Mistletoes – Pt. 1 – A Kinky Christmas Story

When you think of Christmas, it’s usually candles, carols, and all that “love and togetherness” stuff, right? But honestly? That’s only half the story. Christmas is really the season of chaos and people bumping into each other—at least if you’re brave enough to leave the house in the days leading up to it. Shopping malls are an absolute nightmare. There are the “stop-dead-at-the-escalator-exit” types who ruin your mood in an instant, or the shopping cart warriors who slam into your ankles like it’s a contact sport. And let’s not forget the frazzled parents with screaming kids, desperately grabbing some overpriced toy as they teeter on the edge of a meltdown. I swear, moments like those make me so glad I’m not a kid anymore. I shove my hands deep into my jacket pockets as I stroll through the streets. The air is icy, and my breath hangs in little clouds in front of me. It’s getting dark now—the sun is retreating behind the rooftops, and the streetlights flicker on one by one. Everywhere, fairy lights and Christmas decorations sparkle—so outrageously over the top that they’re almost cool again. And finally, this year, there’s even snow! Not that gross, slushy kind, but real, powdery white snow that dusts the rooftops and streets like powdered sugar. And here’s the thing: today’s December 24th. Christmas Eve. I mean, sure, I’m looking forward to the food coma after my third helping of roast duck with red cabbage and dumplings, but that’s not what I’ve been waiting all year for. What I’m really excited about is this: today, I get to see my stepsister Sarah again. Sarah and I—we’ve always been a team. Inseparable. She’s not just my stepsister; she’s my best friend. We’ve been through so much together, always stuck to each other, causing trouble, and laughing for hours about the dumbest things. But then, over a year ago, she landed this amazing job in New York. Of course, I was happy for her—how often does an opportunity like that come along? But at the same time, it sucked. New York isn’t exactly around the corner, and she was so busy she couldn’t even visit once. She’s been gone for a whole year. A year without our inside jokes, without our hilarious, totally pointless conversations, and without her ability to pull me out of any funk with just one look. And now? Now she’s finally back. Just the thought of seeing her again makes me giddy. I keep picturing the moment: her standing at the front door, maybe a little chilled from the trip, and me pulling her into a hug. We probably won’t say anything at first—words just wouldn’t be enough. I’ve been grinning like a total idiot the whole time I’ve been trudging through the snow. But I don’t care. Sarah’s here today. Everything’s good today. Sarah and I? We’ve always been a dream team. Always. We’ve known each other since kindergarten, long before we ever became stepsisters. …