Chapter 7
7
LIV
“ I believe that’s everything,” Dylan announces, loading the last of our shopping bags into the trunk of his car. “Who’s ready to go ice skating?”
“You kids go on ahead,” Mom says, leaning against the car. “This old lady is going to head home.”
“Are you sure, Mom?” I ask, slightly disappointed. Ice skating has been a Christmas tradition for us, and this will be the first time in a long time that Mom doesn’t participate. She usually loves it, and I hate that she’s going to miss it.
“Yes, honey, I’m sure,” she confirms with a tired smile. “This old girl needs to get off her feet and have a glass of wine.”
“You make it sound like you’re a hundred,” I tease her. “You’re barely fifty.”
“And I’m feeling every bit of those fifty years,” she replies with a chuckle. “But you and Dylan go on ahead. It’s his first time experiencing our little tradition. I’m sure you two will have a great time. Just give me a call when you want me to come pick you up.”
“This isn’t high school, Mom.” I laugh. “We don’t need you to pick us up from the mall.”
“Well, how are you getting home, then?”
“I’ll make sure we get a ride, Carol. No worries. I have someone who can take us,” Dylan replies before I can answer.
I glance at him from the corner of my eye. He means he has a driver . Sometimes I forget how much money he has because he never acts like it, but I’m grateful during moments like these.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Mom asks again. “I’m happy to pick you two up when you’re done ice skating.”
“I’m positive,” Dylan assures her. “Take the car and be safe getting home. I’ll keep an eye on this one here.” He gestures to me with a lift of his chin.
“I’m not the one known for being a troublemaker,” I mutter, playfully nudging his ribs with my elbow.
Mom steps forward and gives both of us a big hug. “I had a great time shopping with you guys today,” she says with a warm smile. “It’s good having you both home. Have fun and be careful.”
“We will. Love you!”
“I love you too, honey,” she replies before Dylan helps her into the driver’s seat and shuts the door. We watch her pull out of the parking space and then the garage.
“Let’s go see what this ice skating is all about.” Dylan turns to me as we walk toward the rink. “You’ve been talking about it all day.”
“It’s one of our favorite things to do. We look forward to it all year,” I admit. “I’m surprised Mom didn’t want to come today, but I know she’s picked up extra shifts at the hospital. They have lots of babies who need cuddles right now.”
Dylan and I stroll through downtown toward the main square, which is an open space surrounded by charming boutiques and small, family-owned shops. In the center of it all stands a large temporary ice rink, transformed into a Christmas Wonderland with dazzling lights and glittering decorations in shades of white, silver, and blue. It reminds me of a miniature version of New York’s Rockefeller Center, minus the towering Christmas tree. But we have something they don’t. A gigantic inflatable snowman at one end of the rink. It’s big and gaudy and perfect for the holidays.
“Wow, this is really cool. Looks like it’ll be a lot of fun,” Dylan remarks as we near the rink.
Families are gathered everywhere, with kids running around and laughing. People are sipping on hot chocolate to warm their hands, and the aroma of freshly roasted pecans fills the air with cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar. My mouth waters as I anticipate my first taste of the season.
We wait in line to get our skates and then head onto the ice. There are plenty of chuckles and giggles as we awkwardly try to maneuver around the rink. We bump into other people and even each other, resulting in several falls that will probably leave a few bruises. But I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. And seeing Dylan enjoying himself makes it all worth it.
When we’re thoroughly chilled and can barely feel our toes, we return our skates and reclaim our shoes. “Did you have a good time?” I ask.
Dylan grins widely. “I had a great time. I haven’t been ice skating since I was a kid, and it was nothing like this.”
“Maybe we can come back next year and do it again,” I suggest, excited at the thought of spending another holiday with him.
“Sounds like a plan,” he agrees as he bumps my shoulder with his.
“Ready for some hot chocolate and candied pecans?” I ask while rubbing my mitten-covered palms together.
“Absolutely.” He helps me off the bench and follows behind me. “Lead the way.”
As we weave through the swarm of people, I notice two girls walking toward us, and my guard is up immediately. “You know what? How about we just head home and enjoy some of the goodies we made yesterday?”
Dylan stops in his tracks and turns to face me. “What? I thought getting hot chocolate and candied pecans was part of your ice skating tradition,” he points out, reminding me of the half hour we spent discussing the process of how the nutty treats are made and that I only get my signature white peppermint hot cocoa from a specific vendor who has a beverage cart made from an old bicycle.
“Yeah, but we don’t have to do that. We can just go home,” I say, trying to brush it off as not being a big deal.
Dylan gives me a suspicious look. “What’s going on? You’re acting weird.”
But before I can explain, the two girls come into view. “Here we go,” I grumble under my breath.
“Olivia, is that you?” The blond one feigns pleasant surprise. It’s Becky Martin, along with her evil sister Penny. I cringe at the sight of them. It’s been years since we last saw each other at our high school graduation, and I was hoping never to see them again. I guess some Christmas wishes just don’t come true.
“Hi, Becky. Hi, Penny,” I greet them with a forced smile.
“Well, look who decided to show up,” Penny says sarcastically. “We usually never make it back here because we’re always off traveling around the world. Who wants to be in this lame-ass town for the holidays anyway?”
“But our parents were begging us to come home.” Becky rolls her eyes. “I can’t blame them for missing us. Their lives are probably boring without us.” The two of them snicker to each other.
“The least they could do was give us their credit card so we could go shopping, even though there’s nothing here worth buying,” Penny says, and I can’t help but glance at the numerous shopping bags that seem to contradict her claim. “Everything in this town is cheap and ugly.”
Unable to hold my tongue, I gesture toward their purchases. “Well, I guess not everything.”
“Oh, what do you know? You only shop in plus-size stores, and I haven’t seen any of those around here,” Becky sneers, and I scowl at her.
Five years ago, I probably would have stayed quiet and let them make fun of me, but a lot has changed since high school. I’m no longer the chubby book nerd they used to pick on.
My hands ball into fists at my sides until Dylan moves closer to me and intervenes. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your names.”
Becky’s mouth drops open in surprise. “Are you with her?” She points a manicured fingernail in my direction.
“As a matter of fact, I am. I’m Dylan Kane, Liv’s boyfriend,” he replies with his signature killer smile.
At the mention of the word boyfriend , Becky and Penny’s eyes widen to the size of half-dollars. I can’t help but feel a small sense of victory that this gorgeous, wealthy man is pretending to be mine to put these two bullies in their place.
“Olivia Spencer has a boyfriend?” Becky scoffs, then turns to me with cold eyes. “I thought you were too good to date.”
“I never said I was too good to date. I just didn’t want to date the idiots in your little friend circle,” I retort. “I heard what they said about me. That I was too fat to be someone’s girlfriend but good enough to sleep with… in the dark.” A chill runs down my spine when I remember their harsh words.
Becky mutters under her breath to her sister, “Looks like some things never change.”
I start to respond when Dylan cuts me off for a second time. “If you ever call my girlfriend fat again, you won’t like the consequences. I promise you that.”
Becky pinches her lips together while Penny appears to have a sudden epiphany. “Wait, Kane? Dylan Kane? The Alpha Tech guy?”
“That’s not me. That’s my father. But, yeah, I guess I’m that guy’s son,” Dylan replies nonchalantly.
“But you’re rich. Like rich rich. What are you doing with her ?”
I can’t hold my tongue any longer and fire back, “As opposed to someone like the two of you?”
“Well, yeah.” Penny snorts. “Look at us. Then look at you. Who do you think guys really want?”
“Obviously.” Becky rolls her eyes.
“You know, I used to envy girls like you,” I confess. “You had money, you were pretty, and you had guys falling all over you.” I laugh, but the sound is bitter even to my own ears. “Now, I just feel sorry for you. You’re pathetic, and you’ve amounted to nothing. But you can’t hide your misery with pounds of makeup and expensive clothes.” I shake my head at them before turning to Dylan. “Let’s go. They don’t deserve another second of my time.”
As I start to walk away, he tugs on my coat sleeve to hold me back. Then, he says something I’ll always be grateful for and never forget.
Dylan looks Becky and Penny up and down with a smirk. “You know why guys like me will always choose girls like her?” He motions to me with a hiked thumb. “Because she’s beautiful inside and out. And no matter how much you dress it up, you’ll still be ugly. Every fucking inch of you.” He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “I think I’m ready for something sweet now. Let’s go home so I can eat your pussy.”
Both girls gasp at his last remark, and I stumble over my own feet. But Dylan just shoots me a devilish grin as he guides me away from my former tormentors.
Maybe skipping the candied pecans this year won’t be such a bad idea after all.