Chapter 2
Chapter Two
CHARLIE
WHY AM I FRIENDS WITH YOU?
“ H ey, Hunter.” I stride toward him and drop a peck onto his cheek.
“Charlie.” Hunter holds open the door to the Melted Snowman as a wall of heat and the fresh scent of chocolate greet us. “I’d ask how you’re doing, but I think I know.”
I scoff at him as we head to the counter to order our drinks. “Umm, rude. I’m doing great.”
Hunter rolls his eyes as we wait on our peppermint hot chocolates. “Brooks is moving in today, right?”
“Yes.”
Hunter gives me a knowing nod, his slouchy, knit hat not doing much to keep his blond hair out of his bright blue eyes. If I didn’t know Hunter better, I’d guess he was a surfer from California.
But he hates people and loves the outdoors of Maine.
Grabbing the oversized mug from the barista, I spin on my heel and take in the busy cafe. Red-and-white striped wallpaper is barely visible behind photos of the town that cover the walls. A mishmash of squashy armchairs and tables fill the space. Mini Christmas trees sit on the tables, and garland hangs from the icy windows.
If the Christmas spirit weren’t alive and well in me already, I couldn’t resist it here.
Spotting a couple leaving, I navigate through the tight space and drop down onto a chair by the window that faces the sidewalk.
“So, you’re hiding out with me instead of helping Brooks?” Hunter asks after he sits down across from me. He shrugs out of his jacket, and his denim shirt, with the Naughty Pine Tree Farm logo, is stretched tight across his chest.
“Excuse me!” I jab a finger in his direction. “I am not hiding.”
“You’re not?” Hunter raises one pointed brow at me.
“Stop it. Brooks didn’t want my help.”
I take a hearty sip of my cocoa to try and put an end to this conversation. But I’m not that lucky.
“I’m worried about you.”
“Why?” I ask. Snow is starting to fall outside the window.
“You know why.” Hunter gives me a pointed look.
“It’ll be fine.”
Hunter snorts over his own sip of his drink. “Fine? Really?”
“I don’t know why I’m friends with you. The way you go blabbing things to people that don’t need to know it.”
“Are you still mad that I told Brooks about you getting drunk in Canada?”
“Excuse me. You told him I got arrested in Canada.”
That gets a beaming smile out of Hunter. Or as close to one as he is likely to give. “What? It’s funny.”
“Not when it’s because I was sad Brooks got married.”
“And if he gets married again, I’ll be sure to take you to Canada and let you get drunk again. And maybe not let you get arrested.”
I sigh. “Seriously, why am I friends with you?”
“Because I don’t take your bullshit,” he tells me. “And I give you a discount on your Christmas tree.”
That puts a smile on my face. “I need to come out this week and cut one down.”
Hunter shakes his head and leans back in his chair. “You better come quick. All the good trees are going fast.”
“You know I can’t pick it out too early.”
It’s always been my tradition since I moved into my house to pick it out after the post-Thanksgiving rush. Too many people going all at once make it hard to study the trees. I want to spend my time with them to pick the very best one. Not necessarily the biggest or the prettiest, but the one that calls to me.
Hunter thinks I’m crazy, but I don’t care.
“Well, come soon. Otherwise, you’ll get the Charlie Brown tree.”
I take a sip of my drink and smack my lips together. Fuck, is this hot cocoa ever delicious. “And I would make it the most beautiful tree in town.”
Hunter smiles at me, a small quirk of his lips that’s hidden beneath his well-groomed beard. “You would. I dropped off the tree for the tavern on my way over.”
“You’re the best.” I blow a kiss in his direction. “Are you still coming to Ugly Sweater Night?”
Hunter groans. “Are you going to make me? You know how tired I am this time of year.”
“Yes. You know I won’t take no for an answer.”
“Take your new roommate.”
“We’ll see.”
Another eye roll from the tall man across from me.
“Stop judging me. I can feel your judgment from here. ”
Hunter quirks a brow at me. It’s all he has to do. The fucker.
“I’m not judging.”
“Yes, you are. I can hear your thoughts from here.”
He sips on his peppermint hot chocolate. “Oh yeah? What am I thinking then?”
“That inviting Brooks to live with me is a bad idea because I’m in love with him.”
“You said it, not me.”
“You suck, you know that?”
The corner of Hunter’s mouth quirks up in a half smile. “I haven’t been doing much of that lately.”
I lean back in the oversized, upholstered chair. “And whose fault is that? How many times have I tried to set you up, Hunter? Hmm?”
“Sue me if I don’t want to be set up.”
“Maybe if you come to Ugly Sweater Night, you might meet someone.”
Hunter groans, scrubbing a hand over his beard. “You are so hard to say no to, you know that, right?”
I give him a playful smile. “It’s my superpower.”
“Fine. I’ll come. But if I’m not having fun after one drink, I’m leaving.”
I clap my hands together in excitement. “You’ll have a blast. Bring Oliver. He’ll have fun.”
That brings out a genuine smile when I mention Hunter’s best friend in town. “I will pass the message along.”
“Good. Now, I need to be getting home. Be a good landlord and greet my houseguest.”
Hunter reaches across the table and drops his hand on my arm.
“Look, I’m only saying this because you’re my friend, Charlie. You’re in love with him. I know he’s your best friend, but this is a bad idea. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean Brooks is going to magically fall in love with you. ”
“I know that, Hunter,” I scoff. “It will be fine.”
“Famous last words.”
By the time I leave the Melted Snowman, heavy snow is falling. Bright strands of white lights are wrapped around streetlamps. It looks like live fairies twinkling against the iron posts.
It puts a smile on my face as I shove my hands into my gloves and head through town toward home. Even with the snow, the town is busy. People are moving in and out of the stores. Carolers are standing in the town square serenading tourists and townspeople alike.
This time of year in Moose Falls is always my favorite. No one is unhappy. There’s a smile on everyone’s face, and there is always something going on. It’s one of the best times to visit.
Even though we have a lot of people come and stay during the summer for trips out on the water, it’s this time of year that’s magical.
I love it.
When my cream and green cedar-shake house comes into view, the smile on my face grows. The sidewalk is already shoveled, and a stream of smoke is coming out from the chimney.
With Brooks moving in today, I took the night off from the Tinsel Tavern. When I offered to help him unpack, he shut me down and told me to get out of the house.
Something about not seeing how little he had left after the divorce.
“Hello?” I call out as I push open the front door. The smell of sugar hits me immediately.
Claws click on the floor as a giant ball of yellow fluff comes running up to me. “Hi, Comet.”
I drop down onto my knees to pet him as he throws his paws over my shoulders. His tongue is hanging out of his mouth as I rub his soft fur.
“Someone is happy to see you.”
Brooks steps into the small foyer, a kitchen towel thrown over his shoulder. He’s dressed in a pair of black sweats and a sweatshirt. With his feet bare, he’s made himself at home.
And it has my heart catching in my chest.
“Hey. Did you get settled in?”
Standing, I shrug out of my coat, take off my gloves, and slip out of my boots.
Brooks turns to head into the living room and I follow him. Just like Comet.
It doesn’t look like he moved in at all. The living room, with its natural wood walls and high vaulted ceiling, has a few extra books stacked in the built-ins next to the fireplace, but that’s it. A new candle is burning on the dining room table, sitting in front of a bay window that overlooks the lake just beyond, and a plate of fresh cookies waiting to be eaten sits on the gray marble counter.
Still like my house, with only a few traces of Brooks’s presence.
“I’d say so.”
“Wow.” I drop into one of the barstools and grab a cookie. Chocolate chip. My favorite. “Did you get everything unpacked?”
Brooks nods, patting Comet before he heads into the second bedroom upstairs. As much as Comet is over here, I’ve always kept a bed here for him. “A few boxes in my closet, but everything is where it needs to be for now.”
I take another bite of the sweet cookie. “You know, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need to.”
A sad look washes over his face. “I know, Charlie. But it feels like I can’t move on until I get a place of my own, ya know? ”
I swallow, the cookie turning bitter. “I know. But the offer still stands.”
Brooks winks at me and it does funny things to my insides. “It’s why I love you so much, Charlie. Always thinking of others.”
I roll my eyes at him to mask the pain that he doesn’t mean those words. Well, he loves me as his best friend, but he’s not in love with me.
“Yeah, yeah.”
I stand to go change into something different before cooking dinner, but Brooks stops me with a hand on my arm. “I’m serious, Charlie.”
“I know.”
Brooks pulls me into a hug, and it has me melting into a puddle. It’s quick. A thank you of sorts. I start spiraling. The pine scent of his body wash lingers with his laundry detergent. I can feel the hard muscles of his back under the soft cotton of his hoodie.
Fuck.
I’ve always been able to keep my feelings for Brooks in check. Home was my safe space. Sure, Brooks was always over here, but he always went home to his wife.
Now? Now, he’ll be here all the time. Twenty-four seven. I don’t know if I’m ready for that. If I’m ready for the full-on Brooks assault on all of my senses.
Maybe this was a bad idea.