The mayor’s all business again as she says, “This year, every team will be assigned a coach, someone with a connection to this town. We’re thrilled that local hockey legend, Rowan Bishop, will be leading a team.”
“Glad to help,” I say, doing my best to give offjust happy to be herevibes. Because I am. Well, I’m happy to be next to Isla, that is.
“And we’ve asked some other notables to help coach too,” Fable adds, before she taps her chin. “I wonder who?”
Wilder flashes her a smile, clearly enchanted by his wife. “Gee, I wonder.”
They’re so taken with each other, it almost,almost, makes you think romance is possible. Well, it is, I suppose, for other people. That’s the key, I always remember. Some people are cut out for love. And some people are black-hearted hockey players.
Fable sets a hand on her chest. “And I’ll be coaching a team along with my husband Wilder.”
Isla sits up straighter. “I can’t wait to find out who the other coaches are,” she whispers to me. “This is so cool.”
That’s one way to put it. Another way would be it’s likeChristmas on steroids and it’s everything I hate. Correction:usedto hate. I’m Rowan 2.0 for the rest of the season.
“Sure is,” I say, then glance down at my sweater. Hell, maybe Santa’s ass crack on my chest is giving me Christmas cheer by osmosis. Stranger things have happened.
“We have some other locals we want to invite to be coaches,” Wilder says, then nods toward the bearded guy in the back of the bakery, the one wearing the flannel who suggested Little Friends. He looks vaguely familiar, but I’m not sure why. “We’d like to include Doctor Chris Lennox. When he comes to town from San Francisco, he’s the one the vice mayor wants to see.”
Nick sits up and barks his approval. That’s when it hits me. I do know that guy. My sister watched his online seriesThe Hot Vet, but he’s originally from here. Doctor Lennox rose to vet fame when he helped save a dog who’d eaten a pair of panties.
With a smile, he says, “Thanks. Happy to help.”
The mayor names a few other coaches. The whole time Isla’s watching her with avid eyes, like this is the best thing she’s ever heard. Hmm. I wonder if she’s wishing she could compete? I swing my gaze down to her hands folded in her lap and she’s crossed her fingers. On both hands.
Holy shit. Is Isla hoping to be picked as a coach? That’s adorable. I lean in next to her and say, “Bet they pick you.”
“Oh please,” she says, like that couldn’t possibly happen.
But then Fable smiles in thatI’ve got a secretway again and says, “And finally, we’d love it if the former dating podcaster Isla Marlowe and hometown heroine with her fantastic romance advice could be one of our coaches?”
Isla gasps.
It’s the loudest gasp I’ve ever heard.
And the most authentic. Her reaction—the sweetness of it, the authenticity of it—squeezes my heart.
Great. Another reason to like her. There are too many of them. They multiply, I swear.
“I’d be honored,” she says, clearly serious.
“Wonderful, you Santa’s helper, you.” Mayor Bumblefritz beams, then takes a beat. “I feel like I should ask for a drumroll.”
From behind the counter, Aurora happily provides one.
“And are you ready for your teams?” the mayor asks.
“Yes,” Isla says, and for a flicker of a second, it occurs to me how much Mia would like to see Isla right now. Isla’s excitement. Isla’s cheer. Mia would eat that up. But I bat the thought away. Mia’s hanging out with friends.
The mayor looks to Isla. “You’ll be teamed up with none other than our very own social media maven Eloise Langston and baker extraordinaire Aurora Dubois.”
“Oh! She does social media for the bakery and Aurora’s great. This is going to be so fun,” Isla tells me.
“Perfect for you,” I say, enjoying her enthusiasm.
Wilder and Fable rattle off more names. Wesley will be competing this year, and he’ll be working with the guy who owns the Mistletoe Emporium. A woman named Phillipa who waits tables at the Candy Cane Diner will be in the running, under Fable’s tutelage, along with Sabrina who’ll be coming to town soon. Someone named Liam will be paired up with Tyler, for Wilder to coach.
“And Rowan, I’m as pleased as Christmas punch—you might even say Candy Cane-infused punch,” the mayor says with a laugh and a wink, and I guess word got out about our auction cocktail creation, “to let you knowyou’ll be coaching JJ Washington from the North Pole Nook and…none other than our popular professor, Oliver Abernathy.”
