Chapter Seventeen #3
She gave my arm a quick squeeze. “Your dad told me you hugged him today. He’s been on cloud nine all day.”
“I, uh . . .” I winced. “I didn’t know what else to do. I was . . . it was . . . a lot.”
Her face softened. “I’m so proud of you.”
And now this was a lot.
I must have squeezed Winter’s hand because he turned to me, giving me a smile. “You okay?”
“Hmm.”
Just then, the mayor called everyone’s attention over the microphone, and I was glad for the distraction, for all the attention to be off me.
We walked down to the big Christmas tree, along with the entire town of Hartbridge, as we did every year. The mayor wished everyone a joyous holiday, the carolers sang, and the massive Christmas tree’s lights twinkled.
Only this time I had Winter.
A funny name, really. Because he was the warmest person I’d ever met.
The wind sent flurries of snow around us, making everyone cheer, and despite the cold, I was filled with nothing but warmth and happiness.
As the night drew to a close, I wanted this feeling to last forever.
“What are you boys doing?” Mom asked.
“Oh.” Winter turned to me. “I didn’t bring my car because the street was being closed off. I was going to go home with Ro.”
“I can drive you home if you like?” I offered.
Winter nodded, smiling, his cheeks and nose the cutest pink.
“Okay then,” Dad said. “We’ll see you both later. Don’t be out too late,” Dad added with a wink.
Oh dear.
“I might see you tomorrow at some point,” Winter said to my parents. “But in case I don’t, have a wonderful Christmas Day.”
“Same to you,” Mom said, giving his arm a squeeze.
We watched them walk up toward the fire station, where they’d parked their car, no doubt, then Winter and I headed back up toward his store. He slipped his hand back into mine, letting me do the holding, not being held, so I could control when I let go. “Is this okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. I think the gloves help.”
“Awesome.” He grinned at me. “Tonight was so much fun. I can’t believe this happens every year.”
I agreed, but there was something he’d said earlier. “You wanted me to remind you of something to do with your aunt Ro,” I prompted.
“Oh, yes. Well, I think she has a crush on Toni.”
I stared at him. “Really?”
He laughed, delighted. “She was so flustered and cute the other day, oh my god. You know, I think there might be some credence to that Christmas Cupid thing.”
I chuckled. “Do you honestly believe that?”
He stopped walking, his eyes meeting mine. “I didn’t, but now I’m thinking maybe, yeah, I do.”
“Because of your aunt Ro?”
“No, because of you.” He smiled up at me, eyes bright, the tip of his nose pink. Then he put his hand to his heart. “I think that little Cupid got me good.”
“Oh.”
“Maybe just because it’s Christmas and how incredible and romantic this night was,” he said. “But I want you to know that I think you’re amazing, and I’m so happy you came into my life. I’m falling in love with you. Maybe I’ve already fallen, I don’t know.”
It seemed today was a day for declarations . . .
A lot of overwhelming declarations.
I wasn’t sure what to say. I wanted to tell him how I was feeling. This overpowering, too-big-heart feeling. “Winter, I . . .”
His smile faltered. “It’s okay. I don’t expect you to say anything back. I’m just a big old sap, and tonight was perfect. And you should know how incredible you are.”
I tried to speak but couldn’t.
I tried to breathe and couldn’t . . .
I considered turning and hurrying away. I couldn’t do that either. My legs, lungs, brain couldn’t catch up. So, for the second time today, bursting with too much emotion, I panicked and pulled Winter in for a hug.
Just for a second. A long, perfect, overwhelming second.
Then I let him go, just as abruptly.
“Oh,” he squeaked, flustered, fixing his beanie. “Wow, okay, so that just happened.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep doing that. That’s twice today.” I held up two fingers. “Twice in my life, actually. It’s just that my insides get too much.” That didn’t sound right. “My heart . . .”
He held onto a button on my coat, maybe so I couldn’t turn and hurry away, his smile becoming a grin. “My heart too, Deacon.”
I laughed and put my hands to my face to stop myself from grinning too hard. “I’m sorry.”
He laughed again, his eyes shining. “Don’t be. It was . . . perfect.”
A big old logging truck pulled up on the street and the window rolled down. Gunter stuck his head out, grinning, and waved. “Merry Christmas, boys.”
We both laughed and it served as a good distraction, a break in the intensity.
I had rational thought back, at least. My truck wasn’t far, so I nodded to it. “We should go. It’s cold out.”
“We should.”
The drive out of town was slow as long lines of traffic made their way home. Winter pulled the two crocheted cats out of his pocket. “I can’t believe I found these tonight. Even their markings are similar.”
He held them in his hands as if they were the real things. When we pulled up at his house, he turned in his seat and held out one of them to me. “I want you to have him. Put him in your little tray of collectibles as a reminder of tonight.”
I blinked in surprise but took the little cat. “Thank you. Though I don’t need a reminder, because I won’t ever forget tonight.”
“Me either,” he said. He put his hand on the door handle but stopped. “Thank you, Deacon. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll wait for your text at eight.” Then he laughed. “No pressure.”
Yes. No pressure at all.
He climbed out and held the door open and looked back at me. “Merry Christmas, Deacon,” he whispered.
I nodded, my heart hammering. “Merry Christmas, Winter.”