The snow crunches under my boots as I hurry down Wintervale’s main street. Max tugs at his leash, his golden fur dusted with flakes, and I’m half-wishing I hadn’t ventured out. The fairy lights strung between the old brick buildings sparkle against the darkening sky, but I barely notice. Christmas has always been bittersweet, but this year, it feels downright hollow.
This was supposed to be a fresh start. Moving to Wintervale was my way of escaping—from the city, from memories that hurt too much, from the idea that love always leads to loss. But it seems I’ve brought the weight of my past with me. Max gives a sharp bark, jolting me from my thoughts, and I look up just in time to see him dart into a shop. I’m still fumbling with his leash when I hear the sickening crash of shattering glass.
My stomach sinks as I step inside, greeted by the sight of Max sitting proudly amid a mess of broken ornaments. “I’m so sorry!” I blurt out, pulling him back by the collar. He wags his tail, completely unbothered, while my face burns with embarrassment.
“Don’t worry about it,” says a deep voice, calm and warm. A man crouches by the display, picking up the shards. When he looks up, I’m struck by his eyes—a rich, chocolate brown, intense yet soft at the same time. His dark hair falls just slightly over his forehead, and there’s a dusting of stubble along his jaw. He’s handsome in a way that feels effortless, like he doesn’t even know it.
“Looks like Max here has a knack for making an entrance,” he adds, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.
I manage a laugh, though my nerves are still jangling. “He’s more of a wrecking ball than a dog. Please, let me pay for the damage.”
He waves a hand dismissively, brushing shards into a dustpan. “It’s fine. Consider it a welcome-to-Wintervale gift.”
“How did you know I’m new here?”
He straightens, leaning lightly on the broom handle. “Small town. News travels fast. I’m Nick, by the way.”
“Holly,” I say, holding Max’s leash a little tighter as he attempts to sniff Nick’s boots. “And this troublemaker is Max.”
Nick crouches again, letting Max sniff his hand before giving him a scratch behind the ears. “Tell you what,” he says, standing and flashing that smile again, “I’m decorating the tree tonight. Could use some company. Max can supervise.”
I hesitate. It’s been so long since I’ve said yes to anything spontaneous, let alone anything involving people. But something about Nick’s easy confidence makes me want to try. Before I can second-guess myself, I nod.
The smell of pine greets me as I step back into Nick’s shop that evening. A towering Christmas tree dominates the corner, its branches bare except for a few twinkling lights. Nick is balancing on a ladder, his rolled-up sleeves revealing strong forearms as he strings garlands. The image is so picturesque it feels like a scene from one of my mother’s favorite Christmas movies.
“Could use a hand,” he calls, laughing as the garland slips from his grasp.
I set Max’s leash down and join him, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach. Nick hands me a box of ornaments, his fingers brushing mine briefly. “You okay?” he asks, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that makes me feel seen in a way I haven’t in years.
I nod quickly, focusing on the ornaments. They’re beautiful—tiny sleds, sparkling snowflakes, even a grinning reindeer. “Did you pick these out yourself?”
“Most of them,” he says, his smile softening. “My mom started the shop. I’ve kept it going since she passed.”
The admission catches me off guard. There’s a vulnerability in his tone that makes my chest ache. “She must have been proud,” I say quietly.
Nick’s gaze lingers on me for a moment too long, and I look away, busying myself with an ornament. “I hope so,” he murmurs.
As we work, the shop door swings open, and a woman steps in. She’s striking, with chestnut hair and a confident stride that immediately makes me feel out of place. She walks straight to Nick, placing a hand on his arm. “Nick, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
My stomach twists. Of course someone like Nick would have someone like her. I step back, suddenly feeling like an intruder.
“Rebecca,” Nick says, his tone polite but guarded. “What brings you here?”
She flashes a dazzling smile. “Oh, I just thought we might firm up plans for the Snowflake Ball. You know how everyone’s expecting us to make an entrance.”
Nick hesitates, his jaw tightening slightly. “I… haven’t decided yet.”
Rebecca’s smile falters just enough to notice, but she recovers quickly, her gaze flicking to me. Her eyes travel over me, pausing on my coat and scarf with a faint, dismissive smirk. “I see. Well, I’ll let you get back to… whatever this is.” Her tone is overly sweet, the kind that feels like sugar-coated steel.
The air feels thick as she turns and walks out, her perfume lingering long after she’s gone. I busy myself with another ornament, my thoughts racing. Was she his girlfriend? An ex? Either way, the tension between them was impossible to ignore.
Nick doesn’t elaborate, and I don’t ask. But as we finish decorating the tree, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m intruding on something I’ll never understand.
That evening, I take Max for a walk through the quiet, snow-covered park. The cold air nips at my cheeks, and I try to push thoughts of Nick and Rebecca from my mind. But the sound of crunching footsteps behind me makes my heart lurch. I spin around, Max barking furiously at the two men approaching. One steps closer, his voice low and threatening. “Hand over your bag.”
Panic grips me, and I clutch Max’s leash tighter, but before I can react, a new set of footsteps pounds through the snow. “Hey! Get away from her!” Nick’s voice booms, and the men hesitate just long enough to see his towering frame running toward them. Without a word, they take off into the night.
I’m trembling, adrenaline surging through me as Nick reaches my side. “Are you okay?” he asks, his hands lightly gripping my arms as he looks me over.
I nod, though my voice shakes. “I think so.”
“Come on,” he says gently. “Let’s get you somewhere warm.”
At the small café on Main Street, Nick orders us both hot cocoa and doesn’t leave my side. The warmth of the drink calms my frayed nerves, but my thoughts are still spinning. Nick’s hand brushes mine on the table, and I look up, finding his gaze locked on me. It’s a moment suspended in time, and for a heartbeat, I forget everything else.
Just then, Rebecca sweeps into the café, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Her eyes dart between us, narrowing ever so slightly when they settle on me. With a practiced smile, she throws her arms around Nick.
“Nick! I’ve been calling you! My kitchen sink is a disaster. It’s leaking everywhere, and I can’t sleep with that awful dripping sound,” she says, her voice dripping with urgency. Her gaze flicks to me again, her lips curling into something that’s not quite a smile. “Oh, I didn’t mean to interrupt… whatever this is.”
Nick hesitates, his jaw tightening, and for a fleeting moment, I think he might stay. But then he sighs. “Let me walk Holly home first.”
I wave them off, forcing a smile. “It’s fine. I’ll manage.”
Rebecca’s smile widens as she loops her arm through his. “You’re always such a gentleman, Nick.”
As they leave, a lump forms in my throat. The spark I thought I saw between us feels like it’s been extinguished. I stand, numb, and gather Max’s leash, the cold night air stinging my cheeks as I step outside.
Rebecca’s smile widens as she loops her arm through his. “You’re always such a gentleman, Nick.”
As they leave, a lump forms in my throat. The spark I thought I saw between us feels like it’s been extinguished. I stand, numb, and gather Max’s leash, the cold night air stinging my cheeks as I step outside.
Days pass, and I don’t see Nick. My thoughts churn, replaying every moment between us, every smile, every touch, every time his gaze lingered a little too long. But it all feels meaningless when I remember Rebecca.
When Winterfest arrives, the town square is alive with music, laughter, and the smell of roasted chestnuts. I wander through the crowd, secretly hoping to see Nick, though I tell myself I shouldn’t care. The giant Ferris wheel sparkles with lights, and I decide to ride it alone, needing a moment to clear my head.
As I stand in line, I hear his voice. “Holly.”
I turn to find Nick behind me, his hands shoved into his coat pockets, a small smile playing on his lips. “Mind if I join you?”
My heart flutters, but I manage a nod. “Sure.”
In the Ferris wheel car, the city unfolds below us, a sea of twinkling lights against the snow. “It’s beautiful up here,” I say, my breath fogging the glass.
Nick doesn’t answer right away, and when I glance at him, I find him watching me, not the view. “How did it go with Rebecca’s sink?” I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop myself.
He chuckles softly. “Fixed. And while I was there, I told her we need to stop this charade. She’s been clinging to something that isn’t there anymore. We dated in high school, but it was a long time ago. I’ve tried to let her down gently, but last night, I finally made it clear.”
Relief floods through me, but I keep my tone neutral. “That sounds complicated.”
“It was. But not anymore.” His voice is steady, and there’s a certainty in his gaze that sends warmth through me.
The silence stretches, charged with something electric. I glance out at the dazzling lights of Wintervale. “It really is beautiful up here,” I say.
Nick’s gaze doesn’t leave my face. “The most beautiful thing up here is sitting right next to me,” he says softly.
My breath catches, my heart pounding as he leans closer. “May I?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nod, and his lips meet mine in a kiss that feels like the start of something I’ve been waiting for my whole life.
Epilogue
Months later, Wintervale blossoms into spring, but the magic of that Christmas lingers. Nick and I walk hand in hand through the town, Max trotting happily beside us. My illustrations now hang in his shop, and his laughter fills the spaces that used to feel empty.
Love, I’ve learned, isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about letting someone in despite the risks. And sometimes, the best gifts aren’t wrapped under the tree—they’re found in the people who make you believe in magic again.
