I dedicate this chapter to @susjoyfully because she inspired me a lot with the decorations! She's such a cool grandma and a sweet human! Love you and thanks for your inspiration 😘❤

Well, the song might give you a hint... 😏😉🎄

"So we know you two met at work, but who asked out the other?"

The question pulls me out of my thoughts of fairy lights, baubles, and tissue papers like Christmas bells ringing.

"And where was your first date?" My mom completes Emily's question.

"Oh, yes, we would love to know!" Theone's mischievous grin turns the little Christmas ringing into a warning alarm.

Of course, the meal has gone too well so far. The conversation has revolved around the upcoming Christmas events, Emily and Jason's new house, and Theone's travels, and there hasn't been any incident, except for the fact that there have been no crackers left when Theone and I have arrived thanks to Bill, which has refused to start.

I squint my eyes at Theone, holding myself from kicking him under the table. But what he and his dimples don't know is that I have everything planned, and Aden proves it instantly.

"It's me." Aden smiles. "Penelope had organized me a little surprise birthday party at work, she'd cooked cupcakes and all, and it had been a while that I tried to ask her out, so I gathered my courage and invited her for a date after work."

It's exactly what I've written in the e-mail I've sent him, and actually, it isn't a total lie. The first part is real; I've indeed organized him a birthday party, and the rest is what I would have hoped to happen instead of him thanking me for this friendly gesture.

However, right now, his gestures look more than friendly as he puts an arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer. My heart is soaring, and Theone's smirk disappearing in a small O makes the tingles on my skin even warmer.

"So I had barely one hour to find the perfect outfit and get ready, and I got late because of the traffic," I continue explaining.

Always add little difficulties because who's ever had a perfect first date? Not me at least!

"How surprising!" Jason notes, as he hates waiting when he's hungry, and the 30 minutes late of today's lunch are clearly not digested yet.

"Hey! Today it wasn't my fault! It's because of Bill!"

"Leave my poor Bill out of this!" my dad interrupts with a hand on his chest. "The poor truck is left alone in the streets!"

I shake my head, not even trying to understand my dad's love for this car anymore. "Anyway, I got late, but Aden had waited for me, and we had a delicious moment at this fancy restaurant. Then, we took a walk around the Golden Gate Park and ended watching the stars as there was a meteor shower this night." I let a faint dreamy sigh as if recalling the memory when it's just a daydreamed movie in my head. 

Well, the meteor shower has really happened, and I've even watched it in the Golden Gate Park, yet it's been with Amy, and we haven't been able to see many stars, as we've been both pretty wasted.

"It was the best birthday!" Aden finishes, and I don't know if he's won my family's hearts, but he's got mine.

"Aww, it's beautiful!" my mom and Emily both exclaim almost at the same time.

"As long as you've only watched stars..." my dad grumbles, grabbing a chocolate from the box that is passing from hands to hands around the table and that is getting emptier and emptier.

"Oh come on! Let the kids live a little!" My mom shakes her head, finishing her cup of tea and grabbing the exact same chocolate as my dad. "Now, let's talk about serious matters." She puts her cup down solemnly, looking at each person around the table from me at her right to my dad on her left, and there is a complete silence, not even interrupted by a dish clinking. "I think we've said it was family games time after lunch?"

We all burst out laughing, shaking our heads because we all know her board games addiction and how much of a sore loser she is, well, all except Aden, but he's about to discover it along with the holidays tradition of family games.

"Let me help you." I get up as she's already piling up the empty plates.

"Thank you." She smiles, heading to the kitchen, though she still glances behind to add, "In the meantime, the others, go prepare the games!"

I hurry to walk around the table and gather the glasses and cups because I might be as eager as her, for the games, yes, but also for something else. My eyes instinctively drift to the cause of this sparkling eagerness in my stomach while I'm already picturing my next step. My hands don't stop though. I'm a girl; I can multitask.

"Your daughter is wonderful. She's so sweet and really talented."

Okay, right now, I can't do anything. My brain and my heart are already too busy exploding upon Aden's words, trying to process if I've dreamed it or if it's really real. But his tender gaze meeting mine shows me this is even better than a dream, and even my mind goes blank – no, actually, it takes a cinnamon color.

"Fuck! Watch what you're doing!"

 I'm pulled out of my sweet trance, and my mind turns into a striking green shade as I turn to the pair of eyes glaring at me. I look down at the soaked gray tee-shirt, also taking in the glass of water in my hand, which is now almost empty.

"Oops..." I quickly lift up the glass before the rest of the water runs too.

"Oops?! You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Theone groans, looking down at the large stain just on the large navy printed letters.

"What?! No! I was... distracted." The heat rushes to my cheeks as everyone around the table is now staring at us.

Though, it doesn't last as all the blood leaves my face faster upon Theone's next words.

"And how do I know? Since you're lying all the time." He squints his eyes at me until they look like sharp slivers of glass, and I almost feel their cut inside my chest.

I don't even dare to glance around as I'm already struggling to breathe, and if my head has been blank seconds ago, now it's filled with dreadful scenarios and more and more curse words.

He wouldn't? He can't...

"I didn't, I swear it was an accident. I'm sorry, okay?"

I immediately regret my apology words as Theone leans back on his chair, and I can see the pleased sparkle in his eyes. "Hmm... I'm not sure..."

I already know his left dimple will follow, and before it can appear, or I can even think, my hand is moving forward, dropping the rest of the water on his shirt.

"See, here, I did it on purpose." For once, I'm the one to smirk while he gapes between me and the wet tee-shirt that is now clinging to his chest.

"What the fuck?! Now I have to change!"

"Oh, come on, it's just water! And I think I've done you a favor Mr. 'Bikini Inspector'." I point to the inscription on his shirt, letting him see with my scowl what I think of this arrogant and ridiculous shirt.

"You're gonna regret this." He gets up, his towering height supporting his threat.

Okay, maybe this hasn't been the wisest idea, but he always manages to blur my thoughts with boiling anger, and I can't think clearly.

He already walks away, leaving me once again to mull over his words. Yet he can't, right? Maybe he knows my lies, but we have an accord. He's promised, and he needs me for the party.

I turn back to the dishes, trying to convince myself with this, and luckily for me, everyone is already going back to their conversation, Theone and I's quarrels being almost ordinary.

"I thought you were taking the dishes from China! What took you so long?" my mom playfully greets me as soon as I enter the kitchen, the plates already set in the dishwasher.

"Sorry, I had a little incident with the water. But everything is fine!" I reassure her as her smile falls down. "Sooo... the important question..." I grin, trying to distract her as much as myself.

"Yes?" She takes the now-empty glasses in my hands, her blue eyes observing my excited ones.

"What do you think of Aden now that you've spent a little more time with him?"

"He looks perfect..." She offers me a smile, turning back to the dishwasher, and I follow her closely. "He's charming, serious, and handsome."

"But?" There is always a 'but' when her freckles are slightly moving with the twitch of the corner of her nose.

"But." She turns back to me with a sigh. "I don't know... I imagined someone different for you."

"Different? You mean he's too perfect for me?" I blurt out, and I can't help the insecure wavers coming back in my voice.

I know Aden is perfect, and certainly way too good for me. I mean, he could have any girl he wants. But I still believe in Christmas miracles and soulmates, and if he's here, it still means something. At least that's what I've thought until now. Yet my hope keeps faltering and turning weaker like old Christmas lights about to definitely go out, or like Bill's engine. Each bump on the road, Theone's snicker and now my mom's small words, makes it seem more impossible.

"Oh no! Never!" She quickly wipes her hands and grabs my chin, probably noticing the insecurity falling on me like an avalanche from the past. "No one is too perfect for you." She holds my gaze with the same seriousness as when she's told me Santa's stories, and she still manages to make me believe in her words as my hope gets a little brighter, like my smile. "But you're so creative, and you have big beautiful blue eyes. I just expected someone who would open them even more to the beauty of the world and make them shine."

"Aden does!" I defend, though maybe it's more me who tries to open his eyes. But we're in the 21st century, and roles can be reversed. "And at least, he won't make them cry." I avert my big blue eyes from her gentle ones staring at me with too much compassion.

"I just want you to be happy and listen to your heart. That's all that matters to me."

My crazy plan is definitely not coming from my brain, and this fills my chest with the belief that I can succeed.

"I will always support you no matter what."

My dad is right: she always has the right words, and she easily manages to bring back my smile.

I wrap my arms around her petite figure. "Thank you."

"Will you still play in my team?" she asks with her eyes twinkling.

"Of course! I'm always in your team!"

I come back to the family room with a conquering state of mind, my gaze sliding on all the precious decorations from the large artificial Christmas tree – yes, artificial because I care about the planet, and it's surely the only thing on which I don't agree with the Christmas romances – decorated with multicolored baubles and tinsels, each one having a special story, to the nativity scene that we've all made together some years ago with a few wooden planks and paint, and the fairy lights here and there, illuminating the room with the magic of Christmas, until my eyes stop on what I've been looking for: a green and white detail. 

The sprig of mistletoe hanging just above the small step that separates the dining room from the lounge area, where almost everyone is already sitting around the oak coffee table covered with boxes of board games. I take a big breath, feeling the tingles of eagerness and nervousness mixing in my stomach. I'm ready.

It has been written for much later on my little list, yet we've agreed with Amy and Kyle– well, mostly Kyle, as Amy is always doubtful – that with all the setbacks happening, it's the perfect time, and it will really put Aden in the romantic mood; plus it will be my little reward.

The thought of what I've been dreaming for so long finally happening is enough motivation to make me forget my doubts and walk confidently with my gaze determinedly fixed on my target.

Although I still divert slightly in my stride as I catch the lonely box of chocolate on the now empty table out of the corner of my eye. The two little chocolates are practically calling me, and the sweetness is exactly what I need. I might be resolute, but my plan still requires a lot of important details for this step, and the chocolate will ease my nervousness. Chocolate is the remedy to everything!

Besides, the odds seem to be in my favor because it isn't any chocolate that is remaining, but a white chocolate praline with hazelnuts. The sweet creamy taste reinforces my belief that I can do this, and now, I'm more than ready. 

I'm tempted to grab the other one to feel even more invincible, yet the few green sprinkles on top of the dark chocolate stop my fingers an inch away from the box. Mint chocolate, I've been fooled during too many holidays to know now that the shiny dark chocolate is deceiving, hiding the cool toothpaste taste inside. I mean, the aim of a sweet is to warm your palate and your heart, not freeze you with a sour taste. Mint and chocolate, who likes this? Oh, I know: the one who has almost devoured them all, Theone. It's another proof that he has no taste, if it wasn't obvious enough with his choice of tee-shirts, and that he isn't trust-worthy – yes, I believe that tastes in sweets and chocolate tell a lot about someone, more than star signs.

Anyway, I focus back on what is important: the sweetness I wanna taste.

So I quickly join Aden, Jason, Emily, and my dad around the coffee table to 'help' them set the games.

"Hey, so you're ready for another Christmas lesson?" I whisper to Aden, grabbing a deck of cards and trying to not get too distracted as he turns to me, which is really hard when his tempting lips form into a small smile.

"Yes, I guess... So far it's been fun–"

He doesn't get to finish his sentence as the cards I'm shuffling all fly from my hands in a throw worthy of the greatest magicians' acts.

"Oops! I don't know what's up with me today?!"

This time, I've clearly done it on purpose, but I won't admit it to anyone, letting out a sigh to sound convincing as I admire my work.

The cards are perfectly spread out on the floor. Some have flown until the other side of the dining room, and most are gathered near the separation of the rooms. I kneel down to start picking them up, and of course, Aden soon follows me. He's so adorable, and the excitement is tickling my skin as I feel him so close beside me, and we're nearing a specific spot.

I can't believe my plan is working, every detail flowing to perfection as I'm now kneeling under the ideal spot.

However, I can barely process this thought that it all slips from my grasp like the cards seconds ago.

"There is one under the couch." Aden turns around just as he's been reaching the place next to me, and as I'm contemplating if my little fantasy is just postponed by a few seconds or forever, a series of curse words catches my attention.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpse a foot sliding on a card, and when I turn around, a tall figure is grabbing hold of the low wall right next to me.

It all happens so fast that I can't react. I'm just blown away, my hopes and my perfect little plan tumbling down like a house of cards. But this isn't the worst...

The worst freezes my blood inch by inch as my gaze slides slowly to the little sprig of greenery and to another piece of a lighter green glaring at me.

My heart tries to escape from my ribcage, banging loudly in warning, yet sadly I'm not as fast.

"You're under the mistletoe!" 

Cliffhanger!!! Sorry, but don't hate me, the next chapter will be up soon! Do you think they'll kiss? 😏😉🎄❤ It's the tradition after all! 

And do you agree with her Mom that Aden isn't the one for her? 😉😏

Don't forget to vote ⭐and comment if you liked this chapter! 

Also, I wanna thank you all because you all inspired me a little for this story, whether it was with the questions I asked for the decorations, the songs, and also the cultural elements!! And let's not forget your love and support that motivate me to write and update this story in time! You're the best, my little elves 😘❤