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“It’s a very important food group.”
Nash nods, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “I’ve got some chocolate. Is there anything else you want? Any idea what you want to do this afternoon?”
I hum thoughtfully. “Have you ever seen When Harry Met Sally?”
“No.”
“What about The Holiday?”
“No.”
“Pretty Woman?”
“No.”
“You’ve Got Mail?”
“Yes.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Really?”
“No.”
I snort and even Nash cracks a smile.
“Well,” I say, “that’s our afternoon figured out then. I’m going to introduce you to the beauty of romcoms.”
Nash nods. “Sounds good. But first, let’s go get that chocolate.”
6
Nash
It’s nearly nine by the time we get in my truck, ready to go to the New Year’s Party. I never thought I’d spend a whole day watching romcoms and eating chocolate, but with Ava by my side, it was pretty special. Though I have to say, watching movie after movie of people falling in love and kissing with the perfect woman sitting beside me wasn’t easy. I had to practically sit on my damn hands to stop myself reaching for her.
Once we’ve left the house, we drive to the vacation cabin first, so that Ava can check in on Dinah and give her some food. Then we finally drive down the mountain toward Winterdale. The New Year’s Party is an event that the town holds every year, but I haven’t been for a hell of a long time. Still, if it will make Ava happy, then it’s worth it.
Winterdale is all lit up, glowing against the dark night sky as we reach the town. Even a grump like me can see that it’s pretty.
“It’s beautiful!” Ava cries excitedly as I pull into the allocated parking lot. She jumps out of the truck impatiently, and I chuckle to myself as I follow her out of the parking lot and toward the quaint old marketplace. I can already hear the thump of live music, and the smell of hotdogs and burgers fills the air. The square is filled with food trucks and various vendor booths, along with a bandstand where a woman is crooning festive tunes. People mill around everywhere, the hum of chatter and laughter filling the air. A section of the square in front of the bandstand has been turned into a makeshift dancefloor, and couples are twirling each other around gleefully in time with the music. A giant screen displaying a countdown sits next to the bandstand, showing that there are only two hours and forty-eight minutes until the New Year begins.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” Ava says, beaming beside me as she takes in our surroundings. “This looks like the perfect way to bring in the New Year. Look, they’re even serving champagne over there!” Her smile falters a little as she looks toward the giant fir tree that stands at the edge of the square. “Huh. I wonder why they took all the Christmas decorations off the tree already.”
I follow her gaze. “That’s the wishing tree. They need it to be bare for tonight.”
Ava looks at me. “The wishing tree?”
“It’s an old Winterdale tradition,” I explain. “Every New Year’s Eve, you have to write your wishes for the new year on a tag and hang it off one of the tree branches. The tree is meant to grant your wish.”
“Really?” Ava says thoughtfully, her eyes shining. “That’s so cute! We can do that later. Come on, let’s go and get something to eat. Those hot dogs are making my mouth water!”
I follow behind Ava, letting her lead me wherever she wants to go. Seeing her so happy and excited is enough to help me loosen up a little, and after a couple of hot dogs and a few glasses of champagne, I even start to have fun.
Fun. Shit, it’s been so long that I’m amazed I remember what fun even feels like.
“Oh, there’s one of those duck pond things!” Ava says. “Where you have to fish them out with the pole. Look!”
We laugh together as we hook our plastic ducks—and Ava is delighted when she wins an oversized teddy bear with a red bow around its neck.
