"Nice try!"I called out, dodging to the side and returning fire.The snowball hit the edge of her fort, sending a spray of snow into the air.
The kids were relentless, their energy seemingly boundless.They darted around, laughing and shouting as they pelted each other with snowballs.I found myself caught up in their enthusiasm, my usual guarded nature slipping away.
I glanced over at Jake, who was busy constructing an impressive snow fort with the help of his friends."You call that a fort?"I taunted, gathering more snow for my next attack.
"It's better than your tree," he shot back, grinning.
"Is that so?"I packed another snowball and lobbed it over their fortifications.It landed with a satisfying thud on the other side, eliciting a chorus of giggles.
Claire seized the moment to launch an attack of her own, catching me off guard.A well-aimed snowball hit me square in the chest, sending a cold shock through my coat."Got you!"she cheered, throwing a fist into the air.
"Oh, it's on now," I muttered under my breath, quickly forming another snowball.
The battle raged on; the air filled with laughter and playful taunts.The cold seemed to fade away as we all became lost in the moment.My breath came in visible puffs as I moved from one spot to another, dodging and weaving like a soldier on a battlefield—but this was a different kind of war.
I noticed one of the younger kids struggling to keep up, his small hands red from the cold.Without thinking, I called him over and handed him my gloves."Here," I said gruffly."You need these more than I do."
He looked up at me with wide eyes before nodding and slipping them on."Thanks," he said softly before rejoining the fray.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the snowy ground, our pace began to slow.Exhaustion started to creep in, but no one seemed ready to call it quits just yet.
Claire finally called for a truce, holding up her hands in surrender."All right, all right," she laughed breathlessly."I think we've all had enough."
The kids groaned in unison but didn't argue.They knew when it was time to stop pushing their luck.
"Good game," Claire said softly as she came to stand beside me.
"Yeah," I replied with a small smile."It was."
She reached up, and before I knew it, a snowball hit the top of my head.I blinked the snow away, feeling the cold trickle down my neck.
"Naughty," I murmured, grabbing her wrist gently.
"You have no idea," she replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
I narrowed my eyes then, feeling a sudden heat flare within me.My gaze dropped to her lips, lingering there.I wanted her.I wanted to taste her.And she wasn't pulling away.
Before I could move closer, another snowball hit my face, snapping me back to reality.I wiped the snow away, glancing over at Jake who stood with a triumphant grin.
"Get some mistletoe, why don't you," he called out, his voice full of teasing.
Claire's cheeks flushed crimson as she started laughing, the sound infectious.I couldn't help but chuckle too, shaking my head at the kid's audacity.
"We should check back with the booth," Claire murmured, her voice still tinged with laughter.
I nodded in agreement, feeling the moment slip away but not entirely lost.The warmth of her wrist still lingered in my hand as we turned and made our way back through the snow-covered street.The kids trailed behind us, their earlier energy now subdued by fatigue and the onset of evening.
The Christmas market came into view, its lights twinkling merrily against the growing darkness.A small crowd had gathered around it, their faces lit by the glow of festive decorations.Claire and I walked in comfortable silence, the sounds of laughter and holiday cheer filling the air.
As we approached the booth, she glanced up at me with a soft smile."Thanks for joining in," she said quietly."The kids really enjoyed it."
"Yeah," I replied simply, not quite sure how to express what I was feeling.
She seemed to understand though because she squeezed my hand gently before letting go and stepping forward to greet some of the townsfolk.I watched her for a moment, marveling at how easily she moved through this world—how effortlessly she connected with everyone around her.
I wasn't much for talking.Always preferred doing something with my hands.It grounded me, gave me a purpose.So, when Claire headed to her booth, I followed her without a word.She began to grab the empty baskets that used to be filled with her baked goods—cookies, cakes, and pies—all gone.
"How'd you do?"Emma asked as she approached.
