12. Chapter 12
Chapter twelve
Devon
M y hands trembled as I buttoned up my shirt, and memories of the kiss under the wishing tree played on repeat in my head. The mirror reflected a man I barely recognized—eyes brighter, perpetual frown lines softened. I ran a hand through my hair to tame the unruly strands. How could everything change so drastically in such a short time?
A couple of weeks ago, I’d been ready to ditch this place. I’d given Liam all the information to pass on to his realtor friend. Now? I couldn’t stop thinking about Bella’s smile and how her eyes lit up when she talked about the guesthouse’s potential.
Could I move back to Serenity Falls? Get a second chance with Bella?
I shook my head, banishing the thoughts. Tonight wasn’t for existential crises. Bella was waiting.
Walking into the living room, I found her curled up on the couch, scrolling through her phone. The screen’s soft glow illuminated her face, highlighting the freckles sprinkled across her nose. My chest tightened at the sight.
I cleared my throat, startling her. “Come on,” I said, reaching for her jacket and holding it out. “Your surprise awaits.”
Bella set her phone aside, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Is this some romantic surprise, or are we talking more... quirky small-town surprise?”
I felt the corner of my mouth twitch upward as I draped the jacket over her shoulders. I caught a whiff of her perfume. She smelled like a mix of roses and vanilla. I could get lost in that smell.
As we headed for the door, doubt crept in. Was I making a huge mistake? Not with the surprise—I knew Bella would love that—but with everything else. Letting myself feel these things again, entertaining the idea of staying.
But as Bella’s arm brushed against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my body, I realized it was too late to turn back. For better or worse, Serenity Falls—and Bella—had already wormed their way back into my heart.
The snow crunched beneath the tires as we drove through the sparkling streets of Serenity Falls. Christmas lights adorned every storefront, casting a warm glow that reflected off the fresh powder blanketing the town.
“You should’ve seen the comments on the wishing tree video,” Bella gushed, her hands moving expressively. “People are absolutely in love with the tradition. I think it’s resonating with—“ She paused, tilting her head. “Devon? Are you even listening?”
I blinked, realizing I’d been lost in thought. Lost in her. “Sorry, I was just...” I trailed off, not wanting to admit I’d been obsessing over our kiss and the looming conversation we needed to have.
Bella’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Distracted by my stunning beauty?”
I chuckled, grateful for her ability to diffuse tension. “Always,” I replied, only half-joking.
As we pulled up to our destination, Bella’s jaw dropped. “No way!” She pressed her face against the window, taking in the neon sign of the new bowling alley. “Olivia mentioned this place, but I didn’t think we’d actually go! She said they do different themes throughout the year.”
“Really?” I grinned, feeling a surge of pride at her reaction. “Guess tonight’s your lucky night.”
Bella practically bounced out of the car, her enthusiasm infectious. As we approached the entrance, I found myself both dreading and anticipating the evening ahead. How could I focus on bowling when all I wanted to do was pull her close and kiss her again?
The moment we stepped inside, we were engulfed in a sea of festive chaos. The retro décor clashed wonderfully with the array of Christmas characters milling about. Elves lined up at the snack bar, an entire troop of Santas lounged by the shoe rental, and a group of reindeer cheered on a snowman attempting a strike.
“Oh my gosh,” Bella laughed, her eyes wide as saucers. “This is amazing.” Her face lit up with childlike wonder, and I couldn’t help but smile along with her.
“I can’t believe how many people dressed up,” I marveled, dodging a wayward candy cane wielded by an overenthusiastic elf.
Bella’s grin turned mischievous. “You know what this means, don’t you?” She grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the costume rental booth. “We can’t be the only ones not in character!”
I chuckled as we approached the rental counter, where a bored-looking teenager in an elf costume greeted us with a half-hearted “Ho, ho, ho.”
“Two sets of shoes, please,” I said, then glanced at Bella. “And I guess we’ll need some festive headgear?”
The elf nodded, pulling out a box filled with an assortment of ridiculous hats. “Take your pick. Santa, reindeer, or snowman.”
Bella’s eyes lit up as she rummaged through the box. “Ooh, decisions, decisions!” She pulled out a pair of felt antlers and placed them on my head, giggling. “There. Now you’re a very handsome reindeer.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Gee, thanks. And what about you?”
She dramatically plopped a fluffy white snowman hat on her head, complete with a carrot nose. “How do I look?”
“Absolutely ridiculous,” I laughed, unable to take my eyes off her. Even in the absurd getup, she was breathtaking.
As we laced up our shoes, the counter guy cleared his throat. “Just so you know, tonight’s a competitive night. We’ve got special challenges for each frame.”
Bella’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Ooh, like what?”
“Bowling backward, granny throws, that sort of thing,” he explained, pointing to a large foam snowball. “And that’s our special ball for the night.”
I eyed the foam monstrosity skeptically. “You expect us to knock pins down with that thing?”
Bella nudged me playfully. “Come on, Mr. Professional Athlete. Scared of a little challenge?”
Her teasing smile sent a surge of warmth through my chest. “You’re on, Snowwoman. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
As we made our way to our assigned lane, Bella’s snowman hat bobbed comically with each step. I couldn’t help but grin, watching her practically skip down the polished wood floor.
“You ready to get crushed, Rudolph?” Bella taunted as she put our names into the scoreboard.
I smirked, adjusting my antlers. “Big talk from someone wearing a carrot nose.”
Bella crouched down, the foam snowball tucked between her knees. Her tongue poked out slightly in concentration as she waddled towards the lane, swinging the outrageous ball between her legs.
“Go, go, go!” I cheered, unable to contain my laughter as the foam snowball wobbled down the lane. It veered dramatically to the left, barely clipping two pins before bouncing into the gutter.
Bella spun around, her cheeks flushed with exertion and laughter. “Okay, hotshot. Let’s see you do better.”
I stepped up to the lane, eyeing the foam monstrosity. “This is absurd,” I muttered, but couldn’t keep the grin off my face.
“Stop complaining and get to bowling!” Bella called from behind me.
Taking a deep breath, I mimicked Bella’s stance and shuffled forward, the snowball swinging precariously between my legs. I released it with as much force as I could muster. The foam ball careened down the lane, zigzagging wildly before smashing into the pins with a satisfying thud. Eight pins clattered to the ground.
“Ha!” I pumped my fist as I turned to look at Bella and head back to the chair.
Bella’s jaw dropped, and she put on her best pouty face. “Beginner’s luck,” she huffed, crossing her arms. The carrot nose bobbed down over her eyes for a moment.
I tried to stifle my laugh. I just couldn’t take her seriously with the snowman hat. “Oh, we’ll see about that. What’s the next throw?”
Bella grabbed the handout for the night. “A backward throw.” She looked nervous, but she grabbed the ball with a competitive glint in her eye.
She positioned herself at the lane, her back to the pins. She glanced over her shoulder, her green eyes narrowing as she sized up the distance.
“You’ve got this, Frosty,” I called out, unable to resist teasing her.
She stuck her tongue out at me—real mature, Bella—and then swung her arms up and over her head. The ball sailed through the air in a graceful arc, landing with a soft thud halfway down the lane. It looked like it was heading straight for the gutter when it suddenly curved, and “ Strike! “ all the pins went down.
Bella’ let out a squeal of delight. “Did you see that? I got a strike!” She spun around, nearly losing her snowman hat in the process.
I couldn’t help but laugh at her unbridled enthusiasm. “I think that deserves a round of milkshakes.”
“I agree. I’m getting the peppermint candy milkshake,” she declared, grinning at me. “What are you having?”
“Hmm, I think I’ll stick with classic chocolate,” I replied, flagging down our lane hostess. “Can’t go wrong with the basics.”
I ordered our shakes and took my backward throw shot, which resulted in a gutter ball. I turned around to see Bella staring at me, a look I had seen many times when we were dating.
Our milkshakes arrived, and Bella took a long, appreciative sip. “Devon, this is great. Tonight. Being with you. But what are we doing?”
My chest tightened, and I found myself gripping the edge of the table. I’d been half-expecting this all night, but hearing it out loud made everything suddenly, intensely real.
I paused, searching for the right words. How could I explain the confusion, the longing, the regret that had been swirling inside me since I first saw her again?
“I don’t know,” I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to hold her gaze. “But I do know that... that kiss today wasn’t just a one-off for me.”
My heart pounded as I waited for her response, terrified I’d said too much, or not enough. The future I’d thought was so certain now felt like it was balancing on a knife’s edge, all because of the woman sitting across from me, stirring her milkshake with a look that could unravel me completely.
Bella’s eyes softened, but I could see the conflict swirling in their emerald depths. “I feel the same,” she said quietly, her fingers tracing the condensation on her milkshake glass. “But, we’ve been here before. You were so focused on your career, and I don’t want to get caught up in something if it’s going to end the same way.”
Her honesty hit me like a punch to the gut, reminding me of all my past mistakes. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, desperate to make her understand.
“I’m not that guy anymore,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremor in my hands. “I’ve changed, Bella. I know what’s important now.”
She tilted her head, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. “I want to believe you, to take a chance, but honestly? I’m scared.”
I watched as she twirled a strand of hair around her finger, a telltale sign she was deep in thought. My heart raced, knowing how much was hanging on this moment.
“Give me a night to think about it?” she asked softly.
“Of course,” I nodded, relief and anxiety warring inside me. “For what it’s worth, I’m scared too. But I know I want a second chance with you, Bella. More than anything.”
The rest of the game passed in a blur, my mind preoccupied with our conversation. Before I knew it, Bella was laughing at her victory, and we were ready to leave. We checked our shoes and headgear back in and then went out to the truck.
As we drove back towards the guesthouse, Serenity Falls had transformed. The streets were empty save for the glow of twinkling Christmas lights. Bella stared out the window, her eyes bright with wonder.
“You know,” she mused, “Serenity Falls has a way of sneaking back into your heart. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until now.”
“Yeah?” I managed, my throat suddenly dry.
She nodded, a wistful smile on her face. “The charm of small-town life, the sense of community... it’s special. Don’t get me wrong, I love the city, but it’s just not the same. Do you ever regret leaving? Or miss how the guesthouse used to be?”
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, my mind racing. How could I tell her that not only did I miss it, but I was seriously considering staying? That the guesthouse I’d been so ready to sell had become a symbol of everything I thought I’d left behind?
I swallowed hard, weighing my words carefully. “I do miss it,” I admitted softly. “More than I realized.”
Bella turned to look at me, her eyes searching my face. I could feel the weight of her gaze, probing for something deeper than just nostalgia.
As we pulled up to the guesthouse, I cut the engine but made no move to get out. I sat there contemplating what to say.
“Bella,” I began, turning to face her. “I–”
She held up a hand, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Devon, let’s not... let’s not make any big declarations tonight, okay?” She reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “But thank you for tonight. It was... really nice.”
She stepped out of the truck, and I followed her into the guesthouse. Unsure what to even say.
Bella shrugged off her coat in the entryway. “I think I’ll check on Maple and head to bed,” she said softly. “It’s been quite a night.”
I shook my head, silently glad for the reprieve. “Of course. Sleep well, Bella.”
She hesitated, then stepped forward and gently kissed my cheek. “Goodnight, Devon,” she whispered before disappearing down the hallway.
I sank onto the couch, my head in my hands. The past week’s events played through my mind like a movie on fast-forward. How had everything changed so quickly?
With shaky hands, I pulled out my phone. I needed advice, and I knew just who to call. I fired off a quick message to Coach Eddie: “Hey Coach, got a minute to talk? Need some guidance.”
Then, before I could second-guess myself, I sent another text to Liam: “Hey, tell your realtor buddy the sale is off. I’m not selling, and I don’t want Bella to ever know that I was planning on selling. Much less using her blog for advertising. I can’t afford to lose her.”
As soon as I hit “send”, a weight lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in years, I felt like I was making the right decision—not just for my career, but for my heart.