“Yep, we’re all done until spring semester. It’s weird being a senior, knowing I’m not going back to Snowflake High after next year. I’m trying to save up some money to do a summer design course, so I’m taking any holiday job I can get. How’s your app stuff going? Rhys said you’d been working really hard on it.”
“It’s okay.” I’m being an idiot. I can’t get my words out. I’ve always thought Rhys’s sister was pretty, but I didn’t realize just how gorgeous she was until now. It’s like I’m in the presence of a movie star or something, and my brain is refusing to work properly.
“Have you heard from your Mom and Dad?” Her voice is kind.
“We speak every couple of days. It’s summer over there, Dad had a tan already. They’re planning on taking Grandma to the beach, I think.” I shrug.
“You didn’t want to visit?”
“The flight to Australia is expensive. Maybe next year.” I take a bite of the cookie.
“It must be hard for you, but they’re doing such a good thing. Your Grandma is lucky to have such a good family around. Are you coming to our house for Christmas?”
I gaze back at her. I was going to hide away and lose myself in work, but now I’m not so sure that’s the best idea. I open my mouth and a firm hand claps me on the back.
I twist around and Rhys is standing there.
“Hey, bud. Come over here for a sec, okay?”
I smile at Melody as he drags me back over to a quiet spot near the door.
His voice is low. “What the fuck wasthat?”
I stare down at him. “What the fuck waswhat?”
“You. Melody. I saw the way you were looking at her. You were like one of those cartoon dogs. Eyes on stalks and tongue hanging out.” His nostrils flare.
“Your sister is totally gorgeous. I hadn’t realized.” As soon as I say it, I realize I’ve made a mistake.
Rhys plants his legs wide. “You stay away from her. Don’t eventhinkabout her, okay? You want to be my friend, don’t go there. I’m serious, Keaton.”
I hold my hands up. “Calm down.”
“I’m not going to calm down until you tell me you won’t go anywhere near her.” He stands his ground as a group of people in garish Christmas sweaters squeeze past us to get to the dancefloor.
I look back at him. “It’s fine. Don’t get mad. She just looked hot in that dress.”
He grimaces. “I really don’t need to hear that. Here, I got you some mulled wine.”
I take a sip of the sweet, spicy liquid and turn away. My eyes dart back to the Candy Cabin table but there are too many people clustered close to it to see Melody. My fingers wrap around the little reindeer in my pocket. Rhys doesn’t need to worry, I won’t make a move on his sister. Even if she’s beautiful and sweet and kind, and standing near her is like being close to a fire when you’re cold.
I’ll spend Christmas alone again and concentrate on my work.
I can always count on that.
* * *
ChapterOne
MELODY
Present day, four days before Christmas
My boots crunch on the snow as I walk up the path that leads to Snowflake Falls’ brand-new ice rink. Known by locals as the Reindeer Runway, it leads from the town square to the rink, which Mom says is part of Snowflake’s new redevelopment plan.
The snow-covered path shimmers under the tall lantern lights and it’s lined with tall pine trees dusted in a layer of frost. Adorable reindeer statues stand at intervals along the path, their red noses glowing and antlers covered in twinkling lights. The old, falling-down gazebo on the path has had a major makeover. Where it used to have a sad, broken roof and a rusting bench, it’s now a gleaming structure with a polished, silvery-white fence around the outside decorated with wreaths and red bows.
More multi-colored twinkle lights are wrapped around the trees on either side and light snow is falling, muffling the sound of my footsteps. In the distance, on the far side of the rink, the local carol singers are warming up for their performance tonight. It should be magical, but I can’t get into my normal happy frame of mind. My Mom calls me a little ray of sunshine, but right at this moment, I’m more of a despondent icicle.
