Snowflakes and Ice Skates: A Holiday Romance Anthology (Utah Fury Hockey)

by Brittney Mulliner

  He held up the box with a smile of triumph.

  “Grab one more.”

  He did, then followed me deeper in to the store. The baking aisle had been rampaged. It looked like a war had taken place.

  “Oh no.” This was worse than I expected. There was no way we’d get everything we needed.

  He put his hand on my shoulder. I looked down at it then back up at his face. This was one of the only times he’d ever touched me. Well, without force, or in an attempt to tickle or tease me.

  “Don’t give up. Just stay focused.”

  I shook my head and looked around. He was still such a football player.

  He stayed close behind me as we shoved our way deeper into the crowd.

  “There!” I shuffled my way between two people and grabbed the white chocolate. When I turned around he was kneeling on the ground.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Found. The. Milk. Chocolate.” He bit out each word stretching until almost his entire torso was in the shelf.

  “Good.” I went further down the aisle in search of the peppermint extract. One bottle.

  I hurried and reached out for it. A hand shot out and snatched it before I got to it. “Hey.”

  The middle-aged man shrugged. “Should have been taller.”

  He turned and left while I shot daggers in his back. How dare he? He was getting coal in his stocking for sure.

  “That was messed up.” I spun and watched Vince look at the thief.

  I let out a sigh. “It’s okay. We’ll figure something else out. Let’s get out of here.”

  We headed toward the check-out which turned out to be another nightmare. We got in the line for ten items or less and I prayed it would go quickly.

  “Do you think your mom will have any extra peppermint extract?”

  I shrugged. “It’s a once a year thing, so it’s probably expired if she does.”

  He didn’t respond but pulled out his phone.

  Fine. Don’t talk to me.

  I looked around, hoping we wouldn’t run into anyone from high school. That was always so awkward.

  “I’ve found a few recipes that only use three ingredients. Do you think people will notice?”

  He’d been looking up recipes? How nice, and unlike him. I almost felt a little bad for calling him a jerk in my head. Almost.

  “I don’t think so. Thanks for finding those.”

  He smiled at me and my teenage crush reared its head. Oh no. Stay down, lady. I was just Little Harry to him. Don’t go falling in love because he smiled at you once.

  It took twenty minutes to get through the line, but we were finally on the way back to the house.

  “What can I do to help when we get there?”

  I was surprised he wanted to be involved. Going to the store was one thing, actually making this was another.

  “We need to melt the chocolate and break up the candy.”

  “I think I can handle that.” I wanted to ask him what his angle was. Why was he doing this? But I couldn’t. Mom would kill me for being rude.

  “Then it needs to chill before we pour on the white chocolate.”

  He held up his wrist and looked at his watch. “That’s going to be cutting it close.”

  I nodded. It was already five. I looked over at him and his calm smile was surprisingly reassuring.

  “We’ve got this.”

  “We do?”

  “I’m not going to leave you alone for this. We’ll get it done, and while it’s chilling you can finish getting ready. By the time you’re done it will be time for the white chocolate.”

  That would work.

  “Thanks Vince.”

  “We’ve got this.” He repeated himself, but this time I almost believed him.

  We walked through the front door weaving in and out of the crowd of people setting things up. The kitchen had been taken over by the caterers, but we moved things around so we could use the stove.

  Vince worked alongside me, finding the double boiler and setting it up without me having to ask. It was strange how easily we worked together. It was like he knew what I needed before I did. We could anticipate each other’s moves and stay out of each other’s way. Could this just be from growing up together? We could communicate without speaking in a strangely comfortable way.

  I shook the thought away. It was because we were stressed for time. We both knew how to make something this simple.

  We had the chocolate melting in record time. He broke up the candy cane and scattered it on a baking sheet.

  “I’m ready for you.”

  I paused at his words. I knew what he meant, but that stupid crush thought for a moment he really meant me. How many years had I wasted waiting for him to say that? Too many. I was past that. I’d moved on. No need to even think about the possibility of us. Plus, I had plans. Plans that didn’t involve him.

  “Right.” I gently poured the chocolate and watched as he tapped the pan, spreading it around. We repeated that on the next three trays, working in perfect synchronization.

  “Done.” He moved to the fridge with a sheet in each hand and waited.

  I slid by him, brushing against his chest with my back. He could have stepped back. He could have moved away, but he didn’t. Why didn’t he?

  I pushed away the thought and helped him arrange the trays.

  I shut the fridge door and wiped off my hands on a Christmas dish towel. “Thanks for your help.”

  When I met his eyes, I saw something in them I hadn’t seen. . . ever. Attraction? No, it was probably appreciation. He was impressed with what we’d done.

  That was it.

  I blinked and looked away. My mind was in fantasy mode. Being back home was making me act like I was young again. Young and stupid.

  Three

  Vince and I finished the treats and had them tied up with bows before the first guest arrived. Mom wanted me in the foyer, greeting people and offering to take their coats. I knew what she was really up to though. She was treating this like my welcome home party. She refused to accept that I didn’t want to stay here. This was my resting place while I figured things out. I don’t know why she thought having our neighbors and friends ask me a hundred times on repeat what my plans were was a good idea.

  It only drove me further away. I didn’t want to end up here. Not like everyone else.

  It was fine for them. There was nothing wrong with Roseville. It was beautiful. But it was my childhood. I wanted to be on my own and make my name without standing on Dad’s shoulders.

  “Harlow, sweetie, it’s so good to see you again. It’s been years.” I smiled, and air kissed our next-door neighbor, Mrs. Barker.

  “It’s good to see you, too.” It was. Her house was the best. She always had brownies or cookies fresh out of the oven waiting for me and the other neighborhood children to come over for a visit. She became a widow at a young age and never remarried. I think she liked our company as much as we liked her treats.

  “Your mother told me you’re here to stay but I told her not to hold her breath.” She winked and walked past me. At least there was one person who understood.

  I repeated this process until eight, when Mom finally let me join the rest of the party. Steven was surrounded by a group, talking animatedly with his arms waving in the air. He always was the life of the party.

  I grabbed a drink from a passing waiter and looked for someone to talk to.

  “You really can’t stand the thought of living here?”

  I turned to find Vince standing behind me. Much closer than necessary. I looked up to him. His eyes hadn’t lost the sparkle from before, but he looked a little sad.

  “No, I can’t.”

  I moved out of the way of a passing group and found a nice spot against the wall to take up residence.

  “Would it really be so horrible?”

  He was standing so close to me. Closer than he ever had before. What was going on with him?

  “It’s fine for
everyone else, but not me.”

  “Why?” He looked genuinely curious.

  I’d answered this question a dozen times already tonight. I didn’t want to go over my normal speech about making a name for myself and needing to spread my wings. That answer seemed to placate people.

  “It’s what everyone expects me to do.” I took a sip and hoped that would be enough.

  “Have you ever thought about why they do?”

  I looked up to him and paused. I guess I hadn’t. “It’s what everyone here does. No one ever leaves.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not true. Plenty of people leave.”

  I shrugged. Fine. I might be exaggerating everyone leaving. In all honesty, quite a few ended up in Chicago.

  “I think they expect you to stay because they know how much you love it here. How much this place means to you. You have no reason to get away. You have an amazing family that loves you and wants you to succeed. It’s not like you have anything to run away from.”

  He was right.

  I hadn’t thought about it like that. I was too focused on not being one of those girls. I didn’t want to stay here, marry my high school sweetheart, and live the same life as all my neighbors. I wanted something more exciting.

  But he had a point. Why was I so set on leaving? I didn’t have anything forcing me out. There were opportunities here for me. I didn’t need to live in my parents’ house. I didn’t need to get married and settle down.

  I shook my head. “Living and working in the city has been my dream since I was a little girl.”

  “Back when you wanted to be a prima ballerina.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “How did you know about that?”

  “You forget I went to almost every recital. Your parents made Steven go and since I was always with him, I was there too. It was all you cared about.”

  “I was ten.”

  “Yet your dream of running away has stayed the same.”

  I looked out at the party. I’d known most of these people my entire life. They were my teachers, my coaches, my church leaders. They loved me. They all wanted the best for me. Why did I want to leave them?

  Pride.

  That’s what it came down to. I’d set my goal and made sure the world knew. Moving back was like I’d failed. My pride wouldn’t let me do that.

  “Why are you so concerned about this?”

  He turned a few inches to face me. “Because I’ve known you almost your whole life. I’ve seen you at your best and your worst. I’ve seen you in Chicago and I’ve seen you at home. You’re happier here. You belong here. I also think that you could be just as successful here as you could in the city.”

  He’d visited me with Steven once, my first year in school. He couldn’t judge my entire life there based on that one time.

  This was too much. Too heavy. And since when did Vince pay attention to me?

  “I appreciate your input, but I’m not changing my mind.”

  I walked away from him, refusing to look back. He could share his opinion, but that didn’t mean I had to listen. He had no right to tell me how to live my life, especially not after spending years making it harder.

  Maybe Mom or Steven put him up to it?

  They all knew of my old crush on him. Maybe they thought if it came from him, I’d listen.

  Well that backfired.

  I smiled and made small talk with people I passed before making sure the food and drinks were well stocked. I went into host-mode. Never staying in one place for too long. Making sure everyone else was having a good time. When people began leaving I handed out the peppermint bark and wished them a Merry Christmas.

  And the entire time my mind was on what Vince had said. No matter how hard I tried to push it out, he’d implanted himself.

  Two days around him and I was back to obsessing over him and every word that left his perfect lips.

  Great. I thought I would have grown smarter through college. I was right back to who I was the last time I lived in this house.

  Maybe that’s why I really wanted to leave.

  I froze. Guests streamed past me, but I didn’t see them.

  Was I running away from Roseville or from Vince?

  “Harlow, are you okay?”

  I looked up and nodded to a professor Dad works with. “Yes, thank you. Merry Christmas.”

  That couldn’t be it? Could it?

  I was running from being hurt by Vince again.

  That was enough to send rage through my entire body. Who was he to run me out of my hometown? How had I let him have so much control over me? Why had I been so innocent back then? So hopeful?

  I’d been a fool, and I won’t do that again.

  During my senior year, Steven and Vince came home from school to visit and I decided it was time. It was my chance to finally tell him how I felt. I was eighteen, no longer a child and I thought I’d matured enough for him to finally see me as a woman.

  We’d all been watching a movie and Steven fell asleep. I asked Vince to go outside with me to look at the stars. I thought it was so romantic it would be impossible for him to turn me down.

  We sat on the porch and watched for shooting stars. I worked up the courage and finally told him that I was in love with him. That I always had been. I waited for seconds that felt like years for him to respond. He told me he loved me as family. I was his little sister. He gave me a hug and went back to the movie. Neither of us ever brought it up again. He acted the same around me, which was a miracle, and I forced myself to kill the crush. I had to give it up.

  But it was alive and well after just one day back.

  Four

  I managed to sleep in the next morning. I wanted to finally relax. When I got out of bed at ten I stepped into my slippers and went downstairs to find the rest of my family. Maybe today we could go sledding or shopping.

  When I got to the kitchen it was empty. There was a note on the counter telling me pancakes were waiting for me in the fridge, but everyone was out.

  Wonderful.

  What was the point of moving back here if no one was ever around? I missed them, and I thought this was the time of year when families were supposed to spend time together.

  Oh well. I heated up my breakfast and settled down in front of the TV. If I was on my own it was time for some cheesy Christmas movies.

  After the second movie ended, I was still laying on the couch in my pajamas. I had no plans of moving if I didn’t have to.

  “Hey, Harry.”

  I groaned and looked over my shoulder. Steven and Vince were walking in, wearing wet clothes.

  “Where have you two been?”

  “Mrs. Jordan down the road needed help getting a Christmas tree.”

  Steven laughed. “Yeah, we thought maybe she just needed it down from storage or maybe even need to buy one from a lot. Oh no.”

  Vince laughed harder. “No. She wanted a fresh one cut down by us.”

  I shook my head. Mrs. Jordan was an eccentric woman, to say the least. “Is that even legal.”

  Vince shrugged. “She swore it was. Told us she’d take the blame if we got in trouble.”

  “That’s reassuring.”

  Steven threw his wet coat on me and I jumped away. “How dare you!”

  “Aw you just looked a little toasty. I wanted to cool you off.”

  I glared at him then at Vince. “Don’t even think about it.”

  He smirked. “I wouldn’t.”

  Yes, he would.

  I threw the coat on the ground and wiped away any water left on the couch before resuming my position.

  “Is this what you’re doing all day?” Vince sat on the arm of the sofa and looked down at me.

  “Probably. My family has deserted me, so I might as well.”

  “We didn’t desert you. Your parents went over to your grandma’s house to help her with some errands, and we’re back now.”

  I didn’t like that he included himself as part of the family. Sure, he sp
ent more time here than at his own house growing up. Yeah, he had his own designated spot at the table. And fine, he was in most of our family pictures, but he wasn’t actually my brother.

  That would make all the feelings I have all kinds of wrong.

  “We’re still going to see the lights tonight, right?” I asked it loud enough for Steven to hear, so he’d hopefully be the one to respond.

  He plopped down on the loveseat and shook his head. “That’s a negative for me. I’ve got a date tonight with Chrissy.”

  He winked, and I groaned. “No. No dates during the holidays.”

  Steven laughed like I was a comedian. I was not joking. He finally stopped and stared at me. “It’s one night, Harlow. I’ll be around every other night.”

  Sure. That’s what he said now, but I knew better. He had a way of bailing on things that mattered.

  “Whatever. I’ll just go with Mom and Dad.”

  He frowned. “They’re actually going to Dad’s work party. The date got moved.”

  I threw a pillow in the air and let it hit me in the face. “Seriously?”

  The last thing I wanted to do was spend an entire day alone.

  “I’ll take you?”

  I opened my eyes and looked at Vince. He seemed serious. I looked at Steven and he just shrugged. “Perfect! Now I won’t feel bad about leaving either of you alone without my awesome presence.”

  I ignored my brother’s ego and faced Vince. “Are you sure?”

  He grinned. “Of course. We can get some hot chocolate on the way.”

  Great. This is what I’ve always wanted. A romantic night alone with Vince. As his little sister. A favor for my brother. A charity case.

  This. This was why I didn’t want to move home.

  I was an independent person in Chicago. I didn’t let other people affect my mood. I took charge. Made things happen. If plans fell through I had a handful of backup offers to entertain me.

  Not here.

  I was pitiful. I was a loser. The lonely little sister.

  Since I still had several hours until it would be dark enough to go, I watched another movie. Ignoring the comments from dummies one and two.

  “Why can’t we watch a classic?”