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We walked in silence for a moment, the snow crunching under our feet.

“I can’t believe how weird things have gotten since yesterday,” I mumbled. “I locked up my shop, not knowing it was the last time I’d ever see it, while on the phone with my best friend, who was telling me she was engaged and moving. I’m jobless, soon to be homeless if I don’t figure out a place to work. And now I’m in some tiny Christmas town walking with a lawyer I bonded with over a prenup.”

“So you admit we’ve bonded.”

I looked at him. “I think it was the ramen…”

We smiled at each other.

“You know, sometimes when things are falling apart, they’re actually falling into place,” he said.

I sat with that a moment. It didn’t feel like they were falling into place. I felt like they were just falling.

I looked over at him. “Don’t you miss your family, not living here?” I said, changing the subject.

He bobbed his head. “Sometimes. I miss hanging out with Nick.”

“You know, this place is actually growing on me,” I said.

He arched an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah. They totally commit to the bit. It’s clean and pretty. You’re in constant walking distance to fudge.”

We arrived at Nick’s and he opened the gate for me.

“I guess it is a little pretty. The lights.”

“Yeah. Nobody does anything for Christmas in my neighborhood. I know you say it’s boring in the offseason, but I don’t know. I bet it’s nice. Sort of peaceful. Especially if you’re with someone.”

“That makes a big difference,” he said, opening the door to the guesthouse and letting Daisy out.

“Yeah, I thought Noel would be bored here at first, but I don’t think she will. She has someone to do all the things with. Go to the movies and make dinner—”

“Sneak out of parties with.”

“I think I’m officially in the staying-in era of my life,” I said, watching the dog sniff the snow. “I did the going out thing and I’m ready to just be home with someone.”

“Me too.”

He was looking at me. It made the blush rush up my cheeks again.

William cleared his throat and checked his watch. “We have another two hours of party. Do you want to take the snowmobile back? Get there faster?”

“There’s a snowmobile?”

“It’s northern Minnesota, there’s always a snowmobile.”

“Okay. I’ve never been on one.”

He looked surprised. “Really? How is that possible?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t have snowmobile friends. I lived in the city.”

“Well, now we have to,” he said. “I can take you on a little scenic tour if you want. There’s a spot up a ways with a view of the town. It would only put us back about ten minutes.”

“Sure.”

“All right. Let’s get the gear.”