Suddenly a twinge of doubt mixed with guilt crept in. She had a boyfriend—my cousin. I didn’t know what was going on between Belle and me or if it was one-sided on my part, but I couldn’t stop myself from wanting more time, wanting more of these carefree moments with her.
Thankfully we still had a snowman-building competition ahead of us, where I could have an excuse to keep spending time with her even if every laugh, every look, was pulling me deeper into something I couldn’t understand and definitely shouldn’t want.
Chapter 9
Belle
December 19th
As I cleanedthe last bit of red frosting off my nose, my phone chimed out in my room where I had thrown it on the bed.
Holden had a phone call with his agent, and since we had an hour before the snowman-building competition, I had run up to my room to clean up.
Leaving the bathroom, I went to check my phone, thinking it would be Alex, but when I tapped on the screen I saw I had a message in my sibling group chat.
Claire
How are things going in Winterbrook? Have you dumped Alex yet?
Ethan
A Christmas gift weboth would love.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips as I flopped onto the bed and typed out a reply.
Belle
You two are terrible. Also, I haven’t dumped him, thanks for the subtle nudge.
Claire and Ethan were relentless when it came to their opinions about Alex. At first, they’d been charmed by him—he was polished, successful, and said all the right things. But that charm had worn off fast. The more they got to know him, the more convinced they became that he was trying to change me.
I used to fight them on it. But now, sitting here in boring neutrals—because Alex thought they were more “classy” than my usual bright wardrobe—I had to admit they might have a point.
At least with him gone for the moment, I didn’t have to keep up the full polished version of myself. My ponytail wasn’t perfectly slicked back. I’d skipped the picture-perfect makeup routine and stuck with mascara and lip balm. I felt a little more like…me. Even if I still looked like a grayscale version of myself.
Somewhere along the way, I’d started losing pieces of who I was. Claire and Ethan had pointed it out—not always kindly—but I’d always brushed it off, saying Alex was helping me grow. That he was making me a better version of myself.
And I think Ibelievedthat—at least, until I met Holden that day in New York.
Spending just a few hours with him—in my old clothes, hair windblown, cheeks flushed from the cold instead of makeup—something shifted. The way he looked at me…like I was someone worth knowing. Like he actuallylikedwho I was. It made me realize maybe I hadn’t needed to change at all. Maybe the right person wouldn’t ask me to.
Meeting him was the push I needed to finally end things with Alex.
Well…until Alex invited me on this trip.
Ethan
Just because he took you to some fancy resort doesn’t mean you have to stay in a relationship with him.
Claire
Thank him for the trip, but not for your wardrobe, and then come back home to us. We need you to help us beat Mom and Dad in the snowman-building contest.
Being away from home the week before Christmas was a decision I hadn’t made lightly. It was one of my favorite weeks of the year. My family went all out, like in a Hallmark movie. Every year us kids competed with my parents to see who could make the best snowman. I’d actually looked up the events at the resort before coming, and when I’d seen they did so many of the same activities I didwith my family, I’d thought it might be fun to see if I could ever picture Alex and me carrying on these traditions one day. I’d hoped it might even spark something in our relationship, because what is more romantic than two people connecting over holiday traditions during Christmas time?
Belle
They actually have a snowman-building competition here. I’m heading there in a half hour.
