Each skier carried a pole horizontally, and both ends had been lit with sparkling red flares that flickered as they moved into a line. Will thought there had to be at least fifty skiers up there. One by one, they traversed the mountain in large, slow, sweeping S-curves. The flares illuminated the bright white of the snow, like a stunning red comet with an endless tail behind it. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought the skier’s banks and curves down the mountain were timed to the Christmas symphony being piped through the speakers.
The crowd watched in quiet reverence as the skiers cut down the slope until finally, at the very top, a sleigh illuminated. In it, a bright red figure waved down to the people below.
The crowd cheered again, yelling and waving as kids called out “It’s Santa!” in a cacophony of overlapping voices. The music swelled. Slowly, the torches that trailed down the hill fell into a line, pulling the Santa-filled sleigh behind them.
Will couldn’t deny the unexpected tug of emotions that needled him, and when he looked at Lauren, he saw her wiping tears from her eyes.
He nudged her with his shoulder and leaned in closer. “You okay?”
She let out a nervous half-laugh-half-cry. “I think it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
He wrapped an arm around her in a friendly side hug. “Miss Scrooge, I think we’ve finally located your Christmas spirit.”
She sniffled and he squeezed her again before letting her go, but not before he noticed how perfect she felt tucked into his side.
She fit.
Once Santa reached the bottom of the mountain, the lights flickered back on and the sleigh slid to a halt. Parents released their children, who flocked to the sleigh, and though the show seemed over, a fireworks display was just beginning. Will and Lauren stood at the bottom of that mountain, ringing in the holiday season with a crowd of perfect strangers save each other—and it was a magical moment.
There was nowhere else Will would rather be.
They’d come a long way in just a few days. He and Lauren might actually become friends.
After the impressive fireworks finale, the voice on the speaker came on again. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for celebrating the holidays with us! The Christmas market is still open, so peruse the booths, visit Santa, drink hot cocoa, and for those couples wanting to steal a kiss. . .”
Will caught Lauren’s eyes, then pretended to see something else off in the distance as the announcer continued
“。 . .find the mistletoe hidden throughout the resort. Merry Christmas, El Muérdago!”
The buzzing crowd dispersed.
A moment of awkward uncertainty hung between them as they seemed to be the only two people standing still.
“Do you, uh, want to walk around a little?” he asked. “Or is a Christmas market too festive for you?”
The corner of her mouth turned up. He took it as a win.
“Sure, let’s see if we can find some marshmallows to stuff in your mouth,” she said, playfully. “Anything to shut you up.”
Jokes. He’d take that as a win too.
They ambled toward the market, both slowing at the hot chocolate stand as if they instinctively knew it had to be their first stop.
They ordered, picked up their drinks, then continued to stroll underneath the awning of white lights hung overhead.
“I’m sorry about what happened,” Lauren said quietly, avoiding his eyes and wrapping both hands around her cup. “With your scholarship and everything.”
“It’s okay,” he said, matter-of-factly. “I deserved it. I can own my mistakes.”
“That shows a lot of maturity,” she said.
“Nah, I just learned how to take all of those feelings and push them way down,” he joked.
She rolled her eyes. “Such a guy.”
He glanced at her sideways. “It was painful for you to say that I’m mature out loud, wasn’t it?”
She laughed. “I admit, I had you pegged for an overgrown frat boy.”
“I get it,” he said. “I think that’s an accurate description of who I used to be.” He stopped in front of a booth showcasing homemade jewelry. Pewter hand-stamped necklaces and earrings and bracelets on display. “But it’s not who I am anymore.”
She stilled.
“I drew my sister Nadia’s name for Christmas.” It was definitely time to change the subject. “Do you think she’d like something like this?” He picked up a necklace with the words This Moment Matters etched into it.
Lauren stared at it for much longer than he’d have expected. “Why this one?”