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“What did you mean by you “usually” get your tree from Snowy Springs General?”
“I decided not to do one this year. Save some money.”
“Why?”
“Cause it’s just Rip and I. We normally go to my parents for all holiday festivities. Didn’t seem practical. Besides, I never put any ornaments on, just lights.”
Anna Beth frowned. “Why no ornaments?”
“My mom has all the ones from when I was a kid, and it’s not something I shop for on my own. I think tree decorating is more of a family thing. Or a couples.”
Anna Beth thought about the box of ornaments she’d asked her aunt to find. They didn’t belong with her aunt’s expensive glass ornaments. Maybe she should buy one of those three-foot-tall ones in a pot and set it up in her room.
It suddenly sounded like a lot of effort and she understood Jared’s point.
When they reached the crest of the hill, Anna Beth swallowed, all the elation melting away. The hill was clear for the most part, but towards the bottom, trees sporadically grew with only a few feet between them. Everyone she’d grown up with had gone down Slaughter Hill at least once and lived to tell the tale, but it still scared the hell out of her.
“This is nuts.”
“Come on, selfie time,” Jared said.
Anna Beth laughed as he pressed his cheek to hers and held the camera up.
“Say, danger!” He snapped the pic and showed it to her. “See? You barely look terrified.”
“You are so not funny.”
“I’m hilarious.” Jared set the sled down and got on the back. He pulled the gloves he’d brought her out of his pocket and held them up to her. “Put these on, sit your ass down and let’s go.”
Anna Beth pulled the gloved on and then, slowly climbed onto the sled with her feet on either side. Jared’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against him, her butt cradled in his crotch.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“If I yell, 'bail,' roll off.”
“Seriously?”
“Yep. Pick your feet up.”
“Oh, God.”
“One.”
The trees suddenly looked much closer together. “Jared…”
“Two.”
“I don’t--”
Jared pushed off before three, both his arms going around her body. Anna Beth screamed as the wind whipped her face, snow flying around them as they rushed down the hill. She heard Rip barking, but couldn’t see him.
“Lean right,” Jared said.
Anna Beth leaned and they glided past a tree. Exhilaration seized her and she squealed with laughter.
“Not so bad, right?”
