Page 37 of Eight Days of Christmas
As if on cue, Ava barreled toward them, knit cap sliding down her forehead and nearly covering her brown eyes. “Auntie Izzy, hurry! Daddy thinks we found the tree. But Grandma says you have to say it’s okay before they cut it down.”
Isabella sniffed, wiped her runny nose with the back of her glove, and cleared the grief from her throat. “Okay, on my way.” She braved a smile.
Ava dragged both Isabella and Leo by gloved hands to where the others stood surrounding a tree. Saved by a child. At least, for now.
After Isabella had given her approval, Leo did the honors and cut the tree down. It did have the look of a perfect Christmas tree. Full all the way around but not too bushy so that ornaments weren’t forgotten and accidentally tossed out with the tree once Christmas was over. Isabella and Norah had learned that lesson the hard way. One year, the two of them chose what they thought was the perfect Christmas tree, but the thing had been so bushy, they lost a few ornaments to the Boy Scouts who came to pick up the tree that year.
Finn and Dad each took an end of the tree, hauling it on their trek back toward the trucks. Ava sang “Jingle Bells,” but the Batman-smells version, skipping through the deep snow the entire way. Isabella cursed her UGGs. Apparently, they weren’t waterproof. Her feet were freezing. She could practically hear the nurses gossiping about her in the hospital while they amputated both feet. “Dumb city girl,” they’d whisper. “She actually thought UGGs were a good choice to wear in the mountains of Colorado?” Then they’d all have a good laugh.
Isabella took measured steps, falling behind the rest of the family. As the cold in her feet turned them numb, the chill worked its way up her legs. Pretty soon, she wasn’t positive she was even moving at all. She supposed it was a good thing she had the distraction of the earlier conversation between her and Leo weaving through her brain. At least she could focus on something other than the worry of freezing to death.
“Hey?” Landon called over his shoulder, annoyance in his tone. “What’s the hold up?”
“Nothing,” Isabella hollered back. “You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up with you.”
“Let me guess—your feet are freezing?” Leo asked while he strutted in front of her.
She lifted her chin. “They’re fine.”
“It’s the boots.”
“It’s not the boots,” she said defiantly.
“Her feet are just always cold,” Norah said.
“Leo,” Dad called. “Finn and I have the tree, go help Izzy out, will you? Can’t have her getting frostbite on only day two.”
“Sure thing, Mr. W.” Leo stopped, waiting for her to catch up.
“I’m fine on my own.” She took two small steps. “See.” She gestured at her feet. “I moved, didn’t I?”
“At that rate, you’ll be doing good if you make it back in time for the wedding,” Leo sneered. He pulled off his gloves, stuffing them into the pockets of his jacket. Turning his back to her, he hunched down. “Just hop on, will you?”
“No way. I said I was fine.” This was ridiculous. Her dad asking Leo to save her. No thank you. She could save herself.
“Stop being so stubborn. For your dad’s sake, will you just get on?”
Well, when he put it that way. She hesitated, biting her lip and worrying the cold would take her ability to move her arms next. “Fine,” she huffed. In one swift motion, she jumped, hopping onto his back and wrapping her legs and arms around him like a spider monkey.
“Whoa, you think you could let me breathe a little?”
“Sorry.” She released her tight grip, but she couldn’t deny the intense feelings zinging through her veins.
He carried the weight of her while trekking through the thick snow with ease. “Déjà vu,” he mumbled.
“Right.”
“I wonder how many piggyback rides I’ve given you over the years?”
“Probably too many to count.”
Isabella held herself snug against his warm body, a tingling sensation running through her depths. The memories of his piggyback rides raced through her mind like a familiar Christmas carol. That was one thing she used to love about their relationship. Not only did a serious vibe bounce between them, but they also had fun. They had a childlike relationship. One that probably came from knowing one another for so long, growing up as neighbors and being friends since they were kids.
They hadn’t started dating until they were sixteen. The first time Leo came over to the house to take Isabella out on a real date, Dad had been so confused. He invited Leo in and started talking about the football game. But when he caught sight of Isabella in a dress with her hair in curls and noticed the cheesy smiles plastered on each of their faces, he frowned. Having Leo as his daughter’s friend was one thing. Having him dating his daughter was something entirely different.
And now he was the family favorite, it seemed.
Leo slowed the closer he got to the truck. Isabella clung to him tighter, gripping his firm chest. There was a shifting feeling near her heart, a yearning to never let him go. But then he stopped and lowered her to the ground. She slid down the length of him, feeling the agony of their parting instantly and inhaling a long, sharp breath. Being back in Pineridge with Leo again was worse than she’d anticipated it would be. Just because she had abandoned him, didn’t mean she’d lost her feelings.
