Page 59 of Never Sleigh Never
From behind the podium, I stare out at the crowd gathered in front of the not-quite-sad eleven and a half-foot Christmas tree. Okay, fine—maybe it was sad until Dad helped me jack it up another foot and a half. I even added extra Christmas presents underneath so the tree appears taller and bustling with extra holiday joy. It wasn’t my first choice, but damn, I’m proud. The crowd is a sea of Santa hats, elf ears, and reindeer antlers. Mount Holly does not do Christmas halfway. Generations of townsfolk smile back at me like they’ve been waiting all year for this moment. I know I have. A thwack rolls over the crowd as I tap the microphone. Everyone quiets, giving me their undivided attention.
“Thank you for coming. The tree lighting is my favorite part of the Holly Jolly Festival. It kicks off the entire Christmas season. We have fun games, activities, vendors, and contests. New this year is the Holly Jolly Ice Rink. Every night, we’ll have open skating for everyone to enjoy.”
Cheers ripple through the crowd.
“And of course,” I continue, “our local businesses came through with some amazing prizes.”
“You can win one of my brand-new, super-duper power shovels. Only available at Holly Hammer Hardware!” my dad yells from the crowd.
The audience erupts with laughter and applause. I shake my head. “Thanks, Dad. Who doesn’t need a super-duper power shovel?”
I gesture Vanna-White-style at the tree. “Big thanks to Henry and Reindeer Ridge for this beauty.”
An applause rolls over the audience.
Near the back of the crowd, I spot Josie’s head towering over everyone else. My gaze drifts down to the shoulders she’s sitting on. Logan’s staring back at me with a wide smile on his face. Even in the cold, my cheeks warm. Lauren clears her throat, getting my attention. She points to the tree. “Oh. Right. Let’s kick off the Holly Jolly Festival! You ready?”
The entire crowd joins in the countdown. “Five! Four! Three! Two! One!”
I flip the oversized fake switch as Lauren hits the real one, and the tree explodes with red, blue, green, and white twinkling lights. The star blazes at the top, fireworks crack overhead, and for a second, I can’t breathe. It’s perfect. It’s everything. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll land this promotion. I scan the area where Logan was, but he’s not there. Maybe it wasn’t him after all.
Lauren murmurs, “Oh, it’s beautiful.”
“Yeah,” I manage. But my chest is too tight to mean just the tree.
When you’ve convinced yourself of one thing for so many years, you become conflicted when you realize it was a lie. That’s my situation with Logan. I’ve spent years cultivating my Logan Crawford Hate Club membership. But lately? My card has been revoked. When he’s not around, I miss the bickering. When he is around, I can’t decide if I want to argue or kiss him. Night after night, I replay the almost-kiss in the snowbank and every time I regret it didn’t happen.
The next morning, I wake up tangled in thoughts of Logan. Again. I’d bet all my Christmas ornaments he was at the tree lighting. But why? He’s got his own carnival kickoff. Which I’m sure will be big, extravagant, and over the top because Logan knows nothing different. Unless he was there to steal my ideas. Obviously, I can’t ask anyone if he was there; that would insinuate I’m thinking of Logan in more than an I-don’t-hate-you kind of way.
At the festival grounds, the crowd is… underwhelming. Sure there are a few families, young and old, wandering around, enjoying cookies, and hot chocolate. While others play games to win stuffed Santas and snowmen. But it’s only one-fourth of Mount Holly, tops. My stomach knots.
“Brie! Brie!” Lauren jogs toward me, flushed. “Sorry I’m late. Traffic was insane near Snowflake Lane.”
My brows furrow. “Traffic?”
She nods. “I saw a sign about a hockey tournament.”
Damn. I know where everyone in town is. I pull out my phone and send a message to Willa.
Brie
What are you doing?”
Willa
Closing down the diner. Town is empty.
Brie
Hockey tournament. Want to check it out?
Willa
Oh, that’s right. I totally forgot. That explains the lack of customers. I never expected you to go to a Logan Crawford event voluntarily.
Brie
All our friends are playing. I want to be supportive.
