AllFreeNovel
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Time stops. It’s just him and I. Young and naïve. Thinking nothing will ever get in our way. Two kids in love and unstoppable. We were going to run away and live our very own happily ever after.
Until one day, we weren’t.
Choices were made. Regrets happened.
And in a blink, our love was a ghost.
I fight my way back from the emotions of the past and wipe at my face. “I actually don’t like sweets anymore. I’m a total salt fiend now. Can’t get enough.”
God, why do I always divert? Why can’t I just say, yes, I love sugar? Just like I did when we were kids. When you would sneak me candy bars when I was grounded. When I got my tonsils out, and you spoon-fed me Frosties. When we did that thing with whipped cream while my parents were out at a movie.
Ugh!
Why is he here? Doing all this nice stuff for my family when he’s supposed to hate me. Why is he inserting himself back into my life when all he wanted to do was get away from me?
The mood in the room changes. My mind switches from remembering whipped cream on my boobs to the horrid words we spat before he walked out on me. It was the last time I saw him. Until yesterday.
Liam’s eyes darken, his mood also changing as the past creeps back in. As if we’re having the same thoughts. Silently having the same argument. And in our heads, we’re loud and angry.
Mom clearing her throat snaps us out of whatever alternative universe we were trapped in. “We should really get these pies in the car. The tree lighting ceremony starts in a few hours.”
I clap my hands together to avoid more interaction with Liam, turn around, and walk into the kitchen. And then I don’t stop. I walk right out the back door. Forgoing boots, shoes, and all, I step up onto the ledge of the deck and body dive into a large mound of snow. The second the snow slams into my body, I hiss in agony. Definitely a lot colder than I imagined. But even the sharpness of the cold snow doesn’t cool down the burning sensation in my chest.
I should have never come home.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Mom asks me for the millionth time. Why is everyone so worried about me?
“Yes, Mom. Totally fine.” Everyone keeps acting like it’s not normal to jump in a pile of snow, barely clothed and without shoes. “I’m just tired. I have a lot on my mind. But I’m fine. I promise.”
Mom’s sigh gets me every time. “I wish you didn’t work so hard. Do you miss Vincent? I told you he’s welcome to stay with us. Maybe you should call him—”
“No. It’s not that. I’ll be fine. Let’s just drop it and enjoy tonight, okay?” She wants to pry, to ask more, but she holds her tongue and nods. Taking my hand, she walks with me through the town square. Willow Falls starts the Holiday celebration as soon as the dishes are cleared on Thanksgiving, but tonight is the annual tree lighting ceremony. Not a single person misses out. Streets have been blocked off, and food trucks line the sidewalks, serving everything from cotton candy to funnel cakes to any fried food you can think of. Mr. Gibson, our annual Santa, walks around, waving at the littles with his wife, Mrs. Claus, by his side. The carolers are in full effect, singing holiday cheer. Even the most humbug spirit finds warmth and happiness tonight.
My parents get stopped by a neighbor, and I catch Kelly Anne waving at me. I tell them I’ll meet up with them before the lighting ceremony.
“Hey! How you doin’?”
“I’m fine. God, why does everyone keep asking me that?”
She puts her hands up in surrender. “Whoa. Just asking. It’s not every day someone starts mumbling under their breath like a madwoman, then walks off, and Olympic dives into a sketchy pile of snow. Any chance you already knew it was deep enough that you wouldn’t become part of the ground when you took that plunge?”
The freezing cold snow smacking me in the face jump-started my brain, and I ended up just as confused by my actions. “Of course I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have done it.” I definitely did not.
“Hmmm, you look like you did that one time in high school when I asked you if you went down on Liam, and you totally lied because you were too embarrassed to admit it.”
“Because I didn’t.”
“You admitted it three days later—”
“Whatever! Just let’s forget that. I already have. Hey, Mr. Garrison still hand out spiked hot cocoa?”
Kelly Anne scoffs. “Duh. It’s like his one job during the holidays.”
“Good. I need a few.”
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved Christmas. The smells of cinnamon and pine lingering in the air, sugar pouring through the doors of the candy shop. Even Dad’s hardware store has the most enticing aroma of maple bourbon potpourri.
