“I’m sure you have plans for the holiday, but you should consider our home your home!” Eirwen reaches out and pats my hand.
There’s some sort of magic in these two, and that’s not uncommon in Pine Ridge. But this magic is different. It’s like something subtle and silvery wraps around my soul and makes me nod. Even makes me smile for the briefest second.
I might actually spend the week up here—not because it’s a nice place and is decorated beautifully, but because this way my parents can’t send anyone to ambush me. I wouldn’t put it past my mother to send this cute “perfect” Elsa to my doorstep, wrapped as a Christmas parcel. I wouldn’t put it past her to make a few calls to herds who know herds and end up getting me sucked into Pine Ridge’s little band of centaurs who live out past Onyx Farm.
“Thank you. Might take you up on that,” I finally manage to say. “Safe travels.”
“Happy Christmas!” Klaus bounds into the sleigh once the last of their baggage has been strapped in. “Up!” He gives a whistle and the reindeer run.
My heart drops as they break into a gallop, heading into the treeline. If they keep going, they’ll crash into the pines. Or they’ll go off the ledge...
“You should drink the eggnog within three days!” Eirwen’s voice is a whisper in the wind, and a dark shape flies above the pines, reindeer team dancing past the moon.
It’s surreal, and that’s coming from a guy with a back end that resembles a small Clydesdale.
“Right. Work.” I march into the house and let my eyes blur over the garland, the nativity, the miniature village under a perfectly decorated tree.
Just another job. Just another week.
Chapter Two: Briana
“Hey, babe. I hope you don’t mind. I asked Kyle to come over from Connecticut for a couple of days. He wants to do some cross-country skiing.”
I stop texting my sister, who is actively (obsessively) on Ring Watch. It’s the third time today I’ve had to text, “Nothing yet.”
I turn and look at Josh. My boyfriend of two years has been hinting that this would be a life-changing trip. He’s been talking about how we need more space. It’s all happening. Finally. He’s going to propose. We’re going to look for houses! We’re getting married! And Kyle... Nice red herring, buddy.
“Very funny,” I sigh happily, leaning against him. “Smile!” I put my phone up and beam at the camera. “We are socute!” We are. I’m making an effort. After all, if my outdoorsy-type boyfriend wants to do a wintery mountain proposal, the least I can do is look the part in an adorable winter sweater and pom-pom hat.
“Bri, I’m driving.”
Bri. I hate when he calls me Bri, it sounds like a cheese.
Oh well, you have to accept these things in a relationship. “Are we almost there?”
“After this rest stop. Look at the view!”
It is gorgeous. There’s a beautiful wintery sheen on the land, and the sunset makes everything look golden. “This would be a really perfect place for... a special something.”
Josh looks at me. “Ooh. Bucket list time?”
My belly tightens as butterflies start fluttering. Bucket list! Yes! Career, marriage, house, kids, and finally getting to go toEurope. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have a guy who actually believes in setting goals, who listens to me when I talk about what I want. “At a rest stop?” I whisper. “It’s getting dark...” I suppose the sunset would be super romantic. A winter sunset in the mountains.
Yes, it’s Hallmark holiday roadtrip rom-com goodness.“Yes! Let’s pull over and... take a picture.” I keep my phone in my hand and text my sister.
Briana: I think it’s about to happen!
Leah: Ring pics. Now! Mom and I are dying.
Briana: Patience, grasshopper. He could have waited until Christmas Eve.
Leah: If he makes you wait until tomorrow, I might die from suspense.
“You and that phone. I told you, we gotta get off the grid. Unplug. Get back to nature.” Josh pulls over as he scolds me in a mildly exasperated voice. “You’re never off it.”
“I’m a manager at a store with ninety employees across full and part-time shifts! I have to make sure shifts are covered. You know I had to move heaven and earth to get a whole week off.” I pout. I could be petty. I could point out that Josh has gotten into healthy living and “back to nature” in a big way just lately, and he’s still never far from something with a screen. I could point out that he’s not okay without his thirty-minute Man Yoga workout from his favorite wellness influencer, or that he tracks his runs, his reps, and God-knows-what-all with his phone all the time, too.
“Fine. I’ll turn off the phone. Let’s do something else. Something special to celebrate our first Christmas on our own. No relatives. No work. Just togetherness. Magical moments.” I flutter my lashes.
