my parents chat with the mayor while I immediately grab a cup and add extra marshmallows. I blow on it for a moment, then just as I take a sip, Cole comes into view.
Our eyes meet, and he flashes a smile. I wave him over.
“Fancy seeing you again.” He smirks, shoving his hands in his pockets. I stare at him in his thick coat and beanie, looking as good as ever. His green eyes gleam when they meet mine, and I’m in awe by how good he looks.
“Right.” I chuckle. “Wanna walk around a bit and chat?”
Different activities are set up for the kids and even a trail full of light displays for people to enjoy. We take a stroll as I sip my cocoa. Finally, I work up the courage to ask him what’s been on my mind since the first day I saw him.
“This is none of my business, but are you and Gretchen...dating?” I can hardly finish but manage to even if I don’t want to hear the answer. I need to know if he’s off-limits or not because I’d never do anything to ruin what he has.
Cole chuckles, and when I shiver, he closes the gap between us and wraps his arm around my shoulder. My entire body overheats, but I try to remain unaffected.
“What do you think?” he asks.
I shrug. “I’m not sure. I just want to…”
“We’re not. When you saw us together, it was our first and only date. We don’t have much in common and no real spark. My mother set it up, and trust me when I say it happened because I was getting tired of her nagging me about it. Same with Gretchen. We did it to appease our moms, and that’s it.”
Relief washes over me even though I have no right to feel that way. I want Cole to be happy, but the idea of him being with someone else made me sick. “Oh. Well, that’s good. Wait, I mean, not good. I just meant, well…” I sigh, giving up. “Never mind. I’ll just shut up now.”
He holds back a laugh with a fake cough, and I almost snort at how obvious he was. But it was definitely sweet of him not to make me feel dumb for asking.
“What about you?” he questions. “Seeing someone back in Chicago?”
I slow my pace and think about all the terrible dates I’ve been on. “Nope. No one. It doesn’t help that I have a chaotic work schedule, but honestly, I haven’t been serious with anyone since I moved there. I’ve just…I’ve found it hard to move on,” I admit sheepishly.
Cole nods, and I notice the frown on his scruffy face. I love that he’s let it grow out a little. It suits him. We stop under a lit-up arch. I look up at it and remember how we used to take pictures together in this very spot every Christmas.
“I know what you mean,” he says softly. “I think you broke me, Sarah. No woman has ever lived up to what we had, and if it wasn’t you, I didn’t want her.”
His words are like a knife to the heart because I hate that I’ve caused him pain. “I never wanted to hurt you, Cole. I know I’ve said that before, but I mean it. I needed to figure out who I was with a serious career. Though if it makes you feel any better, I haven’t been able to move on either.” Nervous laughter escapes me as he stares into my eyes. “Perhaps, I’m broken too.”
Before we can continue chatting, a woman slowly walks past us and points above us with a grin. We look up at the same time and notice the mistletoe hanging. I don’t even look to see if we’re being watched because my focus is on Cole. Without wasting a moment, he takes a step forward, places his warm palms on my cheeks, then brushes his lips against mine.
I feel as if I’m floating as his tongue barely twists with mine. The emotion pours out of me, and though it’s been years since we’ve been close like this, the fire between us burns so hot, I might combust. When he pulls away, my heavy breathing is the only sound between us, but by the intense look in his eyes, he felt it too.
“Wow,” I say, touching my swollen lips. If we weren’t in public, we might’ve lost control.
“That should give them something to talk about until the new year,”