Jilted By Jack Frost (Yule Be Mine)

1. Violet

Chapter one

Violet

A s the snow collects on the ground outside, the only thing I’m thinking about is that I would rather perform my own brain surgery than stay even a minute past my shift.

Seeing as I’m a nurse and not a neurosurgeon, my chances at survival are far slimmer than one might think.

I miss my memory foam mattress. And when I finally clock out in five hours, I’m not going to spend the night on a hospital bed. I don’t care if I have to walk home through six feet of snow to get there. I’m leaving, but I need snow pants, stat.

Alana shoves a white cheddar flavored chip in her mouth and sighs. “Looks like the snow is sticking. ”

“As it always does in Salida,” I mutter. This time of year, any Colorado snow was bound to stick. Normally, I love snow. I love how it’s beautiful, cold, pure, and I love how it gives me an excuse to not get to work if I’m stuck at home.

What I don’t love, however, is that it looks like I will now be stuck at work instead.

“It’s supposed to be a blizzard,” Alana adds. “Worst we’ve seen in years, according to Chief.”

“Is he a meteorologist now?” I ask, turning to look at her with an amused smile on my face.

She laughs and shakes her head. “No. But his sister is.”

Oh. Great.

“How much begging do you think I’d have to do to go home early?” I ask Alana, stealing a chip out of her bag and tossing it into my mouth.

“Let’s see,” Alana says, tapping her chin. Then she counts off each point she makes on her fingers. “We’re already severely understaffed on a good day. Lilah is out on maternity leave. There’s a literal blizzard forecasted, which means there’s going to be an influx of car accidents and likely some dumbass farmers with frostbite.”

My expression morphs into one of devastation. “So… unlikely, then?”

“You’re more likely to get cuffed to the reception desk than you are to be allowed to go home, Vi.”

I grimace.

“Oh, come on. This is what we signed up for, right? We wanted to help people. That’s exactly what we’ll be doing tonight. ”

She’s right. I came into this job because I wanted to help people. I loved the idea of clocking into the work and spending twelve hours doing nothing but offering everything I have to anyone who needs it.

But I also can’t ignore the way I feel—like this job might not be enough for me anymore. And God, do I feel guilty about that. Really, I do. I hate that giving my all to anyone who steps inside this hospital isn’t… fulfilling anymore. This used to be everything I ever wanted. Even in middle school, Alana and I knew that this was what we wanted.

So why do I feel like I need more than this? Being a nurse was everything I’ve ever wanted, even a year ago. But that’s changed. Or maybe I’m what’s changed.

It’s not that I’m not happy, because I am. I get to go to work and be the person who puts a smile on the faces of those who desperately need it, and I get to do it with my best friend.

But I know, deep in my heart, that there’s more out there. I know that there’s more to this world than this town where I’ve spent most of my life. I know I want to be a part of something more.

I just don’t know if I ever will.

Pasting on a smile, I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. But I sure will miss my flannel sheets.”

Alana grins. “Just five more hours.”

“Fine,” I say. “But you’ve got to go change Mrs. Bradford’s bedpan after lunch.”

She makes a face and huffs out a breath. “You always make me do bedpans when we’re on shift together.”

I smile cheekily and bat my lashes. “That’s because I have seniority. ”

“You were here one month before me, Violet Jones.”

“Bedpans are the price you pay for your vacation in Hawaii with your boyfriend, unfortunately.”

Alana hesitates, then shrugs. “Worth it.”

I go back to staring out the window, not bothering to hide my disgust. “Blizzard or no, I’m walking out of this hospital immediately after clocking out.”

“Violet, no.”

“Alana, yes,” I reply, nodding aggressively. “I live two blocks from here. Hell, I walked to work this morning. Literally nothing will keep me here past midnight, Alana.”

“They’re going to find your ice-covered body in a ditch three miles from here tomorrow morning.”

I debate it for a moment. “That’s still preferable to spending the night here.”

She shakes her head and clicks her tongue. “You’re insane.”

“I’m determined,” I correct.

“Insanely determined,” she amends.

Laughing, I turn away from the window and face her. Alana’s messy bun is more messy than bun at this point, but somehow she makes it look good. I blame it on her gorgeous blonde curls and the facial features her equally gorgeous mother passed down to her.

I, on the other hand, am the brown-haired, round-cheeked version of my father. Same mossy green eyes, though mine are doe-eyed like my mothers, same straight nose, same smile, with my top lip just slightly smaller than the bottom. We even share the same freckle that sits just below our jaws on our necks.

We’re both quiet for a long moment, but then I say, “When am I going to get to go to Hawaii? ”

Alana snorts and hands me her bag of chips. “It’s not my fault you’re not living your best life, babe. You could always join me on a vacation to Cancun! I could use someone to help me keep the boys in check.”

“Ah, yes. Because I’m renowned for my charming personality and social finesse,” I reply, pretending to contemplate. “That might be a dangerous mix.”

We both laugh, and I add, “But maybe I should start planning a getaway.”

She turns her head to look over her shoulder before saying, “I’ve got to get back to work. How much longer is your break?”

I pull my phone out of my pocket and check the time. “A solid six minutes.”

“Perfect. Gives me just enough time to change Mrs. Bradford’s bedpan before you and I sneak into the operating theater and catch the tail end of the laparotomy Brad’s doing?”

Brad, her current boyfriend, is a surgeon. They’re the cutest, most vomit-inducing couple I’ve ever met, and I’ve been their third wheel for a little while now.

Because it’s always just been me. The last time I had an even semi-serious relationship was in college, and I was so emotionally detached that I had to think about my betta fish that died three days prior to pull enough tears to act sad when he told me he’d been cheating on me.

One could say I am chronically unavailable when it comes to my emotional vulnerability.

“Sure,” I say, smiling back at her. “Who am I to turn down the opportunity to watch your boyfriend root around in some old lady’s innards? ”

Alana made a face. “I hate when you describe things like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like, with the most disgusting words you can think of.” She shakes her head, but I can see the laugh she’s fighting back.

“That’s not true. I could have said that he was wrist deep in—“

Alana interrupts me by fake gagging. “You’re the worst.”

“And yet I’m not the one who’s about to go dump a bowl of urine down the drain. Funny how life works.”

Alana laughs and gives me the finger while backing away. “Screw off.”

I just grin and toss one of her chips in my mouth as she walks off.

If it weren’t for Alana, I don’t think I would be here right now. Here, in Salida. Or maybe I wouldn’t be in Colorado at all. I’ve always loved the cold, and I might have gone up north. Definitely would have moved to a city. Not that I resent her for it or anything, but I do sometimes wonder where I’d be now. If I’d even be a nurse still, or if I would have moved on without her to keep me in the game.

Not that I’ve really been in the game as of late anyway.

I sigh, sitting in silence as I turn back to the window and finish Alana’s bag of white cheddar chips. I dump the package in the trash can, and then it’s time to get back to work.

Just like every other day.