EVIE
Nickand I slipped away from the Carnival while the group cheered on Tabitha and Freddie in the spoon race. We made our way down Main Street, past all the shoppers and rowdy beer gardens.
“Tinsel!” A guy raised a frosty beer mug as we walked past. Nick waved and then returned his hand to hold mine.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“That’s Mack. He’s one of the defensemen.”
“His name is Mack?” I ran through all the short forms that I knew. “Is that short form for Mackenzie?
Nick tilted his head. “Maybe. I think it’s just his nickname though—short for Mack Truck. The guy is an enforcer. You’ll have to keep an eye on him tomorrow, he’s the only one who’s been struggling with the outdoor rink.”
“Really? Why? Is it bumpier or something?”
“No, the ice is almost better than the sheet in the barn. It’s the short boards. They’re part of Mack’s arsenal—he likes to slam guys against them.”
Nick’s voice was almost lost in thefive golden ringspart of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” that blared above our heads. “Barn. Sheet. It’s like another language.”
“Speak for yourself, horse girl. I’d never heard the wordscanteringorskijoringbefore coming to town.”
“Well, we can teach each other then.”
We passed the G-Spot on the way to the outdoor rink where Nick was parked. The door opened and Muriel stuck her head out and waved. “Hi, Nicky, Hi, Evie.” Muriel held up her flask. “Good luck tomorrow, kiddo,” she shouted and then disappeared into the diner.
Nick shook his head. “How does she function?”
I chuckled. “I don’t know. I’m not sure whether she drinks it or just operates an illegal boozy coffee joint.”
“Muriel’s G-Spot Speak Easy. It sounds like a 1930s porno.”
We laughed together and Nick squeezed me as we continued walking. “Shit,” he gasped. He pulled me into him and his left hand shot into the air. It happened so fast that I didn’t understand what was going on. Icy snow chunks rained down over us; Nick had caught a rogue snowball. “Hey, guys.” He tossed it back to a group of teenagers. “Keep your snowball fight away from innocent bystanders.”
“Sorry about that.” One of the guys’ voices cracked as he apologized.
Nick was solid. He also provided me with something I hadn’t felt with Brad—safety. He did all of the old-fashioned things that I didn’t think I cared about, like walking on the outside of the sidewalk and opening doors for me. He was alert. While I had been in a dreamlike state in his arms, so engrossed in being held by a man who gave me butterflies, he was scanning and making sure that I was protected.
I didn’t need help, but it sure felt good to know that Nick had my back. “Nick. Wait.” I stopped walking.
“What is it?”
“I want to buy you something.”
“I don’t need anything, Evie. He squeezed me closer to him. I’ve got everything I need right here.” What had changedhis mind? I didn’t know and I wasn’t going to overthink it. Nick and I had grown close in an impossibly short amount of time. If I hadn’t believed in fate before, I sure did now.
I ducked out from under his arm and grabbed his hand. “Your cabin needs something.”
His brow furrowed. “What does the cabin need?”
“A tree!” I led him to the Christmas tree farm stand. “Is that tree still here?”
The guy had started to pack up, a pile of trees was stacked in his trailer. It took him a minute to recognize me, and then he snapped his fingers. “The tiny white pine. I remember now. Yes, I set it aside for you. You look different without your hat.” I put my hand to my head and realized that I was still wearing Nick’s Bobcat hat.
“A tree?” Nick’s voice quivered.
“Yes.” I took his hand. “I know that Christmas is tough for you, but maybe we can start making some new memories. Happy ones can start bumping those bad ones out.”
“Yesterday I would’ve said no to anything festive in my house, but today, I’m ready.”
