Sixteen | Brody
Sixteen
Brody
“ Y ou guys like it out here, don’t you?” I patted the tops of the reindeer’s heads and smiled at how well they were doing. My grandfather wasn’t lying when he said they enjoyed the cold weather.
I had checked the barn to make sure everything was still secure and that the wind hadn’t damaged anything before refilling their food and water bins. They all seemed plenty happy, and being around them reminded me so much of spending time here with my grandfather.
“So, Bert is on his way,” crazy boot lady said, startling me as I spun around to find her in the barn with us. Her smile stretched across her face as the reindeer immediately went to her, loving the attention she gave them as she patted their heads and scratched behind their ears.
“Wow. I’ve never seen them do that before. It’s like they know you...”
“I told you we were friends,” she replied sarcastically, looking up at me from under her thick lashes.
“Yeah, but what you haven’t told me is what are you doing out here?” I asked, hating that she thought it was a good idea to come out in this weather with those stupid boots.
“I came to tell you the good news. And since he is bringing his snowplow, he can free my car while he’s here, and I can get out of your hair.”
“Let me make myself clearer—why are you coming out in at least two feet of snow with those crazy boots on? Are you trying to break your ankle?”
“No, silly. I borrowed yours. I found an extra pair in the closet, so I slipped them on and came out. I knew you’d be mad if I wore my other boots, so I made an executive decision to steal yours.”
“I hate to break it to you, but those aren’t mine.” I bent down and added the last of the bag of feed to the trough to replenish what they’d already eaten and tossed the empty bag into the vacant stall behind me.
“Oh,” she said, frowning as she looked down and lifted her foot. “Whose are they?”
“My grandfather’s. And he had pretty bad athlete’s foot, so I would be sure to wash your feet really well after you take them off.”
Her face fell and I could see her debating on whether to rip them off now or wear them back into the house.
“So, since you’re already out here and your friend is on the way, did you want to help pick out the tree?” I offered, wiping my hands on the front of the jeans I changed into before coming outside.
“Sure. That would be nice, thank you.”
“Follow me and try not to break anything in the process,” I said, looking over my shoulder to see her already struggling to stay upright in the thick snow.
We walked for a few minutes until we got to the edge of the ranch where it was covered with thick forest and plenty of trees to choose from.
“Take your pick,” I offered. “Some are well over twelve feet; however, you’ll need to make sure Bert is able to get it back. I wouldn’t go crazy and do any over fifteen feet.”
“No, I think around twelve feet is perfect. We don’t want it too big because then it’ll be hard to decorate the top. Just something bigger than the other trees we’ll have up as decoration throughout the mall.”
“Have you guys already gotten those trees?”
“Yeah. Thankfully, one of the tree farms always donates a few to us for Frosty Fest each year. We put little signs up, promoting the farm for them, so it’s a win-win.”
“Alright. Just let me know which one, and I can get started.”
She looked around and then up at me with a confused look.
“Are you just going to demand that it come down?” she asked, folding her arms over her chest as I watched her shiver in the cold.
“No, smart ass. I have tools. They’re over in that shed but I didn’t want to lug them around until I knew which one I was cutting down.”
“You’re so grumpy,” she said, shaking her head.
“Because you’re so difficult.”
“I didn’t ask you to come out here and cut down a tree for me—you offered.”
“Yeah, because I was trying to be nice. Maybe this is a good reminder of why I don’t do that anymore.”
“You know what—just give me the stupid tools and I’ll cut it down myself.” She extended her hand as if I were going to give her something that small to cut a giant tree down with. She was certifiably out of her mind.
“The last thing I’m going to do is give you tools. I don’t think so.”
“And why not?” She placed her hands on her hips and glared at me from beneath the beanie she’d stolen as well.
“Because the last thing I need is you cutting off a limb or something. No thanks.”
“Is it because I’m a woman? I’ll have you know that I am more than capable of a lot of things, Mr. Grumpy Pants, and I don’t need your approval for any of them.”
“You’re right. You don’t need my approval for anything. You won’t, however, be touching my tools. I don’t need you killing yourself out here and leaving me with the mess to deal with.”
She huffed out a breath, her chest rising and falling heavily as she cocked her head at me.
“You would like that, wouldn’t you? If I died, you wouldn’t have to put up with me anymore or deal with me wanting your precious reindeer.”
“I literally just said that I don’t need any of that right now. What part are you not hearing?”
“You’re just trying to make things more difficult because you get off on watching me get angry with you.”
“You have no clue what I get off on,” I said sternly, stepping into her space so close that I could feel her warm breath on my face as she tipped her head up to look at me.
“In fact, I do. Sandwiches. And doing dirty stuff to them as you make them.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t get all hot and bothered with that as well. You were the one who had to run off to go relieve some tension in the bathroom seconds after it happened.”
Her jaw dropped open as her dark eyes narrowed at me.
“You have some nerve.”
“Yeah, and you’re getting on the very last one. Tell me which tree you want so I can send you back inside and cut it down.”
“No,” she said, with a huff, shaking her head. “I’ll tell you which one, but I’m staying out here to watch you cut it down.”
“Why? Do you get off on watching me work? Does the thought of me working with an ax turn you on?” I inched closer, lifting her chin with my finger as she tried to look away. “You already know what I can do with my hands and mouth. I bet you’re just dying to know what my cock can do.”
“Ha,” she snarled, pulling away from my touch with such force she almost fell over. “Nothing impressive, I’m sure.”
I rubbed my lips together, noticing how she kept trying to avoid looking at me but failed as she watched me out of the corner of her eye.
“If the size of this tree impresses you, my one-eyed monster is sure to send you over the edge.”
Before she could speak, I heard the sound of snow crunching in the distance and took a steady step back.
“I told you she would be out here, likely trying to kill him,” the taller man from the coffee shop said, nudging the guy beside him.
“Jasmin isn’t going to kill anyone, but my wife might if I don’t get home before supper,” a burly man with a ballcap on said.
She spun around, nearly losing her balance in the shoes that were at least three sizes too big for her. I was impressed she was able to get as far as she did without falling over in them, but it seemed her luck was coming to an end. I reached my hand out to try to steady her, but it was quickly swatted away as she attempted to walk toward the men approaching us.
“Sam! Aiden! What are you guys doing here? I thought Bert was coming on his own.” She reached up and hugged the one I recognized from the coffee shop, not that I could remember his name. I had only been there a few times since I moved to Sugarplum Falls, and it wasn’t like I was trying to make friends or get to know anyone.
“We offered to come help with the tree. I know how important it is to you and how you’ve been so stressed with everything happening with Frosty Fest. We thought if we all came out, we could make sure to get the tree back safely and help clear the road so you guys could get out,” the coffee guy said, letting go of her as she wrapped him in a tight hug.
“I’m Sam,” he said, reaching past her to extend his hand to me. “I own Sugarplum Lattes.”
“Yeah, I recognized you but couldn’t remember your name. I’m sorry. Names aren’t my thing.” I cast a glance at Jasmin, only remembering her name because the other guy said it a few minutes ago.
“No worries. This is Aiden. He owns Sugar Faced Bar—the place to go when the holidays start getting to you,” Sam joked with a wink as he clapped Aiden on the shoulder. “And this is Bert. He’s got that beast of a snowplow and will work his magic to get you guys out of here.”
“Nice to meet you guys,” I said, waving my hand, knowing I would forget their names in a minute.
“Most of the road was already cleared up here, so I didn’t have to do much. I’ll clear the rest of the driveway and the sides of the road so you don’t have to worry about snow falling and blocking you in again,” Bert said, tugging on his hat.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Cool, so did you have a tree picked out?” Sam asked, rubbing his hands together as he looked at Jasmin.
I hated the feeling that lingered deep in my gut as I watched his eyes light up as he looked at her. I had no idea if she had a boyfriend back home—I guess I should have thought to ask that before everything happened last night. But she was clear in giving her consent and didn’t seem to mind as we crossed that line together.
“I think I want that one,” she said, pointing to the one behind me. “But someone won’t let me cut it down.”
“That’s because someone doesn’t want to have to deal with you cutting off a limb and taking your ass to the hospital, Princess ,” I replied, matching her snark.
“You guys fight like an old married couple,” Sam joked, shaking his head as he grinned. “But he’s right, Jas. You’re not in any position to try to cut down a tree.”
“And why not? I swear to God, if one of you says it’s because I’m a woman, I will lose my shit.”
“No one ever said it’s because you’re a woman ,” I answered defiantly, arms over my chest. “I said you can’t cut the tree down because you’re wearing shoes that are a hazard as well as an oversized coat—that is also a hazard. If you’re not wearing the right stuff, I’m not allowing you anywhere near my tools.”
“Yeah, well, you’ve done nothing but complain about my boots since the moment I got here.”
“That’s because they’re better suited for dancing on a stage than trekking around a ranch in the middle of a fucking blizzard.”
We were face to face again, both crowding each other’s space as the others silently watched around us. I heard a chuckle here and there, which made it hard to stay focused on whatever she was really mad about.
“Are you insinuating that my boots are stripper boots?” she exclaimed, eyes wild with anger.
“If the shoe fits...”
“You know what, the shoe is gonna fit. It’s gonna fit right up your ass as I take the heel and shove it so far u—”
“That’s enough,” Sam said, wrapping his arm around her waist and swinging her behind him. “Take her inside and get her stuff together. It won’t be long getting this tree down, and then we can head back to town before the roads start freezing.”
“Will do,” Aiden said, leading Jasmin back to the house as she glared at me over her shoulder.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to get rid of the frustration she had caused.
“Man, I know that look when I see it,” Sam said, shaking his head.
“What look?”
“The look of a man who is trying desperately not to fall for the woman who is driving him crazy. If you want to hang in town for a bit tonight, Aiden makes a drink called Dirty Reindeer Balls that will fix that and all of your problems.”
I lifted my eyebrows in worry as he laughed.
“I don’t know about that,” I said. “But I do know that if we don’t get this tree down soon, we’re going to lose daylight, and no one will be going anywhere.”
“Let’s get it done,” Sam replied, following me to the shed with Bert right behind us.