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“I was just—”

Whatever sentence Kara had been about to finish was lost… as Jeremy leaned in and kissed her.

Eighteen

For a split-second she actually swooned.

It all came back — the smell of him, the presence of him, the feel of his mouth on hers. Kara’s lips were soft and pliant against his own, and Jeremy’s pressed firmly but not insistently, with just the right amount of pressure.

Oh my God…

Then he abruptly broke the kiss, before she could. And that made her angry.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Kara demanded.

He leaned back and smiled

. “What?”

“What do you mean what?”

Still grinning, Jeremy pointed upward. “Look. Mistletoe.”

Kara looked. There was mistletoe.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

He laughed, and another series of memories came rushing back. Memories of Jeremy laughing in the gardens with her, the two of them flirting and giggling and teasing each other mercilessly. Memories of laying with him and saying nothing, too. Of just eye-fucking him.

Fucking him…

“You’re out of your mind,” she said, twisting away. “Mistletoe? Really? What are you, twelve?”

He shrugged. She felt suddenly like Xiomara, scolding him.

“After all this time…” Kara went on. “After taking off like you did?”

“I didn’t—”

“The complete and total lack of contact?”

She was angry… and that part was no good. Her anger actually infuriated her. It made her weak.

“Kara listen, I just wanted to—”

“No.” The word was harsh, firm. “No, Jeremy don’t. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t need to hear it. It’s stupid that we’re even talking about this.”

He stared back at her, so tall, so innocent. So not innocent.

“Fine,” he said. “Sorry.”

She took in a deep breath but stopped short of a sigh. A sigh would’ve actually meant something, and Kara didn’t want it to.

“It’s okay. Forget it.” She glanced up at the sprig of green leaves and white berries. “Mistletoe. At Christmas.” She allowed herself half a smirk. “Go figure.”

Kara stepped out from beneath the plant and took a step backward. She pointed to the row of bookcases.

“This where you found the book?”