I stop and turn toward the voice. I spot her a few feet away, waving. Her bright smile does funny things to my stomach. She rushes toward me and wraps her arms around my waist, giving me a squeeze.
“I was half afraid I’d dreamt you up.”
“You were?”
She nods. “Are you ready to see the lights? I’ve missed doing this every year while I was away. When I got to come back to visit, there was never enough time.” She glances up at me with the expression I’ve come to think of as smiling eyes.
“This year marks fifty-eight years of Peddler’s Village.”
“Wow. That’s pretty impressive. I imagine they’ve added quite a few more lights since the original.” She holds out her hand. “Should we start exploring?”
“Yes.” I take her hand cautiously. She holds on tight, and I relax. The trees are wound with lights in different designs. From vertical wrap designs that make them resemble a candy cane to the more unique arrangement, the lights look like they’re growing up from the bark.
“Oh, we’re coming up on one of my favorite places. The gazebo.” The tiny white structure is covered in white lights. Red ribbons run down the poles like a candy cane. “I always thought this was a place where you could make wishes, and they’d come true. I had a lot of imagination growing up.”
“Did it work?”
&nb
sp; Her smile fades. “I thought so once.”
“Why did you change your mind?” I want to know everything about her.
“Life showed me differently.”
We step inside of the gazebo. I tilt my head back, taking in the more detailed decorations. Pine branches have been woven through the rafters, and in the very center, a sprig of mistletoe dangles down. I guess how much time it would take each year to set up the displays.
“How was your Christmas?” she asks.
I grimace. “Uncomfortable.”
“Oh, no. Why?” She squeezes my hand and releases. Warmth flows through me.
“I expected it to be small, with just my mother and father. We ended up having extended guests I wasn’t informed about. I’m not a fan of surprises. My mother tried to set me up with a date for our New Year’s Eve party. I told her I would bring you.” I can’t stop the flow of words spilling from my lips. I know I’m oversharing.
She gasps. “You told them about me?”
“Yes. That we were dating. I won’t hide you or spend all night with someone I have no interest in when I could be with you. Do you want to go to the New Year’s Eve party with me?”
A tinge of pink appears on her cheeks. “Yes. I-I told my family about you, too.”
“It’s fancy.”
She laughs. “That’s okay. It’ll be nice to dress up and have someone to kiss at midnight. You will kiss me at midnight, won’t you?” Her lip curves up into a secret smile, and her eyes hold an expression I can’t place.
I cup her face, letting the warmth chase away the winter chill as I bend down to capture her tempting pink pout. My lips graze hers. They part like petals in the sun, eager for more. “We’ll see. I don’t like to share, and anyone else seeing you like this ...” I run my thumb over her trembling lip. “The pleasure we bring each other is ours alone.”
Thwap. A blow forces me back. Thwap. I glance down and spot another frozen sphere headed my way. It explodes, showering me with icy white powder.
Delta raises her hand to protect her face as she laughs. “We can’t let them get away with this, Sam.” She takes off after the two teenage boys dressed in all black.
Giving chase, I pause to gather two handfuls of snow. Packing it tightly as I run, I pull back my arm and aim. The snowball sails and hits its mark.
“Ouch!” A snowball flies past, hitting his accomplice.
Delta giggles and squats down, making more. “Come on, we have to be ready to counter an attack.”
The boys stand their ground and begin to stock their own arsenal. Joining Delta, I feverishly make round missiles to launch at the surprise attackers. We battle until our hands are numb.