Chapter 5 The Ice Queen
Five
The Ice Queen
Logan
I ease off the gas as the Crooked Reindeer draws nearer.
Every spot in the parking lot is taken. Cars even line both sides of the street.
I’m pretty sure all the residents in Mount Holly are here.
As I roll past the front entrance, a sign out front reads, “Meat Raffle Tonight. Hosted by the Mount Holly Community Club.” The MHCC is a non-profit charity organization that helps raise money for community members in need.
Growing up, they helped when the Hendersons lost their house to a fire.
When a portion of Mount Holly’s high school hockey players needed help with expenses to travel to state for the championships, they donated funds.
We might not have won those state championships if we didn’t have all our best players.
Red taillights glow as a car pulls out onto the road.
I speed forward to claim the spot. If anyone somehow missed the memo that I’m back, they won’t after tonight.
I turn off the truck and climb out. With each step, the snow crunches under my boots as I hurry toward the door.
The wind knifes under my collar, and I hunch my shoulders.
With my hands jammed in my coat pockets, I continue trudging toward the Crooked Reindeer.
At the entrance, I stop and peer up. A set of reindeer antlers hang above the door, crooked as its namesake.
The legend goes: When Simon’s grandfather bought the building, he hung the antlers over the door, and during the night, the right side dropped, so he straightened them out.
The next night, they fell again, and the same thing happened.
By the fourth night, he said to hell with it, and they’ve remained crooked ever since.
The cold, metal handle sends a shiver up my arm as I yank it open. I step inside and the noise dips just enough for a familiar voice to carry.
“If it isn’t the hockey legend himself!” Simon booms from behind the bar.
Every single person in the bar turns in my direction, and I freeze. The bar erupts into a symphony of hi and hey Logan. Heat creeps up my neck. I give them all a tight-lipped smile and a small wave. Growing up, I loved the attention. But the last three years rewired me for the quiet.
Simon and I played hockey together from peewee through high school along with Mason, Henry, and Carson.
We even managed to win a few state championships together.
Over the years, we kept in touch, but not a lot.
There were a few times I invited the guys to Chicago to watch a game.
Of course, we’d party afterward. They even met Brooke a few times.
Simon came out for her funeral. Out of all of us, I was the only one to go on to play professional hockey.
A European league drafted Simon, but shortly after his grandfather died, he inherited the connected bar and laundromat.
Instead of playing hockey, he took over the bar.
He didn’t keep the laundromat but instead turned it into a public sauna.
I approach the bar and shoulder into a gap between barstools.
“Someone buy this man a drink.” Simon points to me from the other side of the bar.
I laugh. “Just one. I’m not staying long.”
“If everyone here is buying you a drink, you aren’t driving nowhere.
But no worries, we’ll get you home.” Simon pops the cap off a beer bottle and places it on a cardboard coaster in front of me before rounding the end of the bar.
We clasp hands in a handshake that turns into a hybrid hug and back pat.
“It’s good to see you, man. Word on the street is you’re back for good. ”
“Something like that.” We pull away from each other. “How’s the bar?” I glance around at the wall-to-wall bodies. “Must be going well, since you have the entire town here.”
“Meat raffle night is always popular. The ladies also go wild for purse bingo.” Simon runs a hand through his thick black hair. “It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
“You know, same old same old. Now I’m retired from hockey, I’ve found myself with some extra time on my hands, so I thought I would slow down a little and come back to familiar grounds.
Get out of the city and away from everything.
” And hopefully stop feeling like I’m drowning, but he doesn’t need to know that.
“What is this I hear about you coming back to town with a twenty-foot Christmas tree?”
I huff out a laugh. “I forgot gossip doesn’t take long to spread around here.”
“It’s not gossip if it’s true. So what’s with the tree?”
“You know the empty lot across from Reindeer Ridge?”
His brows knit together. “Yeah.”
“I bought it. That tree is part of a Christmas carnival I’m organizing.”
“And you plan to do that in less than a month?”
“It’s been in the works for six. I hired a crew that specializes in pop-up events to help with the execution.”
“That definitely helps then.” He rests his elbows on the bar and leans in. “You know Brie McKenna is in charge of the Holly Jolly Festival this year, right?”
“I do.” I take a swig of my beer. Hearing her name brings back a flood of emotions, especially after my brief encounter with her earlier today.
Her soft body pressed against mine. The way her fingers brushed against my chest. I harbored no hateful feelings toward Brie, but she certainly aimed truckloads at me.
I never went out of my way to spite her, but also never went out of my way to befriend her either. She had her friends, and I had mine.
“And you ran into Brie.”
“I did.”
“And you were having sex on the side of the road. I guess that’s one way to welcome home the hometown hockey hero.”
My lips curve into a smile.
“The way you can’t keep that smirk off your face must mean it’s true.”
I shake my head. “As great as that sounds, it’s not even remotely true. More like I saved her from getting flattened by a truck on the side of the road, and afterward, she wanted to throw me in front of said truck.”
“That sounds more like the welcome home party Brie would throw for you.” Simon grins. “Remember, you’re not in the city anymore. People will know everything about you, including what time of day you take a shit. If you don’t want people in your business, you’re in the wrong town.”
It’s a love/hate relationship with Mount Holly.
Everyone will be sniffing down your neck whether you want them to or not, but at the same time, they are the first ones to rally behind you when you’re in trouble.
I knew my life would be under a microscope when I returned, but I’ve known these people all my life.
Plus, it’s comforting being surrounded by family and close friends again.
For now, the pros outweigh the cons. I’ll have to adjust to everyone being in my business.
On the TV behind the bar, highlights from last night’s Minnesota versus Colorado hockey game play on the screen.
Then an idea hits me. Just because I retired from professional hockey, doesn’t mean I still can’t play.
“I’m thinking of putting a little holiday hockey tournament together to go along with my carnival.
I’m already building a rink for free skating, might as well use it for a friendly tournament, maybe for charity. ”
“Nothing says Christmas like a little hockey.”
“What do you say? Get the team back together.”
Simon laughs. “It’s probably been about ten years since I’ve laced up, but I’m in.”
“Who else is in town? Henry. Mason. Carson.”
“I’m sure it won’t take much convincing.”
A brunette with shoulder-length hair stops in front of me. The nametag on her shirt reads Cara. “Raffle ticket? They’re only a dollar.”
I glance from her to the stack of white tickets in her hand. “Sure. Why not?” I dig into my pocket and pull out a dollar bill. Her fingertips graze my palm as she deposits the ticket in my hand.
“Good luck.” She winks before sashaying to the next customer.
Simon snorts. “Clearly, you won’t have any issues making friends.”
I claim an empty stool and face him. “Too bad I’m not here to make any friends.”
“With the way Brie is trying to light you on fire with her heated glare, I’d say you’re doing a pretty good job at that.” He tilts his chin toward the far side of the bar.
I swivel around, and sure enough, Willa’s on one side, a woman with auburn hair is on the other, and Brie is in the middle, glaring daggers at me. We lock eyes. A static hums between us. I might as well introduce myself. Rising from my stool, I grab my beer and stroll across the bar.
“Hey ladies.” I stop at their pub-height table. “Couldn’t help but notice you all were staring. So I thought I’d come over here and say hi.”
Willa jumps up from her seat and wraps her arms around my neck in a hug. “It’s good to see you, Logan.” She lowers her tone. “Sorry to hear about your wife.”
My arm around her waist stiffens, and I press my lips together. “Thanks.” She pulls away. Her eyes are soft. I guess I’d better get used to the condolences from those I haven’t seen in years.
The auburn-haired woman smacks Brie’s bicep and stage-whispers, “Why didn’t you tell me he’s prettier in person?”
I bite back my laugh. “Thank you.” I offer her my hand. She reaches across the table and grips it in a firm but gentle handshake.
“Hi. I’m Sloane. I own the hybrid coffee shop and bakery, Sip and Sleigh, in town. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m a huge fan. Stop by and you can have whatever you’d like on me. Not on me, but my treat. Unless you’re into that kind of thing.” Pink washes over her cheeks.
I laugh. “I understand what you meant. And thanks again.” I release her hand and peer down at Brie. A moment ago she was watching me like a hawk. Now she’s studying her drink like it’s a science experiment. I return my attention to Sloane. “It’s always great to meet a fan.”
Glancing down at Brie again, I hold up my arms. “No hug?”
Finally, she peers up at me. Her bronze eyes darken to espresso as the soft, gold flecks from our earlier run-in are now sharp as broken glass.
The soft curve of her brows draw together, creating a small furrow that somehow makes her even more beautiful.
“I was already close enough to you once today.”
The corner of my mouth curves upward. “That’s right. You did have your arms wrapped around me earlier. If I remember correctly, you were reluctant to let go.”
“Perhaps you need to get your memory checked.” Her fingers curl into a fist on the table. “Now, I wish the truck had actually hit me,” she mutters under her breath.
A small chuckle escapes me. The Ice Queen doing what she does best. She’s gained more sass since high school. “I guess I should get going.” I nod to Sloane. “It was nice to meet you. I’ll be sure to stop by the coffee shop. Willa, it was nice to see you again.”
“You too,” Willa replies.
“Brie, it was good to see you as well.” She lifts her brows in acknowledgment but doesn’t say a word. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
From the corner of the bar, Cara’s voice comes over the microphone. “The winner is… number ten!”
I glance down at the white ticket in my hand. “Huh. Look at that, I won.”
Willa and Sloane cheer while Brie drops her gaze back to the condensation on her glass.
If she wants to play childish games, I have an eleven-year-old who’s taught me the best. I stroll to the front, collect my package of steaks, and return to my spot at the bar.
If day one back in Mount Holly has been this exciting, I’m looking forward to what the days leading up to Christmas will bring.