“Thanks,” I tell her. She’s saidyou two, which means she was looking for both of us. Which makes me feel included and not invisible. It’s kind of a wonder to me how those two little words make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
“We should probably head back,” Logan says, gesturing toward the inn.
I nod, falling into step beside him as we make our way to the ballroom. The silence between us is comfortable now, no longer charged with tension.
As we reenter the warm, festive space, I’m struck by how different everything looks. The place is a mess of packing material, decorations, glue guns, staple guns, scissors, and scraps—but it’s beautiful too. Not everyone started with their tree. Olivia has a ladder up and is trying to hang a giant bauble from the ceiling. I hope she has more of those. They’re stunning. Although, upon closer inspection, the glitter lines aren’t straight. Maybe she had her students' help, which is awesome if she did. Getting them involved in the contest would be very confidence building.
For the first time, I allow myself to truly absorb the magic of the moment. I’m starting to feel like I’m part of something that’s bigger than my corner of the room, and I like that. I’m sure it’s because Logan is so nice and Evelyn came looking for me and Gladys is my constant cheerleader.
As the day progresses, I find myself more relaxed, more open to the festive atmosphere around me. I even exchange a few friendly words with other contestants, offering compliments on their designs and receiving warm praise in return. It’s a novel experience, this feeling of being part of a community rather than an outsider.
Every now and then, I catch Logan’s looking at me. Each time he smiles and then looks away again, intently focusing on his work. There’s a warmth in his gaze that I hadn’t noticed before, or perhaps hadn’t allowed myself to see.
I’m struck by how different I feel compared to this morning. The knot of anxiety that had been my constant companion for the last year has loosened.
Gladys follows my stare to Logan, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She doesn’t say anything but I know what she’s thinking. I turn away quickly so that she won’t embarrass me by pointing out again the fact that Logan is handsome—again.
Logan clears his throat and I look up to see him standing on the tape line between our spaces.
“Yes?” I croak. The moment feels charged. He’s fiddling with an ornament hook and his eyes are meeting mine and then looking away again. I wasn’t nervous before but I suddenly am now.
“Every year I put together a team from our competition to compete in the Ice Games. Would you like to be on my team?”
Could he be more adorable in this moment? On his team? I mean, that’s just about the cutest thing a full-grown man has ever asked me.
“The Ice Games?” I ask for clarification. It sounds cold. While I’m no wimp, I’m not one to do a polar bear plunge either—no matter how many scientists say it’s good for me.
“It’s only Benton Falls’ biggest winter competition in existence today.” He puffs out his already impressive chest. “It’s sponsored by the fire department. We aren’t allowed to compete together.”
“Because that would be incredibly unfair,” I butt in while motioning toward his body. “Who would stand a chance?”
He gives me a cocky grin with a little smolder thrown in. “Thank you.”
Goodness—overconfidence looks good on him.
“In order to be in the games, we have to compile a team of our own. I’m always here if I’m not at the station so I started teaming up with the competitors. It’s a great dayout of the office,we all decompress a little, and it’s for a good cause.”
My first instinct is to decline, to retreat to the safety of solitude. But then I remember the warm feeling of belonging, and I realize that I want more of that.
“Okay,” I hear myself say, surprising both Logan and myself.
His smile moves up into his eyes. “Great! We’re meeting at the park at seven tomorrow morning.”
I feel a flutter of nervous excitement in my stomach. It’s been so long since I’ve allowed myself to be part of a group, to open myself up to potential friendships, and I’m terrified.
My stomach rumbles and I realize that I haven’t had a thing to eat except a doughnut. I gather my coat and head out to grab a sandwich from Engine 24 Subs next to the fire station. I’m guessing the owner is or was a firefighter. I’ll have to ask him if he’s entering the games.
Wow. That feels different, too. Curiosity about the people around me is new.
But good.
It feels really good because I used to talk to people behind the counter all the time in the city. I wonder if any of them miss me or wonder where I went.
I’ve wondered that for a long time too.
I approach the fire-engine red door and grab the shiny brass handle. The smell of freshly baked bread and deli meat grabs me by the hunger pains and pulls me inside. I still don’t know what the Ice Games are. Will we be playing hockey with blocks of ice? But I’m excited to find out.
Eight
