Chapter 26
Bee
One year later(ish)
New Year’s Eve
“Aw, come on. Why would he do it that way?” I threw a hand up at the screen of the new fancy TV in Ivy’s room. A comedian was attempting to transfer spaghetti sauce from one container to the other using a teaspoon and failing epically.
“They’re idiots,” Ivy said with a shake of her head.
“Idiots,” I repeated.
Ivy detailed how she would have done the task presented, and I agreed. Though truthfully, under pressure, I probably would have done way worse, but it was fun to feel superior.
Ivy’s room was decorated from Christmas still, but she wore a pointed tinsel New Year’s hat and held on to a noisemaker for when we had our New Year’s countdown.
Ivy and I had become fast friends in the last year, sometimes to the chagrin of Owen. We shared a love of sweets and the darling man who brought us together. I genuinely enjoyed spending time with her and the other residents of Golden Sunsets.
“How much longer until lover boy is off?” Ivy asked, straining to turn in her chair and look toward the hall.
“Lover boy is off,” Owen said as he walked into the room.
He looked happy but tired at the end of his shift.
“Yay!” I jumped out of the chair and into his arms, giving him just enough time to drop his jacket to the bed and catch me.
“Ouch,” he said, but smiled down and kissed me.
I wasn’t even sure where I hit him that time.
“Did I ever tell you how hot you look in those scrubs?” I whispered, tugging at the powder-blue material that made his eyes pop.
“Once or twice.” His gravelly voice sent shivers through me.
“Children, please. I just ate,” Ivy said.
“Haters gonna hate,” I said, but wiggled out of Owen’s arms. “Plus, you’ve said way more inappropriate things, lady.”
“Now that he’s in school again, I’ve slipped back into his teacher role.” She sniffed haughtily.
“I don’t think it works that way when I’m going to the local nursing school and you aren’t teaching,” Owen said, stretching his back. He’d started working here in the spring when the Head Nurse, Laura, offered him a position as he worked on his nursing degree. It was a no-brainer to quit working as muscle for Benny Jr.
He slid off his name badge and put on one of the party hats I handed to him. “How long until midnight?” he asked.
It was 6:03 p.m., according to the large print alarm clock on Ivy’s side table.
“I just have to open the app on the streaming service, and it starts a twenty-minute countdown.”
“Start it!” Ivy said, giving Owen a kiss as he bent to greet her. “I’ve been dying for a glass of bubbly, but Bee said we had to wait.”
I clicked my tongue. “See what I get for being responsible?”
“In her defense, you two were wasted by the time I got off on Thanksgiving,” Owen said.
Ivy and I shared a smile. “That was a fun night,” I said.
“That poor intern got an eyeful.” Ivy cackled.
“He should be so lucky.”
After the sparkling wine was poured, the three of us held up our glasses in our little trio of love. “Anybody have any resolutions?” I asked.
“I guess since blowing up the tram is off the table,” Ivy grumbled.
“We let you hit it with a sledgehammer,” Owen said smoothly. “We weren’t even technically allowed to do that.” I scooted closer to him on the comfortable loveseat that sat across from Ivy’s upgraded auto-reclining chair with all the fancy bells and whistles.
Over the summer, the town petitioned to have the old tram knocked down and rebuilt with modern technology with the help of Mayor Sparks. The demolition process was very satisfying, and we all saw a darker side to Ivy that day. I liked it.
The older woman sighed wistfully. “That was great. If it couldn’t be Benny Jr., at least it was his tin can.”
Benny Jr., for all his oozing charm, had a change of heart and let Owen quit without fuss when he realized he wasn’t as all-powerful as he thought. Neither of us was aware of how much the coward had been hiding behind empty threats made, unbeknownst to Owen. It explained why so much of the town had feared him. I set Benny Jr. straight after a few guinea pigs and I cornered him behind The Tipsy one night. He has stopped hiding behind my boyfriend’s size and stopped spreading untrue rumors about his violence.
Rumors of my violence had increased tenfold, according to Deckard.
“I just want to spend the new year with the people I love,” Ivy said.
“Cheers to that,” I said.
Owen snuggled me closer. “Really? No big plans to change?” he asked.
“Nah. Why mess with perfection?” I said. “Though I might organize more classes.”
The cat visit days had been a huge success at the home, and soon, Whisker Wonderland, the local no-kill animal shelter, had volunteered a worker to come once a week to visit with a different little pet for adoption. (Though the guinea pig population remained unchecked and hardy as ever.) Because I had started a sign-up sheet for all of Ivy’s alum to regularly visit the home, which was most of the town, there were always people coming through, and pets were constantly being adopted. The home had been through many improvements and renovations, thanks to a rise in donations. Ivy and the other residents had a steady stream of visitors and activities to partake in, and I was happier than ever. I didn’t need to do some grand gesture to be seen. I just had to be me. And being involved in the local community outside the cats in the café had been infinitely rewarding.
Owen bent to kiss my forehead. “No resolutions here either. Just finish my degree and continue working here. Other than that, my life is perfect.”
“You are very lucky,” I said.
“I love you,” Owen whispered, sending shivers down my back.
“I love you too.”
We stared at each other until Ivy threw a decorative pillow at us, and the countdown began in earnest.
Owen told me he loved me on our second official date, which was great because I had been attempting to get the words out, and he did it for me. We’d spent pretty much every night together since that first night on the tram. I kept waiting for him to get sick of me or to want some space, but all he did was ask to move in after his lease was up in March. He was already over all the time anyway, so it was a smooth transition. Occasionally, an old fear would creep in, but then he would look at me with sincerity to tell me he loved me, and every fear melted from my shoulders.
We’d also come up with a system where I changed out of my work clothes the second I got home and dropped them into the washer, so the cat hair never became an issue.
The silver lining was that it was an excuse to get naked for him every day. Between his classes and the work at the home, he was busy a lot, but I’d taken the time to hang out with Ivy and the other residents and make little upgrades to Golden Sunsets. Turned out, I had a knack for mural painting and interior design—so long as they liked their murals Jackson Pollock-esque and their room design “cozy eclectic chic.”
“Three … two … one. Happy New Year!”
The three of us clinked our glasses and sang a terrible rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” By the time we left, Ivy was falling asleep into her glass of champagne.
Owen and I had a full night of plans ahead of us.
Later…
The Hookup Hut had gone through some renovations of its own. Most notably, an online sign-up sheet for a more organized usage allotment. Owen and I claimed New Year’s Eve in perpetuity. Why mess with tradition?
We used a snowmobile to get here and planned to snowmobile up to the peak for the second half of our plans in the morning. But for now, we had a night of reminiscing and sweet, sweet lovemaking ahead of us.
“I’ve missed this place,” I said as I threw my overnight bag in the corner.
“I’ll get the sheets out and change them,” he said.
“I’ll unload the snacks.” I hid an extra pack of Pop-Tarts for the special occasion. If Owen played his cards right, I might be inclined to share.
Owen always played his cards right.
And by that, I meant he was very good in bed.
“I never thought I’d choose to come back here,” he said. “Let alone actually really want to.”
He still hadn’t ridden the new tram. I couldn’t say I blamed him.
“Happiest memories,” I said and then noticed a small sign above a drawer in the kitchen. “‘Take a condom/leave a condom, bro,’” I read out loud.
“That’s probably our fault.” A flush went to the tips of Owen’s ears. “We burned through half a box last year.”
“Go us.”
When Owen had finished starting the fire and making the bed, and I’d laid out an assortment of snacks, I walked to the room and waited for him to look at me.
“You look like you’re up to something,” he said.
I dramatically shrugged out of my winter parka. “Tada!” I yelled.
Owen’s mouth dropped open. At least four emotions passed over his features, ending on confusion. “I thought you burned that.”
He reached out to run a hand up the sleeve of my faded multicolor snowsuit from the nineties that he’d stolen for me last year. “I tried to but alas. Too much sentimental value.” I pointed at a melted part near the cuff. “Also, strangely inflammable. Wait. Flammable?” I tilted my head. “Contranym?”
He shook his head. “Non-flammable is the opposite. Inflammable and flammable mean the same thing.”
“That makes zero sense.” I shook my head.
He chuckled and came over to me. “Are you wearing the bikini underneath too?” He tugged at the collar, trying to peek down the neck.
“No. No,” I said, and he frowned. “I’m not wearing anything,” I clarified.
He grinned and started to tug down the zipper. I giggled as we fell into the bed and quickly stripped each other of our clothing.
We had a condom record to beat.
As we waited for official midnight, we alternated between laughing and talking and great orgasms, obviously.
As the clock turned over into the new year, we kissed passionately as I was lying in his arms by the fire in a burrow of blankets and pillows. The snow fell softly outside, but nothing compared to last year. I hummed contentedly, twirling my fingers along his chest and listening to the hard rhythm of his heart beating.
“Happy New Year, Bee.” Actually, his heart was thumping so loud I was about to tell him to turn it down, so I could hear him properly.
“Happy New Year,” I said again as I kissed his chest, feeling the hard beat bouncing against my lips.
We had finished our last round of horizontal hustle ten minutes ago. It shouldn’t be hammering so loudly. I was about to tell him to see the local GP (general practitioner, not guinea pig in this case) when he cleared his throat.
“I was lying when I said that I didn’t have any resolutions at Ivy’s earlier,” he said with a shaky voice.
“Oh?” I propped my chin onto my fists so I could meet his gaze.
“I’d really like to plan a wedding. Even if it’s just a small ceremony. Or maybe an elopement.” His eyes watched me carefully as he spoke, a careful flatness of features.
I sat up quickly, feeling the blood rush out of my face and my fingertips tingle.
“What are you …” I started.
The blanket had fallen down, and my breasts were on full display, and Owen stared slack-jawed.
“Does this mean …” My own heartbeat now rushed through my ears, my mind zoomed around my head, throwing her hands up in the air and screaming, This is not a drill!
Owen didn’t respond. I snapped my fingers in front of his face. He cleared his throat. “Sorry. Those things really are troublemakers.”
I looked down at my breasts, trying to steal the moment, and crossed my arms over them to keep him on task. He rolled to the side and grabbed a small velvet box from his pants, divested earlier on the chair next to us.
“Oh, this is happening.” I turned back around to face him fully, my whole body vibrating. I’d been hoping and thinking, pretty much since our second date, that we would make a life together officially, but I never thought he’d make me wait a full year. “Should I put on a shirt?”
“I will never say yes to that question,” he answered dryly. He scooted until he knelt in front of me.
“Owen. This is important.” I knelt too. My whole body trembled in anticipation.
“It’s just me,” he said, meeting my gaze with earnestness. He extended the box and opened it to reveal a beautiful engagement ring.
I’d been wrapping the blanket around me like a towel after the shower when I stilled, and I felt my eyes bulging.
“Bee,” he said, his throat bobbing, “This whole last year?—”
“Yes! I will marry you!” I threw myself at him and started crying.
He kissed the top of my head and then pulled me away to pepper my face and neck with kisses. “I had a whole speech.”
“I want to hear it. I do. Sorry.” I looked up at him through blurred vision as he spoke, but I couldn’t retain or process anything. I was too happy. I was screaming too loud on the inside.
Plus, I was sure I’d have him tell it to me at least four more times tonight.
“Will you marry me?” he finished.
“Took you long enough.” My voice came out wobbly. “Yes.”
The following afternoon, New Year’s Day
It seemed the whole town was at the top of The Slope and decked out in their finest swim gear for the first inaugural Whisker Wonderland Charity Ski Event. I’d spent half the year planning this event, the proceeds which would be going to, of course, the animal shelter.
“Such a turnout,” I said, surprised, looking at what had to be half the town coming to join us at the top of The Slope. “All thanks to you,” Owen said, shifting from foot to foot on skis next to me.
“I am awesome,” I said.
In the periphery, Benny Jr. handed out hot chocolates from Peaked Interests and wasn’t too miserable looking. He’d graciously agreed to volunteer his time and money for the event. I waved to Deckard, shivering in his skivvies, and the brunette I didn’t recognize on his arm.
“I hadn’t thought of the logistics of seeing all my friends and neighbors scantily clad when organizing this event.” I crinkled my nose and turned back to Owen.
The sun shone brightly, and the mountain had been dumped with fresh powder the week before. The conditions were perfect to ski down a mountain in a bathing suit.
“Maybe next year, we push for parkas,” Owen agreed.
I shuddered after seeing Mateo, the EMT, in a bright red banana hammock.
“Remind me to research how to burn images from your retinas,” Owen mumbled.
“I’m way ahead of you.”
“Are you okay? Too cold?” Owen leaned into me, and warmth instantly spread over my side.
“I’m perfect. I can’t believe so many people came out for this.”
“I can’t believe how much back hair Samuel Clemens has. Don’t look,” he said.
“Well, of course, I looked. You can’t tell someone not to look and expect them not to look.”
Owen grinned down at me. He smiled so much these days, and I swore every smile added a year to my life. At this rate, we’d be giving Ned Fled a run for his money.
“Oh my God, Connor Finkle has a full-back tattoo.” I gasped.
“Who’s that?” Owen bent toward me to whisper. His eyes followed my gaze and widened slightly. “Wait, the librarian guy? Whoa, sick dragon. It is always the quiet ones,” Owen muttered and straightened. “The list of things I didn’t need to know about my neighbors grows ever longer.”
I shifted on my skis, my body shivering as the initial adrenaline of getting up here and seeing everybody started to wear off. “Good news is, if you ever have to deliver a speech to the town, you won’t even have to use any imagination to picture them in their underwear.”
“God, that’s a scary thought.” It was his turn to shimmy in disgust.
“Holy freezing snowballs.” I laced my cold fingers through his warm ones.
“It’s so much colder than I thought.”
“You’ve handled worse,” I said. I gave him a long, suggestive look, pointedly looking at his swim trunks. “Also, you don’t seem cold.”
“Bee. Please don’t look at me like that. There are things I don’t want our mailman to see.”
Azi snowboarded by with two tourists, giggling delightedly. “Soupman and Bee, what is up? Gorgeous day to tread some pow pow.” He fist-bumped Owen as they glided by.
I waved as Owen mumbled, “I have no idea what he said.”
“He seems happy, at least.” I stomped my skis to get blood flowing just as Mayor Sparks got her megaphone. She made an announcement about the town and the charity and all that, but I was too busy looking at Owen and thinking about how much our lives had changed in the past year. Owen gently prodded me when the crowd whooped and called my name.
“Thank you, Bee Perkins, for all that you have done to organize this event, the proceeds of which will be donated to the local animal rescue shelter.”
I waved to the crowd before extending a low curtsy. My neon green bikini barely contained the ladies trying to spill out.
Owen moved to block the view.
Then we all made our way to the starting line, Owen and I leading the pack.
“Ready?” He squeezed my hand. We pushed our goggles down our faces.
“Ready.” I nodded.
“I love you, Bee Perkins.”
“And I love you, Soupman.” I cheesed a grin. He shook his head with a laugh as we pushed forward with the crowd. “Let’s do this!” I yelled, and the town roared behind me just as Mayor Sparks blared the air horn.
I skied into the new year with the love of my life and a town who knew my name.
“Happy New Year!”