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Chapter One
Carter
This was a bad idea.
The last thing I should do is stop at the town’s Christmas Festival and Market. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my body from my last workout with the team before the holiday break. It’s not so much a break but a brief pause to see family before we’re out on the road again.
Being a professional hockey player has always been my dream. One I am grateful to be living everyday. But damn was I looking forward to just chillin’ at home with my dogs and drinking all the hot chocolate I wanted while watching every cheesy holiday movie my streaming services offered. Pure bliss.
I traveled back to Toronto with a couple of my close teammates but said goodbye to them at the airport. Both Dylan and Keyvan live in the city, whereas I live in a tiny town two hours north–the same town I grew up in. I loved coming home.
Some people made a big fuss about me returning and wanted to hear everything about my year and how the Vancouver Vikings are doing. Others simply smile and wave, acknowledging me but giving me my space. The pandemonium usually dies down in a couple of days, and I’m left alone.
There’s only one person in town besides my family who doesn’t give two craps about me being an NHL player. And, stupidly, she’s the only person whose admiration I truly want.
Damn it, this truly was a bad idea.
My fingers tap randomly on the wheel as I debate with myself. Ishouldturn towards home at the next light. Iwillturn right towards home at the next light.
I turn left. The opposite direction any rational person would take.
I’ve come this far, I reason with myself,might as well pop in and see what’s up.I’ve been tried before, pushed myself past my comfort zone so many times I’ve lost count. This is fine. Everything is fine. I’ll pop into the market, take in the sights and then head home to my girls.
Plus, if anyone in my family asks me why I stopped, I can make the excuse of checking in on Gigi, my youngest sister. She’s helping out at the hot chocolate booth this year–a huge win for me–and I won’t have a chance to see her until Christmas Day if I don’t stop here tonight.
Turning into the parking lot off Chestnut Avenue, I park in the first spot I find. Light fluffy snow is starting to cover the lot, and it looks like a busy night even with a pending storm. Though, we have hours before the worst of it is supposed to hit our area.
Sweet baby Jesus, I just realized that there are two things here at the market I’m addicted to. Both I’ve loved since childhood. The sad truth is that only the hot beverage knew my undying obsession, not the woman whose sharp tongue keeps me up at night. God, that sounds sad.
I’m not thrilled with the fact that my childhood best friend’s little sister, Penny Bassouni, hates my guts, but it isn’t the worst thing in the world. Indifference would be the worst. At least with her hating me, it means she is thinking about me. Thatsheobsesses over just how to ignore me or thinks about the things that would get under my skin. She may not like me, but she likes to irk me.
And honestly, I’m betting on the line between love and hate being very thin.
After seeing my sister, I’m going to see what Penny is up to. Last time I talked to Noah, he mentioned Penny had joined the bell ensemble group his wife is a part of. It sounds ridiculous—a bell ringing group, really?—but I’m open to new experiences. If anything, it’s something new to tease her delicately about.
Yet maybe, just maybe, tonight will be a bit different. Maybe the twinkle lights can hit me at just the right angle that suddenly Penny sees me in a new and more devastatingly handsome light.
I snort. Yeah, right. Unless Christmas miracles are a real thing.
Whatever. No. I’m not going to let myself think like that. Not right now away. ‘Tis the season to eat and drink your heart out, not pine for something that’s within reach but you keep telling yourself to wait.
Because believe it or not, I’m waiting for the right time to show Penny my true feelings. I can jest and joke with the best of them, but I’m ready for our banter to turn into something more.
Running a glove covered hand over my jaw, I snap myself out of these downer thoughts. I’m at a magical holiday market, for crying out loud, about to indulge in the best drink ever created. This is no time to dwell. It’s a time to celebrate.
Pulling my beanie down lower and adjusting my scarf so it covers a bit of my face, I slide out of the car. The bracing cold makes me lose my breath for a second, but it also makes me feel alive. I love the cold.
Shoving my hands in my pockets because I forgot my gloves like an idiot, I duck my head and try not to make eye contact with too many people. I know I won’t get a lot of fanfare here, but I still want to play it safe tonight. I’m here to see my sister and possibly Penny.
“Happy Holidays,” a group of elves sings at me as soon as I’m through the decorated archway. I give them a nod and a tight smile as I make my way down the cobblestone path covered in sand to help melt the falling snow. I’m a man on a mission, and I will not stop for anything.
The pathway is lit up with multi-colored lights and Christmas songs are blasting from every other booth I pass. The crowd isn’t too heavy, but there are still more people around me than I usually prefer. The path opens up to a small snow-covered park, dotted with food and drink vendors.
“Hey! Carter! Welcome home, man,” someone calls from a booth. I give him a wave as I keep moving. He doesn’t look offended as he smiles and gets back to work.
I instantly spot the booth my sister is working at, and my feet move a little quicker. My name is called again in greeting, but I don’t stop. Gigi is handing a steaming paper cup to a customer when she spots me over their shoulder. The smile she is giving the happy customer turns into a knowing smirk.
Shit. She isn’t falling for it. My sham is over before it began. With just one look, my sister knows why I ventured out tonight.
