Chapter 14 #2
Matthew groans beside me as I laugh. “I had to see the Yuletide Games for myself. I’ve heard so much about it and Gingerbread Grove.
Plus, I’m determined to get this guy to try more winter sports.
It’s a shame to live in British Columbia and not spend more time outside.
Especially in the winter.” I send a wink to Matthew, loving the way his cheeks turn pink, and I don’t think it has anything to do with the cold.
“Well, welcome. I’m happy you brought him back here and got him out of his shell.”
“Okay, I’m not that bad.”
I can’t help but smile and hold Matthew close as he gets caught up with Trevor.
I learn they went to school together, but lost touch when Matthew moved to the city.
Trevor owns the steakhouse in town, which was named The Longhouse when the town was Woodland Springs but has now been rebranded as Cinnamon & Sear to ‘fit with the gingerbread theme’ as Trevor explains.
I don’t miss the way Matthew grimaces when Trevor talks about the transition from the ‘boring’ small town to the ‘exciting holiday version,’ or the way Matthew pulls me tighter to him while Trevor asks him questions about his software company back in Vancouver.
While they talk, I take in just how perfectly I curl right up into him.
I love how I’m short enough to fit right under his chin when we hug, or under his arm as we’re standing like this.
He holds me tighter as he speaks, and I start to see there’s a difference in the way he holds me.
When he’s feeling anxious about something Trevor is talking about, he presses me into his side like we’re sides of a gingerbread house needing to be glued with icing.
But when he’s excited, he squeezes my shoulder in a relaxed sort of understanding, as if he wants me to share his enthusiasm.
I may not be adding to the conversation at the moment, but he uses it to keep me a part of the discussion.
Letting me feel included, and not just an outsider looking in.
But the best part? He allows me to be there for him when he feels he needs the support.
This realization is almost a little too overwhelming for me.
Maxwell never did anything like that. He would have me on his arm, but he would never include me, especially when talking business.
Being in a different city, I never even got the opportunity to be on his arm at corporate events, giving him silent encouragement and letting him know that no matter what it was, he wasn’t doing it alone.
But that’s not how it is with Matthew.
I’ve only known him for a few days and already he’s included me more in his life than Maxwell ever did. Our relationship may be fake, but it’s better than any real relationship I’ve ever had.
And that’s just downright depressing.
“Welcome to the Yuletide Games! Thank you for coming out to the first event, the Gum Drop Toboggan Race!” A voice booms over the loudspeakers, drawing everyone’s attention to the side of the hill.
A platform has been created, and of course, it looks like it is from a gingerbread house.
The wood is been painted a dark brown and white scalloped trim adorns the edges.
Standing on top is Cal, with McKenzie at his side—of course—holding the microphone in his hand.
“Please go to your marked toboggans and wait at the starting line!”
“That’s us,” I say excitedly, rocking back and forth from my heels to my toes. The excitement of the race is already building inside me, and mixed with the rush of emotions from being tucked in beside Matthew, I feel like I’m about to burst like a hot chocolate bomb.
Matthew rolls his eyes and takes his arm off my shoulder. I’m left with a sense of longing—and cold—but it’s quickly replaced when he grabs my hand and laces our fingers together.
I don’t know if Matthew notices, but Trevor looks at us with a broad smile as he tracks the movement. “I’ll let you get to it, then. Good luck!” he says before walking off with a wave while laughing.
“Why do you have that smile on your face?” Matthew asks, drawing my attention back to him.
“I met your friend?”
This seemed to confuse him even more. “And?”
“You said you don’t have any connections here past your family.”
Matthew rolls his eyes. “I mean, I would hardly consider Trevor still a friend. I haven’t talked to him since I left town.”
“I don’t think he sees it that way. Sometimes you lose touch with someone, but the friendship is never lost. You just need to pick it back up where you left it. “
“Or you just lose touch with someone, and the friendship ends there. Not everything needs to be some dramatic alternate ending.”
“No…” My thoughts are interrupted by the announcer making another call for everyone to head to the start line.
I wish I could make him see that the town still cares for him, but it seems it will almost take a Christmas miracle.
My eyes scan the top of the hill, following where the crowd of couples is heading. Some are running and laughing while throwing snowballs at each other, others are casually walking. Then there are those, like Matthew and I, where one of the couples needs a little more convincing to start moving.
Like a distracted reindeer with a candy bar, my previous thoughts are forgotten as I’m reminded of the candy-decorated toboggans that are awaiting us.
“Come on! Let’s go find ours! I want to see what they look like!”
“You’re entirely too excited about this,” Matthew grumbles as I start walking with the crowd, pulling him behind me.
I know he’s talking about the race, but a little part of me—in the back of my mind—wonders if he’s also talking about us. Did I lean into him too much? Did I act like it was too real? Get too involved with his friendship with Trevor?
I hide my disappointment with myself as I put on a happy face and keep walking.
Just like I have a tendency to ramble when I shouldn’t, I also get involved in people’s lives when I shouldn’t.
I really have no right poking into Matthew’s life and his connections—whether imagined or not—with Gingerbread Grove.
After all, neither of us is going to be here after the holidays.
Slapping on a brighter smile, I put my elf-face on and push it out of my mind—and my heart. I need to focus on the race and making sure that we beat the ‘it couple’ of Gingerbread Grove.