Page 36 of Snowed in with My Pucking Ex
We’re interrupted by the owner, “Hello, welcome in.” It sounds pretty standard for a greeting, but then she does a double-take, and her tone shifts completely. “Oh, Winter and Samantha! Look at you two. I swear, you should enterMiss Noel Falls Christmasthis year. I have the absolute perfect dresses for the occasion. You just let me know and they’re all yours.”
“Thanks, Sandie.” I kindly reply, knowing darn well there’s absolutely no way I’m entering to be Noel Falls’ Miss Christmas.
Samantha won’t either. I’d bet she’d rather eat cookies made with too much salt instead of sugar than enter that contest and be forced to ride in the parade on Christmas Eve, while doing her princess wave. She’s terrible at waving. There’s no way she’d pass the vibe check and would end up chunking candy canes at someone’s face. It’d get published in the paper, and then the town would vote to never let her enter another holiday contest again. It’d turn dramatic, fast, and I refuse to allow my best friend to go down in a blaze without me.
“Your hopes need to be up where Sean is concerned. You'd better expect him to fully commit, or I’m hunting him down and dying all his clothes Pepto-Bismol pink. I’ll do it, we all know how bad I am at laundry.” She whispers the threat, with a determined nod.
I shoot her a strong, wide-eyed look, attempting to silently convey that she needs to stop talking about it. Sandie is a sweet lady, but she won’t hesitate to spread some juicy news the first chance she has at the church bake sale this Sunday.
I mumble, “I’m not expecting anything. Just going with the flow.” It’s not completely the truth, but I’m sticking to it anyway until I’m proven otherwise.
Sandie blindsides me, coming out of nowhere. She holds a bright red dress with far too much mesh fluff stuff underneath the skirt, directly in front of my face. “How’s this?”
“Oh!” My hand flies to my chest as we both jump in surprise.Jesus H. Christ!The woman nearly had me slamming into Samantha. She’s like a little old holiday ninja elf.
“Where did she even come from? I nearly shat my pants!” Samatha gasps in shock from behind me, and it takes every bit of my self-control I possess to keep from bursting out laughing.
Sandie pops over to another rack before returning with two matching ugly dresses, one in holiday green, the other in dark blue. “They’d be perfect for the contest, or even a date. Surely, you’ll be at the Jingle Bell Swing?” Her excitement grows as she continues, “With a date? I heard that handsome Sean Spruce dropped your car off at the shop to get fixed, and his truck’s been seen at your family’s farm every time he’s in town.”
I back up a step as I realize I should’ve waited longer before coming in here. “Um, the Jingle Bell Swing?” How did I forget about the dance? It’s put on every year, and used to be one of my favorite activities that the village organizes.
Probably because I’ve been too worried about getting everything ready for the festival. Then, toss Sean into the mix, and suddenly, I only possess two brain cells, it seems. There’s no way I’m going to have time to make it to the dance on top of everything else.
“We’ll stop by.” I automatically agree for me and Samantha both, before I manage to shut my trap and stop over-committing myself. “But it all depends on whether I can get everything ready for the festival in time. You know Dad’s been hurt, and Mom’s busy, so that leaves me trying to prepare.”
She nods, sympathy softening her expression. “Oh, you poor sweet girl. You don’t worry yourself about the dance. I’ll have dresses in stock if you can get the time off to go; if not, I’ll bestopping by your booth at the festival. Your family’s candies are my favorite sweet treat to have in the store for my customers.”
“Thank you, Sandie, that means a lot.”
I end up grabbing one of the cute belts like Calla had on, and then I pick out a few more gifts. We pay for our purchases, and then I quickly tug my best friend outside as soon as possible. Any more time and we may be coaxed into buying dresses we don’t need. For any occasion.
“I wonder who we’ll see at the dance wearing those dresses?” She ponders as soon as we’re walking back down the sidewalk.
Laughing, I shake my head. “I don’t know, but someone will post it on social media for sure. Sandie is so sweet, but she nearly gave me a heart attack, thrusting all those sequins in my face. Then there was the mesh.”
“So. Much. Mesh.”
I nearly finish off my drink, debating stopping by Tasty Sip again for a refill. I wonder what Sean’s doing right now? Would it seem too needy if I texted him to ask how his day’s going? Probably. I suck at this relationship stuff; it’s partly why I never really try to have a full-time boyfriend. “Should I text him?” I mutter, glancing around. I wish he’d pull up right now, like he’s been randomly doing since I got into town.
“Oh my God!” Samantha shouts suddenly, making me twist toward her in a panic.
“What?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t realize this as soon as you said something, but I know what’s going on with Sean. It’s all over the news!”
I stop walking, needing her to spill everything she knows. “Wait. You do? What is it?”
“The Pines are going bankrupt. They have to trade off their most expensive players to try and recoup enough money to keepthem in the league. They were talking about it on the radio on our way here, too.”
Dad’s comments about Sean’s latest contract come back to me, reminding me that he said it was more than other players were getting. My gut tightens with apprehension, my hand clenching tighter around my shopping bags. I take a sip of my cappuccino, which usually fills me with holly jolly spirit like it’s supposed to, but this time, it just tastes like too much sugar. The realization of what this means for Sean has everything around me feeling a lot less colorful and cheery.
“Sean’s getting traded,” I quietly utter the words. My lower lip trembles, while tears start to swim across my vision at the realization of what this means. The impact hits my heart like an avalanche, making me stumble.
Samantha catches me, wrapping her arm around my back. She hugs me from the side as a quiet whimper of sadness leaves me. “I’m sorry, my friend,” she says softly, then echoes, “Sean’s getting traded.”
He’ll be too far away before we ever get a chance to have our happily ever after.
Chapter Twenty-Two
