Chapter 6
6
Noelle
I wake slowly, pulling the soft cotton sheet up over my nose. It’s chilly in the room and the tip of my nose is cold. I stretch languorously, snuggled deep under the warm, heavy blankets. I’m not looking forward to leaving my cozy cocoon.
The only thing that would make it better is if I was waking up in Hiro’s arms. My toes curl into the sheets. I don’t know what made me swoon harder, the way he lit my body up like fireworks on New Year’s Eve or the tender way he held me while we watched a silly Christmas movie, kissing away my tears when the heroine got her Christmas wish.
I absolutely would have liked to continue what we started, but Hiro noticed my yawns at the end of the movie and insisted on carrying me up stairs and tucking me in bed alone so I could get a good night’s sleep. I was almost worried that he regrated what happened between us earlier, but then he leaned in and gently kissed me, sending little zings through my tummy.
I’ve never really talked about my memories with Dad since his death. My mother was barely holding it together after the accident and Henry, Greyson and Adelaide had to dive right in to ensure Black Holdings didn’t suffer. Bax, Ollie and I were left on our own, trying to make sure Mom was okay and she was trying to make sure we were okay, but those days are a foggy nightmare I’d rather not revisit.
Remembering that day at the Christmas tree farm hurt, but for the first time, I could also recall some of the happiness we experienced together. It’s bittersweet, but I’m glad I have that memory and talking about it with Hiro felt right. Comfortable.
I glance out the window and notice pale blue sky, the sun playing hide and seek with the silvery clouds. I hope Hiro doesn’t try to get out of hunting for a Christmas tree with me today.
I throw off the covers and bounce out of bed. I throw on some sweatpants from our shopping trip and a pair of thick wool socks and head downstairs, inhaling tempting scents of bacon and fresh coffee as they emanate from the kitchen.
Hiro is pouring two cups and he places one in front of me as I slide onto the stool.
“Two sugar and cream, right?” he says.
I nod, taking a sip. It’s delicious, but something niggles at my brain. “Um, Hiro?”
“Hmm?” He’s at the stove with a kitchen towel thrown over his shoulder as he flips pancakes.
“How did you know how I take my coffee?”
He stills. “Lucky guess?” He lifts the pan off the stove, stacking the pancakes on a plate. I snag a piece of bacon from the bowl on the counter as he’s setting out breakfast.
“Pancakes, bacon, maple syrup, fruit, whipped cream and coffee? Who are you?” I ask, eyeing the fluffy stack.
He hands me a fork and gestures at the pancakes. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I think Henry would starve if his chef disappeared and he didn’t have access to room service or catering. I’m not even sure he knows how to make toast, let alone something that looks like this.”
A dark blush tinges his cheekbones. “It’s just breakfast.”
I nearly fall off the stool when I take a mouthful. “It’s so good,” I mumble. “Where’d you learn to cook like this?”
He shrugs, settling in on the stool next to me with his black coffee. “This isn’t fancy. And I like to cook.” He drizzles syrup from the fancy carafe like a pro. “Eat up, if you still want to go hunt for a tree. It’s cold out this morning.”
“It looks like the sun is trying to come out.” Snowflakes swirl lazily outside the large windows.
“When the sun is shining up here in the mountains in winter, it means it’s extra cold.”
“Luckily, I have a brand-new snowsuit to keep me warm.” Not to mention the heat bubbling up in my body every time I look at Hiro. I need to keep that in check. I’d like to think his words and actions mean something, but what if they don’t? What if this is just a crazy interlude and he goes back to being a cool, distant – and worse, disdainful fringe presence in my life after this?
“This one is perfect!” I stop in front of the gigantic tree, its full boughs heavy with snow. It glistens a deep blue-green in the sun and I strain my neck as I gaze up at it.
“You said that about the last ten trees we stopped at.” Hiro comes up behind me, looking like a model for some ski resort in his outdoor gear. He has a large bag slung across his back that contains all the gear I had no idea we needed to cut down a Christmas tree, including a neat little saw that Hiro assures me will do the job for any tree I pick.
I might have been a little disappointed that my mountain man fantasy wasn’t going to happen. On the hike, I pictured Hiro, whipping off his plaid shirt and swinging an axe, but there isn’t a single axe to be seen in his arsenal.
Plus, I can’t imagine anyone whipping their shirt off in this icy breeze. My nipples cringe at the thought.
“Well, I can’t help it if they all look perfect.” I throw up my hands, doing a slow circle. Freezing temps or not, the entire area around Hiro’s cabin looks like a set from a Christmas movie.
It’s crisp and winter fresh outside, our steps making a satisfying crunch sound as we traipse through the area. The snow is not yet deep enough for the cool-looking snowshoes I spotted back at the cabin, but Hiro assures me it will later be later this week based on the snow in the forecast. I can’t wait to try them out, even though the cold air is biting my nose and cheeks, and we haven’t even been outside that long.
Hiro drops his bag, unzipping it. “Is this the one then?” he asks.
I tilt my head, eyeing it critically. “It’s so beautiful.” A sudden thought sobers me as he lifts out the saw.
“No, wait.” I step in front of the tree. “Maybe it’s too beautiful and we shouldn’t cut it down.” I look around at all the trees, not wanting to destroy the perfect landscape.
Hiro lowers the saw back to the bag and leans in, kissing me on the nose. “You are adorable.”
I blink. “Of course I am.” Did the mountain air all of a sudden clear the fog away from Hiro’s eyes? “I’ve always been adorable, you just never noticed,” I say.
He laughs. A full, rich laugh that warms my chest. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Hiro laugh. Smirk, yes. I’m certain he must be fun with my brother, but around me, he’s never been anything other than the straightest, most-serious, stick-up-his-butt guy.
Except right now, his eyes are dancing as he grins down at me. “Oh, I noticed. I just never wanted to notice.”
I grab the front of his jacket. “What do you mean?”
Hiro reaches out and gently tugs the wool hat I’m wearing down over my ears. “How could anyone not notice you? You light up a room. Sometimes so brightly it hurt my eyes. Henry is my best friend and so protective of his family – for good reason.”
Neither of us says anything but his words are like a cloud passing in front of the sun. Is it happening again? I’m not na?ve enough to believe there will never be another threat to my family, but how serious is it? Serious enough that Henry sent Hiro to get me, at least. I shiver and I’m not sure if it’s from my thoughts or from the cold mountain air.
I push aside the dark, ominous feeling. “You were talking about how you can’t keep your eyes off me?” I force a brightness into my words despite the ache in my throat.
Hiro shakes his head. “You’ve gotten to experience school, and life, in a way that wasn’t available to Henry. Everyone wants something from him. It can be hard to know who is genuine and who isn’t. I am grateful to be his friend, just because, not because of what he can give me, or do for me. The last thing I would ever want is for him to think I’ve taken advantage of being close to him.” He looks deep into my eyes. “Like messing around with his baby sister.”
I swallow hard. “Is that what we’re doing here? Messing around while something bad comes for my family again?”
Hiro cradles my face, the cool leather of his gloves smooth against my cheeks. He dips his head, brushing a gentle kiss across my lips, the heat of his mouth a stark contrast to the icy flakes drifting around us.
I tilt my head up, wrapping my arms around his waist and nip his full bottom lip until he deepens the kiss, heating me from the inside out.
He pulls away, his breath making little puffs of white clouds. “Do you think I’m messing around?”
“I’ve never known you to mess around in your life. Look at your cereal boxes.”
Hiro frowns. “What do cereal boxes have to do with anything?”
Laughter bubbles up in my chest. “The way everything in your life is so neat and orderly.” I make a motion with my hands, mimicking the straight line I saw in his cabinets. “You like everything perfect, arranged exactly to your liking. You’re the most straightlaced guy I know.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “And so what does that tell you?”
I roll my eyes upward and tap my chin, although the action is lost considering the heavy mittens I’m wearing. “Hmm, maybe that you don’t like mess?”
“I don’t. Which is why I don’t want you to think I’m messing around here.” He pulls me in. “I’m definitely not messing around. I would never do that to you or to my best friend. I’m afraid that means you’re stuck with me.”
My breath catches in my throat. What does he mean by that? Does he mean right now, for this moment in time, or … My brain glitches. Is it possible Hiro is talking about something more?
“Is this it then?” he asks.
It’s like a thousand butterflies setting off in my stomach. I clear my throat. “Um…”
“Is this the tree?”
I blink. It takes me a minute to register his question. “The tree?” I echo.
Hiro smiles. “Is this the tree you want? I’ll happily plant five trees to replace this one if that is what is bothering you. They can be our future Christmas trees.”
There go those butterflies again. I nod slowly. “This tree is perfect.” This day is perfect.
“Good. Let’s get this back to the cabin so we can get warmed up.” He hands me a pair of safety glasses and points to where he wants me to stand.
I slide them on. “What did you have in mind?”
He takes out his phone and shows me the screen. There’s a Christmas countdown list of all the must-see movies, organized by trope. “I was thinking fake-dating and hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, what about you?”
My mouth falls open and he laughs as he tosses me the phone and bends to pick up the saw. “I’ll take care of this, and you can plan our afternoon.”
As the buzz of the saw cuts through the silence of the morning I can’t help but wonder if Santa delivered the perfect present, albeit a few days early.