Dad came inside, a whirl of cold air entering with him, stomping the snow off his boots in the entryway and setting his lunchbox down. “One would think having two grown men around the house would mean the front walk would get shoveled, but what do I know?”
“Sorry, Dad.” Leo snatched his knit beanie from off the arm of the couch. “We were out most of the day. I’ll go do it now.”
“No, no, I got it.” Landon rushed to the entryway.
Generally, Leo would argue, and he’d win—resulting in him doing the chores around the house that didn’t even belong to him anymore. But with the latest favor Landon asked of him, Leo figured his brother owed him.
“You’re home a little early,” Leo stated.
“Yeah, finished the job sooner than expected. And the Whitley’s invited me over tonight for some of Sue’s special eggnog.”
Leo arched a brow. “Yeah?” He was all too familiar of Sue’s special eggnog and a night off the hard stuff was probably a good idea.
His dad hunched a shoulder, forming his lips into a pout. “Why not? I’m feeling festive this year.” He smiled. “I’m thinking I should put up a tree. Maybe even hang some lights outside.”
Warmth ballooned in Leo’s chest, unthawing his frosty heart with old, harbored feelings over family Christmas and traditions. He patted his dad’s back. “I could look for the menorah in the garage if ya want?”
“Great idea, son.”
“I’ll help with whatever you need.”
Chapter Sixteen
Isabella
Pineridge didn’t havemany options for bachelorette parties as far as venues go, especially at the last minute. They’d have to settle for O’Henry’s. It was rustic, to put it nicely, but it was the only local brewpub that had both dancing and live music.
Isabella was more than ready to relax and let loose. She’d been uptight ever since she stepped foot on the airplane several days before. But of course, this night was about Norah, who seemed as though she needed a break from all the holiday shenanigans just as much as Isabella, if not more. Planning a wedding was ultra-stressful, much less a Christmas wedding.
O’Henry’s hadn’t changed a bit. The bar was flanked in old, barn wood siding and had neon signs hung above blacked-out windows. If it wasn’t for the multitude of cars parked out front, it would have appeared deserted. Back when she was in high school, the owners, Ricky O’Henry’s parents, would occasionally allow some of Ricky’s friends to hang out there in the winter so they’d have somewhere safe and warm to go.
The sound of the instruments, the beat of the drum, and the hollering of patrons boomed outside when Isabella stepped out of the Norah’s SUV, her wedged ankle boots crunching onto the snow-compacted parking lot.
Isabella ushered Norah, Maddie, Taylor, and Nina into the cozy bar. “Okay, ladies, shots all around?” She asked on their way inside.
Nina adjusted her boobs in the burgundy scoop halter dress after stripping off her wool coat. “Do you even have to ask? Yes, please.”
“Woohoo!” Maddie, one of Norah’s bridesmaids and her best friend since kindergarten, shouted. She took off her winter coat, shaking the snow off her blonde highlighted hair and hung it on a hook by the door. Maddie smoothed the black cotton midi dress over her hips. “Norah, your sister knows how to party. Why did I never know this?”
“Probably because when she was partying at seventeen, we were in middle school.”
“Right,” Maddie observed.
“And we aren’t going to party too hard. We have a big day tomorrow.” Norah passed Isabella a look of warning. She had on an adorable oversized black sweater paired with a black and white floral skirt, black tights, and black chunky ankle boots.
“Right, right, right. Day four of Christmas…” Isabella scrunched her face, thinking about what holiday activity awaited them tomorrow. “Cookies. Oh, we can totally do that a little hungover,” she teased, shrugging out of her tweed coat, revealing a red dress with tank straps, a square neckline, and a flared skirt.
“Ha, very funny. But there’s no way I’m getting drunk. Mom and Dad have never seen me hungover.”
Norah was such a goody-goody. She’d always been Mrs. Perfect. Isabella seemed to forget that detail since there was such an age gap between them. When Isabella was going to O’Henry’s with her best friend Kelsey Sanders, Ricky, and Leo, Norah had been at home in bed or at the ice rink skating.
Ugh, Leo. Tonight, she wanted to drink enough to forget all about him. Past Leo and present Leo. And all the harbored feelings that had recently inched to the surface of her heart.
“C’mon, ladies. Let’s get drinks and snag a table.” Isabella headed toward the bar, the other girls following behind.
When she reached the bar, she leaned over the counter, waving to grab the bartender’s attention. “Excuse me, barkeep, five shots of tequila for me and my friends, please,” she said, using an exaggerated Irish accent.
“Tequila?” Norah groaned.
