Page 88 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane

Sam had given up peanuts, for me.

I never asked him to. He just did.

How had I overlooked something so meaningful? So significant?

And if I had forgotten something as big as that, what the heck else had I missed?

Chapter Twenty-One

“Why don’t you kiss her instead of talking her to death?”

—It’s a Wonderful Life

A couple of hours later, I stood in front of my long mirror, fidgeting with the ends of my dark green sweater, wondering if the soot stain on my right cuff was small enough to go unnoticed on my date.

My date.

It still felt weird to think it or even say it, and yet here I was, getting ready for a real date with a real boy who I was pretty sure liked me.

And who, to my biggest surprise, I kinda liked as well.

Even though I still obviously had feelings for my best friend.

Who I’d tried to kiss earlier today.

In a closet.

God, you’ve really made a mess of things, Gianna.

I unplaited my two braids and let my hair hang loosely around my shoulders, something I rarely did because it drove me crazy to have it in my face, but this was what girls did when they went on dates, right?

Wear their hair differently than usual?

Bet those girls don’t have hair as freakin’ frizzy and heavy as mine, though.

I groaned and grabbed some smoothening cream for the ends before sending a selfie to Jo, who quickly responded with a few fire emojis.

Jo: You look AMAZING!

Jo: Green makes your eyes pop

Me: But am I trying too hard wearing a color I know HE likes?

The conversation bubble popped up and then quickly disappeared before reappearing with her response.

Jo: I’ve seen you wear that sweater lots of times

Jo: If it makes YOU feel good, then wear it!

A knock sounded on my bedroom door before it opened, and my mom stood in the doorway. She beamed and then her eyes turned glassy.

“Mom,” I warned, holding up my hands. “Don’t make a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be.”

“I won’t. I promise.” She sniffed. “It’s just…times like these I really miss your father.”

Shoot, now I’m going to cry.

Mom crossed my room and gently placed her ring-covered hands on my shoulders. “You have his eyes, his smile. Even his hair.” She ran her fingers through mine and chuckled. “Beautiful waves…although his was a bit more unruly than yours.”