Chapter Four
Gideon
“What do you mean, sold out?”I demanded of the woman in the Santa hat—anothergoddamn Santa hat, like O’Leary had legit taken leave of its collective senses—and the ugliest red and green sweater known to man. “There’s no possible way.”
Dana, the perky middle-aged blonde who’d been managing the Crabapple for approximately forever screwed her mouth up in a frown.
“Gosh, Gideon, I don’t know what to tell you! There’s not a single room left until after the first of the year…” She giggled to herself. “No room at the inn! Just like in the Christmas story! Get it?”
“I get it.” Liam managed a half-smile.
I didn’t bother attempting one.
“Anyway,” Dana said, sobering when she saw my face. “Parker mentioned your problem to me when he was in here before, but there’s nothing I can do! The Scarlet Maple’s bogged down with winter weddings, and we’re picking up the overflow, as usual. You know, I’ve always thought it would be so romantic to be married around the holidays. Snowy landscapes, velvet dresses—”
“I dosoenjoy velvet dresses,” Hazel breathed, with what I’d swear was a British accent.
Liam rolled his eyes. I clenched my fists.
There wasn’t a damn thing funny about this situation. Seeing Liam earlier had been a shock to my senses I hadn’t recovered from. Having him here, inmytown, interacting with the people I saw on a daily basis, being handsome as hell and adorable as fuck, just prolonged the torture.
Moving to O’Leary had been my fresh start, my way of drawing a line under all the bullshit with Liam in Vegasandall the emotional souvenirs I’d brought home. It was a place untainted with memories of me being a disgusting, mopey little angst-nugget, wondering whether I could have saved my two-minute marriage by being a smarter, funnier, more cheerful, generallybetterhuman.
Now, I’d never walk intoFanailleagain without thinking of Liam’s face in that first second when he’d spotted me. Every time I walked into the fucking Crabapple, I was going to think of his hand on Hazel’s shoulder. They’d be back in Boston tomorrow, and I wouldn’t be able to stroll down Weaver Street without seeing their ghosts. And it was all Liam’s fault.
Was blaming him irrational? Probably.
Did I care?Hmm. No.
I was beginning to think Liam and my common sense couldn’t coexist in the same place at the same time, whether that place was Las Vegas or O’Leary. Life had taught me to keep my head down and my guard up, but somehow when Liam was around—both of the times Liam had been around—my brain got the two confused. When he was nearby, I couldn’t help butnoticethe man, and every twitch of his eyelashes made me weak.
Was this what kryptonite felt like?
“And then, of course, there’ll be the crowd in town for the Light Parade a week from tomorrow—” Dana continued.
“What’s a Light Parade?” Hazel asked.
Dana smiled down over the desk and her high, blonde ponytail swayed beneath her hat. “It’s a festival here in town whenallllllthe shops up and down Weaver Street are lit up for the holidays.” She stretched her arm out wide and spoke in a hushed tone. “They have displays in their windows of trees and menorahs and kinaras and diyas andallthe different kinds of holiday lights. Plus there are toy trains, and nutcrackers, and—”
“And Santa Claus?”
Dana grinned. “Of course, sweetie! And the businesses that don’t have stores all set up little booths in the church parking lot. And there’s free cocoa, and mince pies, and all the cookies you can eat—”
“Ohhhhh,” Hazel breathed. “But like, therealSanta? Or… normal humans in red hats?”
Liam caught a breath and held it, but Dana didn’t so much as hesitate.
“Well, that’s the thing, isn’t it? You never really know which is the real Santa. That’s where the magic happens.”
Hazel nodded solemnly, like Dana had spoken an essential life truth, and despite my mood, I found myself struggling not to smile. Whatever I thought about her dad, the kid was entertaining times a thousand.
“That’s gonna besoexciting,” she said.
Liam squeezed her shoulder gently. “I’m sure it will be, but we’ll be back in Massachusetts long before then. You have school, remember?”
“For only two more days until winter break! We could—”
“We couldnot,”Liam said with finality. “End of story.”
