Under the Mistletoe by Rebecca Berry (you can read anyone TXT) 📖

I hate Christmas Parties. Seriously, if my friends didn’t always drag me to them because they needed a “safe” driver, I’d never go. It’s not because I don’t want to hang with my co-workers and friends, but every time I’m at one of these parties I find myself the only single person there.

I have to be here this time, because Max my best friend, invited me to meet his new girlfriend Samantha and I promised I’d come. So I’m stuck, standing here, under one of the many doorframes of the house, trying to stay as far away from the guests while still looking like I’m attending.

I don’t know why I thought that this party would be any better than the hundreds of others I’d attended as the ‘safe’ driver, there was the hostess making out with someone not her husband, while my boss, a pudgy middle aged man was doing a limbo that looked like he was having a heart attack.

The only thing worse than being the only single guy at the party was when my well meaning ‘friends’ tried to hook me up with some girl that they barely even knew assuming that just because I was single, it must mean that (a) I’m lonely and (b) I need a life partner that only they can provide. Then they wonder why I sometimes bail halfway through these parties.

I sigh as I lean back against the wall, sipping my non-spiked tap water, and wondering if my friends are drunk enough not to notice me missing yet so that I can slip out to the car and get out of here, I’ll call a cab or something for them after I leave, for now, I just want out of here.

As I’m contemplating the perfect time to bail, a male partier starts towards me, I’m sure for another drink he really doesn’t need. Before I know what is going on, his lips are pressed on mine. Confused, I push him away and he stumbles off as if nothing has happened. When a girl comes through, giggling madly and pecks me on the cheek, I know something is up. When I glance up, I notice the mistletoe hanging just above my head. Now how did I miss that?

Deciding that this party has gone on long enough, I left the doorway in search of Max and find myself in a den room, under another doorway. A precursory glance tells me Max isn’t in the room, but before I can leave another one of Max’s friends comes up and tries to shove his tongue down my throat. He smiles at me as he stumbles away, and looking up, there it is again, that darn mistletoe!

This party has gotten out of hand, there are guests doing a little more than kissing on the sofa, and I decide at that moment, that I’m just going to find Max, and then I’m out of here! Going back the way I came I finally see someone I recognize. It’s Mark, from the desk next to mine.

“Hey Mark.”

He turns to me “Hey Nathan, I thought you weren’t coming?”

I blushed, “Yeah, but I got dragged here by Max so that I could meet his new girlfriend, then he bails on me!”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, I was just looking for him so I could tell him I’m bailing and that he can find another ride.”

“I’ll pass along the message.”

“Thanks.” I say as I turn to leave only to have Mark pull me back, right into a deep, hot, wonderful kiss. Looking up, I see mistletoe above my head hanging from the chandelier.

“F***ing thing is following me.” I grumble.

“Perhaps that is a good thing.” Mark smiles as he tries to pull me into another kiss, as I shove him away playfully,

“Only one per customer bud.” I say as I walk toward the door, only to be blocked by a couple kissing by the door. They both smile shyly at me as I get a kiss from both, and I don’t even have to look up to see the mistletoe again.

I’m walking to the car when I hear his voice calling after me “Go on a date with me Nathan!” he yells from the door, blushing as the couple that had kissed me are giving him the same treatment.

"As long as there is no mistletoe!" I yell back. Finally I am able to get into my car and drive home. I wonder if he'll even remember on Monday.

End

Publication Date: 12-13-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To David who keeps bugging me to finish what I start. To my mom, who always believed in me To Anita, the best friend I ever had and whose heart I broke because I felt I didn't deserve her. Forgive me?