Yearn For Stepsister

“Nothing, I’m fine.”

“No,” Chase insists. “Please tell me.”

“Well, it’s just that we’re right under the mistletoe.”

His brows knit. “And?”

“And you get seven years of bad luck for ignoring a mistletoe.”

“Let me help you with that.” Chase leans over and kisses me lightly on my cheek. “There, don’t you feel better now?” He smiles. “So you can relax—there’s no need to worry any more.”

I feel my cheeks turn red. “Um…I’m not sure it works like that.”

“They’re parasitic plants, though,” he remarks playfully. “Can they really be that picky?”

“Unfortunately, yes. A mistletoe kiss needs to be REAL to combat bad luck. It must be a stolen kiss, too,” I explain, my face burning with embarrassment. “Actually, just forget it.”

“Stolen?”

“Let’s just forget the whole thing. It’s all my fault for not noticing that mom hung the plant right by the Christmas tree! I’m just always trying to avoid—” I don’t get to finish my sentence because Chase grabs me by my hair and pins me to the wall. Then he kisses