Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Eli was getting used to the smell of cinnamon and fresh dough. For the first time in days, the world outside the window wasn’t a blur of snow. Clouds diffused the sunlight until everywhere was gray, and now and then there was the odd lazy drift of flakes.
Aileen nudged him. “You two didn’t fall out, did you?”
He blinked. “Of course we didn’t. What makes you say that?”
Her eyes gleamed. “Because you were at my place last night, after spending four straight nights at Noah’s place, that’s why.” Her lips twitched. “Although I suppose not one of those nights was spent doing anything remotely straight.”
He folded his arms. “You can hint as much as you like. I am not discussing my sex life with you. And if you must know, Noah had something he wanted to work on last night.”
What that was, Noah hadn’t divulged. Eli had been expecting a message from him all morning, but so far?
Nothing.
He checked the time.
9:42 a.m.
Okay, this is weird.
“Anyway, get your butt into the kitchen. I need a taste tester. It’s an emergency.”
He smiled despite the knot in his stomach. The morning was shaping up as chaotically as usual. Aileen was dusted in flour, her hair in a messy bun held together by what looked like pure willpower.
Eli followed her into the kitchen. “Couldn’t Sam be your taster?”
“Sam is busy. You’re being lazy.”
He glanced toward the door. He wasn’t expecting Noah to walk in, but he was dying to know where he was.
“So what is it you want me to taste?”
Aileen placed a warm cinnamon roll in front of him. “I lied. I wanted you on your own, so I took advantage of the lull in customers. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
She arched her brows. “Want to try that again?”
Eli sighed, sliding onto a stool.
“You really don’t know where Noah is?”
“Not a clue,” he admitted. “And he hasn’t texted this morning.”
“Oh.” Aileen tilted her head to one side. “And how do we feel about that?”
“We?”
“Yes,” she said, leaning both elbows on the table. “Because I am fully invested in your romantic well-being.”
Eli groaned. “I hate this town.”
“No you don’t,” she said sweetly. “You love us. And speaking of love—”
His heart hammered. “Aileen.”
“What?” She widened her eyes. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You don’t have to. You’re thinking it so loudly it’s echoing off the walls.”
She dropped the pretense and leveled him with a look he remembered from childhood—the you can’t hide from me look.
“You’ve moved way beyond liking him, haven’t you?” Her voice was soft.
Eli stared at the cinnamon roll, suddenly very interested in its swirl pattern.
“It’s… complicated,” he muttered.
“Oh please. You’re not complicated, you’re just emotionally constipated.”
He choked on a laugh. “Wow. Thank you for that diagnosis.”
“You’re welcome. Now answer the question.”
He took a breath. Then another. Finally, he sighed.
“Yeah. I passed liking him about a week ago.”
Her face softened instantly. “Hey, that’s okay.”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen,” he said, twisting his hands. “I didn’t come here for this. I came because you needed help. Because I needed a break. I didn’t expect…” He gestured vaguely. “Him.”
“I know.”
“He’s—” Eli swallowed. “He’s so warm. And funny. And kind. He makes everything better just by being there. And the other day, when he was skating with me, I—” He stopped, his chest tightening.
Aileen’s voice softened. “You fell a little.”
Eli huffed. “More than a little.” Maybe it was time to say the words out loud. “Okay. I… love him.”
“Aw, sweetie.” She reached across the counter and squeezed his hand. “I’ve known Noah my whole life. I’ve seen him get knocked down, get back up, then hold this town together when people didn’t even realize they needed it. But I haven’t seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.”
Eli smiled. “Really?”
She snorted. “And now you’re fishing. Did you see the way he looked at you after the switch-on?”
He flushed. “Maybe.”
“Maybe nothing,” she said. “He looked at you like you hung the damn lights. And you know he guards those like his life depends on it.”
He chuckled. “That’s oddly sweet.”
“It's Mapleford-sweet. Our specialty.”
Then he laughed out loud. “Wait a sec. I did hang the damn lights.”
Aileen laughed her ass off.
He rubbed his palms on his jeans. “I don’t want this to end when Christmas does.”
I want to know if he loves me too.
Aileen’s eyes softened. “Then maybe it won’t.” She squeezed his wrist gently. “He’ll come back.”
Eli nodded, though the ache in his chest lingered.
“Where do you think he is?” he asked quietly.
Aileen wiped her hands on her apron. “I’m sure I have no idea, but knowing him the way I do, I’d bet it’s something big and important.
” She cleared her throat. “And if you want to go to the Lighting of the Pines this evening, you’d better get your ass into gear.
The early morning rush may be over, but the mid-morning one is due to start any second now, followed by the late-morning—”
“Okay, okay, I get the message. It’s gonna be a busy day.”
Where are you, Noah?
The pine trees around Mapleford’s town square stood like cathedral spires, tall, ancient, and dusted with snow, their branches outlined in white bulbs that hadn’t been lit yet.
Eli stood with Aileen, the crowd pressing in around them. Everyone was bundled up, their breaths visible.
“The last lighting of the season,” Aileen murmured. “You know what? I think this one gets more people than the Christmas tree. Not sure why.”
“Everyone seems really jittery,” Eli remarked.
Aileen grinned. “You’re the jittery one. It’s adorable.”
Of course he was. He’d lost count of how many people asked him where Noah was. When he’d commented on it to Aileen, she’d shrugged and replied that everyone knew he should have been at Eli’s side.
A small cluster of volunteers waved to him as they passed.
“Hey, Eli! Did you lose your shadow tonight?”
“Where’s Noah?”
“He’s never late to a lighting. He must be up to something.”
Eli tried to smile, but his heart was thrumming with the same question.
Where is Noah?
“Can I have some quiet, please?” Millie Bouchard stood on the small wooden stage at the foot of the Christmas tree. Silence fell, and she beamed in approval. “Now, I know you’re all expecting me to perform today’s switch-on, just like I’ve done for the last gazillion years…”
That earned her a ripple of laughter.
“But this year I’ve decided to let someone else do the honors.” She beckoned to someone in the crowd. “So help me welcome our new Fire Chief, Danny Rodriguez.”
A burst of applause rang out.
Danny Rodriguez was huge, with dark eyes and olive skin. The man looked almost regal in the glow of the lanterns, a strong presence with a steady voice as he addressed the crowd.
Eli grinned. So that was the Ghost of Christmas Present.
“Thank you all for coming,” Danny said. “It’s been an honor joining this town. You’ve made me feel welcome in ways I didn’t expect.”
The crowd clapped warmly.
Aileen fanned herself with a gloved hand. “Oh my.”
Eli laughed. “Feeling okay there, sis?”
She leaned in close and whispered, “He’s freakin’ gorgeous!” Then she rolled her eyes. “Which probably means he’s gay, knowing my luck.”
Danny lifted the ceremonial switch, an old, brass thing that probably predated electricity.
“Ready?” he hollered.
The crowd roared.
“Then let’s start the countdown. Ten…. Nine….”
Eli scanned the people standing around the square. Noah should’ve been here. This was his favorite part of the festival. He’d told Eli about it twice, how the pines lit up like a winter crown, how the moment made him feel as if magic was real.
Where are you?
The murmur of the crowd grew louder, shifting like ripples. “Seven…Six…”
“Hey,” said a voice behind him, breathless and warm.
Eli spun around.
Noah stood there, his cheeks flushed from the cold, his beanie dusted with snow, his scarf crooked around his neck.
He was beautiful.
Except he was more than that. Noah looked radiant.
“You’re late,” Eli whispered.
“I know.” Noah stepped closer. “I just hope it’s worth it.”
“Worth what?”
Before Noah could answer, Danny called out again. “Three! Two! One!”
The pine trees ignited in brilliant white, and the sight robbed Eli of every ounce of breath. Between two of the tallest pines, strung high, glowing in the frosty dark, were words woven in twinkling lights:
ELI WINTERS WILL YOU HOLD MY HAND FOREVER?
Multiple gasps rang out, and someone shouted, “Oh my God!” Cheers erupted, and a wave of collective awwwwwwwwws rippled through the throng.
Aileen squeezed Eli’s arm so hard he yelped.
“Oh my God, he did it,” she whispered. “He actually did it.”
Eli was shaking.
Noah was looking at him with shining eyes.
“I know it’s cheesy.” There was a tremor in Noah’s voice. “And maybe it’s too soon. But I keep thinking about the day we met. How you held my hand.”
Eli couldn’t breathe.
Noah swallowed hard. “I don’t want this to be a winter thing, or a temporary thing, or even a ‘maybe someday’ thing.
I want—” He stopped, his breath fogging as he steadied himself.
“I want to hold your hand in March. I want to hold it next Christmas. I want to hold it when we fight, and when we’re tired, and when everything is good.
” He stepped closer still. “And yeah,” Noah whispered.
“I want to hold it forever—if you’ll let me. ”
Eli’s eyes burned.
“You idiot,” he choked out. “Of course I will.” He took Noah’s hand and held it tight.
The cheering blurred into a single warm roar around them, mingled with laughter, clapping, and someone shouting, “About time, Carter!”
Eli tugged him closer by his scarf. “You hung lights for me,” he whispered.
Noah swallowed. “I’d hang the moon if it wasn’t so structurally questionable.”
Eli laughed and lifted his free hand to Noah’s cheek. “Come here,” he murmured.
Noah leaned in, his eyes flicking to Eli’s mouth.
Eli’s heart thudded hard enough to hurt.