A Mistletoe Twist

Chapter 3: The Past Weighs Heavy

The days leading up to Christmas passed in a blur of holiday cheer, decorations, and family activities. Jenna tried her best to focus on Sophie, to keep things light and joyful. The little girl’s enthusiasm was contagious, and seeing her so excited about the holidays made Jenna forget—at least for a few moments—about the heaviness that lingered in her chest. But no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, the tension with Nate was always there, quietly building between them like a silent storm waiting to break.

It was Christmas Eve, and the entire family had gathered at Lucas’s house for a festive dinner. The long wooden table was filled with bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted vegetables, and a honey-glazed ham, and the laughter of family and friends filled the air. Yet, Jenna couldn’t fully relax. Every time she caught Nate’s gaze across the table, her stomach would flip. He seemed to be studying her, as if waiting for her to say or do something. But Jenna wasn’t sure what that something should be.

“You look pensive,” Lucas said, sitting beside her and breaking her out of her thoughts. “Everything okay?”

Jenna forced a smile, picking up her glass of wine and taking a sip. “Yeah, just... thinking.”

“You’re thinking about Nate, aren’t you?” Lucas’s voice was light, teasing, but Jenna could hear the underlying seriousness.

Jenna stiffened, setting her glass down. “No. I’m just trying to enjoy the holidays.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. Sure, because you’ve been really enjoying yourself all week.” He glanced over at Nate, who was talking to their dad at the other end of the table. “Listen, I know things were weird between you two in the past. But, uh, you guys never really talked about what happened, did you?”

Jenna's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately felt a flush rise to her cheeks. The last thing she wanted to talk about was her history with Nate.

“I don’t want to go there, Lucas,” she said, her voice quieter now. “It’s been years. I’ve moved on. We both have.”

Lucas didn’t seem convinced. He glanced at Nate again before meeting his sister’s eyes. “Yeah, but sometimes moving on means facing the things we ran from, you know?”

Jenna’s hands tightened around her fork, her mind racing. “I don’t need to face anything,” she said, trying to keep the edge out of her voice. “I’m fine.”

Lucas sighed but didn’t press any further. Jenna was thankful for that. She didn’t want to have this conversation—especially not now, in the middle of a family dinner. But deep down, she knew Lucas was right. She hadn’t really moved on. Not completely.

Later that night, after dinner was finished and the table was cleared, everyone gathered around the fireplace. The warm glow of the fire crackled, and the soft melody of Christmas carols played in the background. Sophie was sitting on the floor, arranging her toys, and Jenna leaned back in her chair, trying to relax. But as always, her gaze flickered to Nate.

He was talking with Lucas and their dad, his laugh carrying over the crackling fire. Nate had always had that effect on people—effortlessly charming, his presence large and impossible to ignore. And yet, when he looked at Jenna, there was a complexity in his eyes that made her wonder if he saw something more than the surface—the smile she gave, the polite answers she gave him. He saw the cracks, the parts of her she was trying to keep hidden.

And then, as if sensing her gaze, Nate turned and caught her eye.

For a long moment, they just stared at each other, no words exchanged. Jenna felt a flutter of nerves, a rush of emotion that she couldn’t quite place. And then Nate stood up and walked toward her, his steps purposeful. The room seemed to fall silent, the noise of the holiday festivities fading into the background as he came closer.

“I didn’t mean to make things weird between us,” Nate said, his voice low and sincere. “I know I messed up back then. I was... I wasn’t ready for anything serious, but I should’ve been better.”

Jenna’s heart raced as she processed his words. The weight of the past hung between them, like a wall that had never been torn down. She didn’t know how to respond—how to face the truth of it all. It had been years since they last spoke like this, and though part of her wanted to say something in return, she couldn’t bring herself to.

Instead, she just nodded, her throat tight. “I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, Nate. But things happen... and they can’t always be undone.”

Nate’s jaw tightened, his eyes darkening. “I know,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “I just... I never wanted you to think I didn’t care.”

Jenna’s chest tightened. She had thought that. Back then, she had believed it with all her heart—that he didn’t care. But now, with him standing in front of her, his expression raw and vulnerable, it didn’t feel so simple anymore.

Before she could respond, Lucas appeared, his hand on Nate’s shoulder, pulling him back toward the group. “Hey, we need you for the Christmas gift exchange,” Lucas said, his tone casual, but Jenna could tell he was trying to defuse the moment.

Nate gave her one last look, and Jenna swallowed hard, trying to ignore the emotions that were swirling inside her. She forced a smile as he turned away, joining the group near the tree.

Sophie, oblivious to the tension between the adults, grabbed her mom’s hand and tugged her toward the living room. “Mom! Let’s do our Christmas exchange. I want to give you your present!”

Jenna nodded, grateful for the distraction, and followed Sophie toward the tree. The evening passed in a blur of gift exchanges, laughter, and the occasional glance from Nate that made her pulse race.

But as the night drew to a close and the last of the guests began to head home, Jenna found herself alone in the kitchen, cleaning up the remnants of the holiday feast. She was just about to take the last dish to the sink when the door behind her opened, and Nate stepped in, closing the door quietly behind him.

“You know, you can’t hide from me forever,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

Jenna turned, her breath catching in her throat. “What are you doing in here?”

Nate smiled, though it was laced with a touch of regret. “I was hoping we could talk. Really talk.”

Jenna set the plate down, her mind racing. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for this conversation—not after everything that had happened, not with the way her heart kept betraying her.

But as she looked at Nate, standing there with a kind of quiet determination, she realized there was no running from this anymore.

“I think it’s time,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nate took a step closer, his expression softening. “I’m sorry for everything, Jenna. For the past, for not being there when you needed me... I know I messed up, but I want to make it right. If you’ll let me.”

Jenna felt her chest tighten, her emotions swirling. She hadn’t expected this. Not now. But maybe... just maybe... this holiday wasn’t about running from the past. Maybe it was about facing it.

And so, for the first time in years, Jenna took a deep breath and nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s talk.”

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