“Oh!” Tamara points a gloved finger. “There’s—”
Mason.
In uniform. Jacket open over a thermal shirt, gloves tucked in his belt, radio clipped to one shoulder.
He’s laughing at something one of the other firefighters says—one I don’t recognize. They’re standing near the tent, handing out flyers and greeting people as they pass.
He looks relaxed. Comfortable. Like someone who belongs.
There are women around, milling in clusters. But one of them—a blonde in a fitted cream parka with perfectly curled hair and lashes that could sweep snow—is all over him.
She places a hand on his arm, and leans in when she talks. He doesn’t step away, or seem to flirt back, but hedoessay something that makes her laugh.
My chest squeezes painfully tight.
“He looks busy,” Tamara says. “We should go say hi later.”
Or not.
“Super busy,” I mutter. “Fending off the town’s entire dating radius.”
Tamara’s mouth twitches. “I recognize her, actually. Candace, I think? Or Cassidy. She works at the vet. Single for a while now.”
“Good for her,” I say flatly, even as the ache claws under my ribs.
“You okay?”
“Fine,” I lie. “Just cold.”
I look down at my phone again. No new messages or voice notes, just the same haunting silence.
Ana’s voice echoes in my head, quiet and cruel in its accuracy.
If he wanted to reply, he would.
Tamara gives me another look, but before she can dig deeper, we’re ambushed by Logan, Lulu, and Eli, who skate to the edge of the path and stop with a flourish, snow spraying.
“Frankie!” Lulu calls. “Come fall on your ass with us!”
“I’m good, thanks.”
Eli frowns. “Come on, it’s tradition.”
“My tradition isnotconcussing myself in front of an entire town.”
Logan tilts his head. “Wait, do you seriously—”
“She tried once,” Tamara offers, grinning. “Fell in the first thirty seconds. Took out a group of Girl Scouts and a snowman.”
“That snowman had it coming,” I deadpan. “Judgy little bastard.”
“Come on,” Lulu coaxes, gliding effortlessly backwards. “We’ll hold your hands.”
“Yeah, that’s what the Girl Scouts said.”
While we’re bickering, a ripple of cheers breaks out around the ice. I turn, and immediately wish I hadn’t.
Because the Maplewood firefighters are heading onto the rink.
