I show our tickets at the entrance, and once we are through the gate, it’s like stepping into a completely different world. Lights are strung up on trees, with giant ornaments hanging from branches. A photo op is set to our right, complete with a large red sleigh and a Santa performer sitting inside, taking photos with kids and families.
I glance down at Lydia, taking in the look of childlike wonder on her face. Her mouth is slightly agape, her blue eyes brimming with delight. I know this was the right choice.
“Where to?” I gesture to the food trucks to our left. “We could get some snacks and hot cocoa, or we could go through the light trail and get snacks after.”
“After,” Lydia responds without hesitation, her excitement palpable as she tugs me toward the lights.
“Perfect.” I turn us to the right, following a small group.
One of the perks of having a bizarre schedule is that there aren’t as many people here on a Tuesday night as there would be on a Friday or Saturday. Lydia works a later morning shift tomorrow, so it worked well that she was willing to be out a little later than normal on a weeknight.
She and I meander down the trail, taking everything in. We don’t speak much outside of pointing out a specific ornament or decoration, but there’s no need for words right now.
There’s a tunnel ahead, illuminating the world in sparkling white light. We stop at the same time, looking up at the display, and I wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her close. She rests her palm on my chest. Her hand is cool through my sweater, and I realize I should have brought her mittens. How could I forget?
“Are you cold?” I ask when a light wind sends a chill down my spine. I look down at her pink cheeks.
Lydia doesn’t answer my question as she’s so enthralled by the beauty surrounding us.
I only see her.
The lights shimmer all around us, people talk nearby, but my focus resides solely on her. She’s enchanted me. The light she brings to my life is something I could never survive without.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” she asks as she stares up at the lights, her voice breathy and in awe.
“Yeah.” But my gaze never leaves her.
When she breaks away from the lights to look up at me, I nearly drop to my knees to beg her to never leave. If thisplan doesn’t work, I don’t know what I’ll do. But with the way she’s looking at me, I think I have a shot.
We stare at each other for a long moment, only breaking apart when someone walks by us and nearly trips over a hard chunk of snow on the path.
I clear my throat and kick at some of the snow at my feet. Once the person is gone, we’re left in a weird silence.
Chuckling awkwardly, I say the first thing that comes to my mind. “This would be a great place for a first kiss. The lights are so pretty.”
I don’t mean anything by it, but color me surprised when Lydia perks up on her tiptoes and presses her cold lips to my cheek.
She smirks. “I agree.”
I can’t stop the smile that breaks out on my lips or the heat flaring in my cheeks as I bend down to kiss her cheek in return. Only she turns slightly, so my lips catch the corner of hers.
I pull away, the heat burning my cheeks even hotter now.
Lydia’s breath catches, her pupils dilating, and she touches the corner of her mouth where my lips were.
I’m not ready for our first official kiss yet. I have something special planned for that.
“Are you cold?” I ask again, staring at her fingers caressing her lips.
“No.” She shakes her head and drops her hand to her side. “I’m fine.”
“Where are your mittens?” I cup my hands around hers and lift them to my lips, blowing hot air into the space.
Our eyes lock. Lydia’s breath catches. My heart pounds in my chest, threatening to burst from the perfection that is her. Her eyes widen ever so slightly, brows raising.
After she composes herself, she says, “I think they’re in my pocket.” She pulls her hands free, digging in her pockets. When she comes up empty, she shrugs. “I must have forgotten them on the coffee table. It’s no biggie. I’m not cold.”
“The icicles you call fingers beg to differ.” I take her cold hands again. In her defense, I also forgot mittens, but I’m always more focused on her. Besides, I practically live on ice. Cold runs through my blood.
