AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Jury's still out on that one. I barely know you.”
They both laughed, the sound mingling with Christmas music playing from outdoor speakers on a nearby house. For a moment, they just walked along, basking in the festive atmosphere and the easy camaraderie between them.
"You know," Tommy said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I bet I could give Kevin a run for his money with my pranks."
Grace raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"
"Maybe it is. You better watch your back."
"Oh, okay, so now it’s athreat,” she exclaimed. “Whatever, you watch your back. I'm gonna booby trap my room at the inn.”
“Lot of good that would do you,” Tommy said as he leaned in, bumping her shoulder with his. “Unless, of course, there’s some reason I would be in your room.”
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the festive lights around them seemed to shine even brighter, reflecting the undeniable chemistry that sizzled in the air.
But then she narrowed her eyes as if reconsidering an actual battle plan. “Good point. I’ll booby trap the downstairs instead.”
“Eh, I liked the other plan better, but suit yourself.”
She laughed as they continued on, coming up to the end of the street and closer to the square. Tommy was fully aware that they were nearing the inn, and that meant their night would end. He hoped she liked to walk slow, because he definitely planned on it.
"So, this place," Tommy began, gesturing towards an old, brick building with a bright red door, "is where the Snow Hill pie-eating contest happens. They do it in the summer, so I got to be there right after I moved here. Legend has it, a guy once ate twelve whole pies. I'm still not sure if that's impressive or terrifying."
Grace’s eyes twinkled under the streetlights. "Twelve pies? That's... something. I guess every town has its heroes."
"Yep, only… our heroes wear giant bibs and have an iron stomach."
Grinning, they paused near the town's iconic Christmas tree, its lights twinkling merrily.
Grace looked up at it, her face illuminated by the soft light. "This town, I swear. I’ve been to a lot of places, but never anywhere that promises Christmas magic and actually delivers."
"Bet you’ve seen a lot of cool stuff, but is Snow Hill gonna be your new favorite?"
“Hah. I don’t bother with picking favorites. If I did, I’d be changing my mind every time I fell in love with a new place. But it’s fine, the world’s too big to commit to one favorite place."
Her words strucka chord in Tommy. Despite their chemistry, their paths were so different. She would forever be in search of the next adventure, he was sure. But as for him? He’d had enough adventure between the army and his time in Philly. He was here to settle, not simply pass through.
"So, Snow Hill is just a stopover, huh?" he asked, needing confirmation.
Grace smiled softly. "Maybe. But it's a beautiful stopover."
Tommy returned her smile, but unless he wanted to call off this doomed date, he needed to steer the conversation in another direction. "I’ve heard this tree is a big deal around here. Every Christmas, the whole town comes out to light it up.”
“Aw, I love that. This town has roots for days.”
“Yep. People here… they build lives, families. I’m glad to be here."
Grace nodded, her gaze lingering on the tree before turning back to Tommy. “It seems like a great place to live.”
The air between them was thick with unspoken understanding. Sure, she could appreciate Snow Hill’s vibe… but that didn’t mean she wanted this life for herself.
Tommy reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Grace's face, the contact sending a jolt through him. "We're quite the pair, huh?”
Grace gave him a teasing grin. "Yeah, the wanderer and the homebody."
"Sounds like the start of a cheesy joke. 'A wanderer and a homebody walk into a bar...'"
"...and realize they're in two totally different stories," Grace finished, her voice tinged with a mix of humor and something deeper.
