“Yeah?” I glance at her, noticing how the pink in her cheeks matches the flush from the cold. “My mom dragged us every year for the Christmas parade. I used to complain, but honestly, I kind of loved it.”
“You? Complaining? I’m shocked,” she teases, and there it is again—that easy laugh that’s making my stomach do weird flips. “I bet you were the kid in your class who said Santa wasn’t real just to make the other kids cry.”
“Hey now,” I protest, shoving my hands in my pockets to resist the weird urge to thread my fingers through hers. “I was a perfect angel.”
“Uh-huh.” She gives me a sidelong glance that makes me laugh. She looks up at the strands of white bulbs crisscrossing above the street. “I love this. It’s like walking under the stars.”
“Totally.” I watch her face as she takes it all in, struck by how genuinely delighted she seems by something so simple. “When’s the last time you looked at Christmas lights?”
“Gosh, it’s been years,” she admits. “Garrett never really cared to go see them.”
“That’s a crime,” I reply. “Mandatory Christmas light appreciation should be legally enforced.”
She laughs. “I’ll be sure to add it to my calendar for next year.”
Next year. The phrase hangs between us, and I wonder if she’s thinking what I am—that maybe we could do this again. That maybe this doesn’t have to be a one-time thing.
But that’s ridiculous. This is Cheyenne. My little sister’s best friend. The girl who’s seen me at my absolute worst and most embarrassing moments growing up. The woman who just got out of a serious relationship with a total jerk.
And yet...
“Oh, look at that display!” She stops suddenly, pointing to a storefront decorated with miniature animated skiers zooming down tiny snow-covered hills. “That’s adorable.”
I hang back, watching as she presses closer to the glass, her eyes wide with childlike wonder. She’s always been like this—able to find joy in the small things. I’ve known her for years, but somehow it feels like I’m seeing her clearly for the first time.
“Come look.” She waves me over without looking back, completely confident that I’ll follow.
And I do.
We continue down the street, stopping at nearly every window. We linger in front of a bookstore with some leather-bound classics on display that Cheyenne sighs over.
“Gosh, that might be the most beautiful edition ofPride and PrejudiceI’ve ever seen,” she says, pointing to the teal book with gold lettering. “It’s my favorite story of all time, I think, and seeing it in leather like that is just ... wow.”
“Well, maybe if you’re a good girl, Santa will bring it to you for Christmas.” I wink.
We then stop at a toy shop with a train set that reminds me of one I had as a kid, which leads to me telling her stories about how Genna and I used to fight over who got to control the speed.
“You were such a brat.” She laughs, shaking her head.
“I was the older brother! It was my job to be a brat,” I defend myself, grinning.
“And you took that job very seriously.”
“Still do.” I wink at her again, and for a split second, something shifts in her expression—a flash of something I can’t quite read before she looks away.
We approach the block of downtown where the high-end stores begin. Designer boutiques, art galleries, and—right on the corner—Meridian Jewelers. Their window display is tastefully excessive, with black velvet backdrops showcasing diamond necklaces, watches, and rings lit up like they’re on stage.
Cheyenne slows as we near it, her steps becoming hesitant. I almost keep walking, but something makes me pause, turning to see her gazing at the window display.
“See something you like?” I ask, moving back to stand beside her.
“Just looking,” she says quickly, but her eyes linger on a display of engagement rings. “It’s all so beautiful.”
I study her profile as she watches the light play off the diamonds. There’s something wistful in her expression that tugs at me. Before I can overthink it, I hear myself saying, “Want to go in?”
Her head snaps toward me, eyebrows raised. “What? Why?”
I shrug, aiming for casual even as my heart rate picks up. “Why not? Could be fun. Plus it’s warm in there, and we’ve got nowhere else to be. I promise to make it entertaining.”
