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Chapter One
Jenna
GoingfromAtlantatoLake Lanier was always a bit of a culture shock. My brother Dean and I had been coming here since we were kids, and even though Mom and Dad were gone, it was a tradition we couldn’t bring ourselves to give up. This year, I was traveling with my best friend from school, Lexi, and Dean said he was bringing some stuffy work friend. Gag me. Finance dudes always thought they were something else and treated everyone around them like underlings.
Dean wasn’t like that, of course. He was like the diamond in the rough, a nice guy with money. He was still single, but I doubted that would last very long. Then holidays like these would be filled with his own family plans. I had to make the most of this. It could be the last time for all I knew.
I looked over to the passenger seat to see Lexi hanging her head out of the car. Her long, blonde hair was whipping in the wind and her eyes were closed as the cool winter air came in through her open window.
“Lex,” I said, “haven’t you seen that horror movie,Hereditary? Get your gorgeous head back in here. I’m not picking it up on the side of the road.”
Lexi sat up and looked at me, her girl-next-door brown eyes questioning my logic.
“I’m not gonna knock my head off,” she said, referencing the scene in the movie. “But I’ll come back in. I’m cold as shit.”
“Well, it is winter,” I said back, laughing. “You know, Christmas, hot cocoa, coats?”
Lexi rolled up her window and flipped on the heat. “At least we don’t have to worry about snow,” she said.
But as I looked at the gray skies, I secretly wondered if there was about to be a Christmas miracle,White Christmasstyle. You know, a giant snowfall right at the exact perfect time. Lexi also looked like she doubted what she’d said, and was now rummaging in her bag, eventually extracting gloves.
“Just wanted to be sure I had them,” she said. “In case of an emergency.”
“The only emergency we’re likely to have,” I said, “is running out of snacks. Why did you only pack rabbit food, Alexis?”
She giggled and pulled the cooler bag into her lap. It was filled with protein bars, fruit, veggies, and various soy chips. “I’m getting a head start on my New Year's resolution.”
I’d been envisioning a Christmas filled with cookies and spiced rum, and Lexi has been dreaming of a slimmer waistline. I’d definitely have to send Dean for better snacks. I’d start my diet after New Year’s like a normal person, thank you.
Despite the gloomy skies and the chill, the drive there was beautiful. Exactly what you’d expect a wooded lake to look like. It was like every fallen leaf and naked tree was placed by a landscaper for maximum effect.
“I can’t believe you’d rather hang out with me and my brother than with your family,” I said.
“They’re just so loud sometimes,” Lexi replied. “It will be nice for once to have a quiet little Christmas and just enjoy the season. Plus, you know adult beverages aren’t allowed in my parents’ house because I have stupid teenage brothers. So at least I can have a drink or two with you guys.”
I laughed and shook my head. For a nursing student, Lexi Marin sure did love a drink. Never in excess of course, but if you were looking for someone to go out with on a Tuesday, she was your girl.
Lexi’s phone went off, and I realized it had been doing that a lot the last hour.
“Who in the world are you texting?” I asked. “You’re gonna lose signal here soon.”
“Noneya!” she said, turning so I couldn’t see her screen. “Just a dumb summer fling.”
“Lexi, you don't have summer flings.”
She shrugged and texted back whoever it was furiously, then shoved her phone in her pocket, smiling suspiciously.
“Just a summer fling, huh?” I said, grinning. “I’ll get it out of you before this trip is over, mark my words.”
Lexi mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key. I rolled my eyes and pushed my shoulder into hers playfully.
Before I knew it, we were pulling into the long driveway, gravel outlined with cut logs. The trees had been cleared to give a gorgeous view of the cabin, and as soon as I saw it, I felt ten years old again.
Dean and his friend were obviously not there yet, which was perfect for me because that meant Lexi and I got first dibs on bedrooms. I knew exactly which one I wanted because it had the newest mattress and an ensuite bathroom. It was the one my parents had always slept in and I’d coveted it since I could remember.
The cabin itself was as picturesque as the drive up here. Nestled neatly against Lake Lanier, the landscaping was clearly the pride and joy of the owners. Equipped with an outdoor firepit and a hot tub, this promised to be one of the best Christmases of my life.
As long as I could avoid Dean’s stuffy friend.
