Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34527 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
“While you’re hanging things, we need this, too,” Liesje pronounces. She hands me a small bundle of herbs from her kitchen and wraps them with a red string fished out of the decorating box.
“For the smell?” I ask, because I don’t recall hearing of herb-hanging in any of Devin’s explanations.
Liesje smirks. “No, my boy, this can be our mistletoe. It’s for you and your lady, so you two can quit flirting and just kiss already.” And she holds it out to me and shakes it.
I take it from her, confused. “I do not know this tradition. Explain it to me and why it would make Devin wish to kiss me?”
“You can kiss her,” Liesje says. “If you catch someone under the mistletoe, you kiss them.”
Now this is intriguing. Not in the kissing part, but in the fact that Devin omitted it. “Is that so? What happens if you fail to kiss?”
“Bad luck. So much bad luck,” Liesje says.
“Nothing,” Devin immediately corrects, moving across the room and distinctly away from me. “Nothing happens at all. It’s just an old custom. I’m just fine without being groped, thank you very much. You want a cup of tea, Liesje? I could use a hot beverage.”
I watch her retreat, curious. The more she acts like she doesn’t want to kiss me, the more I’m intrigued by it. Is it because it’s me? Or because she doesn’t like kissing? If it’s the latter, maybe she’s the right sort of female for me after all.
This isn’t helping my infatuation. Why is it I’m more interested the less she wishes to kiss me?
It’s something I think about for the rest of the afternoon. Once the decorating is done and the tree is pronounced “festive,” we share a cup of tea and some cookies that Devin brought with her. They’re not as good as the cookies made by Rektar’s wife, Lucy, but I don’t point this out. Devin hugs Liesje and promises to return tomorrow with the rest of the holiday presents and a festive meal. Liesje’s response is less enthusiastic, but she’s smiling.
I take Devin and her creature home in my air-sled, and instead of her normal chatter, she’s silent. Is she thinking about the kiss and the herbs too? Or is it something else?
“Thanks for the ride,” she tells me when we pull up to her farm.
I grunt an answer, still watching her. “I will return in the morning to pick you up.”
Her expression turns to one of surprise. “Oh, are you coming back?”
“Do you not wish for me to come back?”
She shakes her head quickly. “No, that wasn’t what I meant at all. I’m just surprised. You don’t have to, and I’m sure you’re busy.”
“If this is a holiday celebrated amongst friends, I would like to be there. What should I bring for a present for Liesje? Tomorrow we bestow gifts, yes?”
“I’m sure you don’t have to bring anything—”
“But that is not how the holiday works, is it? Everyone exchanges gifts.”
She squirms in her seat, stroking her rodent’s head. “I guess you’re right. I’m not sure what you could get her. Food, maybe? Noodles?”
“Noodles is a terrible gift. Would you be excited to get noodles?”
“Well, no.” Devin shrugs. “But you already got her a tree.”
“The tree was decoration. I will have to think of something else.” I eye her. “I did not realize you were so bad at gifts.”
Her face flushes with color. “You got me. I was the one that always gave gift cards back home. I’m not the most thoughtful person.”
“That’s not true. You are exceedingly thoughtful.” I’m surprised she thinks of herself in such a way. “You were the one that wanted to bring a holiday to Liesje. You were concerned about her when no one else was. That is very thoughtful.” I lean toward her and give her a playful look. “For my gift, I should like a second sock.”
Her expression is puzzled. “A second sock?”
“To match the one above the mantel. It is small but perhaps I can use them on the tips of my horns instead of my feet.”
Devin’s lips twitch. “It’s not a sock you wear. How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“At least once more.” At my words, she breaks into laughter, her hand over her eyes. I love how pink her cheeks are, and the smile on her mouth. I find myself gazing at her mouth thoughtfully. Rektar enjoys kissing Lucy. Is it that he just enjoys slobber more than I do or do some humans kiss differently than others? “May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do…you not like kissing either?” I blurt the words out before I can change my mind.
Her lips part and she stares at me, confused. “Me…?” Devin sputters. “No, I like kissing. You were the one that was all grossed out when I suggested it.”