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Emily’s needle stilled. “We’re not speaking of Cole.”

“We’re making the man a personalized hat. We’re speaking of Cole.”

Robyn looked between them, clearly trying to catch up. “I feel like I’m missing context. He’s new in town, right?”

“He’s not new,” Emily said. “He’s a recurring problem… like a yeast infection.”

Cassidy snorted. “Oh, I’m sure he’s not that bad!”

“He’s worse,” Emily shot back, stabbing the fabric with more vigor than the poor material deserved.

“Okay, you guys have to fill me in.” Robyn set down her fur trim and tucked her legs under her, settling in for a show.

“Cole Fucking Alders,” Emily said to herself more than anyone.

Cassidy and Robyn’s eyes went wide behind their mugs.

Cassidy recovered first. “So he’s a good friend of yours,” she deadpanned.

Emily exhaled through her nose.

“How far back does this go?” Robyn asked, pulling a blanket over her knees.

“We were best friends,” she said.

The room went quiet in a different way.

“Best friends,” Robyn repeated.

“Inseparable. His grandparents lived next door to mine. There was a fence between the properties and… we spent every moment together.”

Cassidy had gone very still, the chocolate snowman forgotten in her hand.

“And then his grandfather stole my nana’s sugar and spice cookies,” Emily said. “Right before the 2009 Christmas Bake-Off. Ruined the whole thing, it was called off forever. Nana was so heartbroken she hid the recipe and never made them again.”

“And you were how old?” Robyn asked softly.

“Ten.” Emily picked at a thread on the blanket. “The accusation split the town. Everybody took sides. And I—” She stopped. “I took my family’s side. Obviously. My grandfather was furious, my nana was devastated, and Cole? He was my best friend, and he called my nana a liar and a cheat. Claimed she hid the cookies because she knew she wouldn’t win against his grandpa.”

Emily bit her lip, shaking her head as the scene played back in her mind. It might seem like a small-town little thing, but back then, and especially for a child, it was huge. The shock at her friend’s denial and accusation. The bitterness of his words. The deep, soul-aching hurt that followed. The loss of trust, the feeling like the one person in the world who would never hurt you just cut you right open. That pain was still there if she was honest.

“He was ten. I was ten. But the hurt was real.”

“And then he moved away,” Cassidy said.

“His family moved back to New York right after.” Emily looked at the fire. “I told myself it was the best day of my life.”

The room was quiet for a moment.

“Was it?” Robyn asked.

Emily didn’t answer right away. She picked up the hat and turned it in her hands.

“No,” she said finally. “I pretended like I was glad to see him go.” She looked up. “But I’ve been pretending so long it’s hard to tell the difference.”

The honesty of it surprised even her.

Emily straightened. “Anyway. He’s back. He’s running the fire station. He’s insufferable. And we are now forced to work together.” She bit the head off a chocolate snowman.