff in the trash. Otherwise, I would have never heard the end of it.

“Here.” I give her the box. “Now you can fucking leave and leave me in peace.”

She places the box on the floor and walks up to me.

I take a step back. “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”

“What does it look like?” She tries to touch me, but I don’t let her because if she does, I don’t think I will be able to stay away. “I made a mistake. I want you back.”

I snort. “Just leave already. I don't want you anymore. You broke us. This is all on you.”

“But...” She tries.

“Fucking leave!” I snap at her.

Amanda grabs the box with frustration. “You’re going to regret this. Soon you’ll beg me to take you back.”

“I doubt it.” I close the door in her face to make a point.

Now, where was I?

Ah yes, Feeling pathetic.

I take my beer in my hand and lie back on the couch. Just the way I was before I got interrupted.

Take her back. Yeah right. Even if I still love her, I’m not making that mistake. In two weeks I’m going to the Benett’s house for Christmas, alone.

Once again, my thoughts are interrupted when I hear my phone ring.

I wonder who that is?

I take it, and I’m surprised to see Katherine Bennett’s phone numbers on the screen.

What does she want?

“Freckles, what do I owe the pleasure of your call?” I grumble as I answer the phone.

“Ugh! I hate that nickname.” I hear her mumble on the other side of the phone. I can’t help myself as I chuckle. “Anyway, I have a favor to ask you. Do you think we can meet?”

The only time we see each other is when our families meet.

I smirk as an idea pops into my head.

“On one condition. I chose the place for our rendezvous.”

“I didn’t anticipate it would be this easy to get you to agree.”

“What can I say? I’m full of surprises, Freckles.”

“Name the place, and I will be there.”

Who would have thought that receiving her call would be the best thing that happened to me today? Because where I’m going to bring her, a certain someone will be so angry with me, and it's about time I turn the tables around.