Page 18 of Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane

‘You’re just so unrefined,’ he teased me.

‘I’m getting an extra shot now,’ I retorted, heading to the counter to order. His laughter followed me as I walked away.

‘Holly, while Paul gets the drinks, meet Travis – he runs a mobile ice rink business and I hear you’re in need of one…’

Elliot’s voice faded as I ordered two coffees for me and Holly. I tried not to think about how she would come and watch me here but when I glanced back to see her talking to the others at the table, I couldn’t stop the memories rolling in. I used to look up while I was skating to see her in the stands either cheering me on or just waving and smiling if I was just practising. I used to show off for her. She’d drink a huge ice slushy drink that I found disgusting and munch on junk food while she did homework or read, tapping her feet to music she listened to. Afterwards, we’d go over to the games area and play pool or air hockey or she sometimes managed to persuade me to play the dance game with her. It was a weekend ritual that I’d loved.

When I returned with the two coffees, Holly was shaking her head at Travis. ‘That’s a lot of money as we’ll want to hire the rink from the first of December until Christmas Eve. This is a local farm; they don’t have a big budget but want to give local families the best possible time at the winter wonderland.’ She smiled at me and took a sip of her coffee. ‘I’ll have to look around at other suppliers.’

‘You won’t find better value than my rink,’ Travis said, leaning forward. He sighed. ‘Tell you what, as you’re an old friend of these guys, I can give you a 15 per cent discount. But that’s all I can do.’ He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

Holly took another slow sip of her coffee. For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Elliot and Lewis were watching her too. ‘Twenty per cent and you have a deal,’ she said finally.

Travis stared at her and shook his head. ‘I… hmmm… well, if we shake on it now? Okay. You drive a hard bargain, Ms Wynter. But 20 per cent off and you take the rink until Christmas Eve. Deal.’ He held out his hand and she shook it with an appreciative nod. Only when he looked away did Holly flash me a triumphant smile.

When they had organised everything, Travis headed off, Lewis showing him out.

Holly turned to Elliot when the three of us were alone. ‘Thank you for saying we are old friends to Travis; that seemed to make him want to reduce the cost more.’

‘That was your excellent negotiation skills,’ Elliot replied. ‘But, sure, any friend of this man here is one of ours. Now, I better carry on with work. See you Saturday though, Paul?’

I nodded. ‘Yep. And shall I do the last skate session so we can get a drink afterwards?’

‘Perfect. Nice to meet you, Holly. I think you should join us for that drink; I’d love to know what Paul was like as a teenager. You must have all the secrets!’ He grinned at us.

Holly smiled. ‘Only if you fill me in on the years I’ve missed; you must know all his secrets now.’

‘This man is a closed book but I’d trust him with my life.’ Elliot shook her hand again and touched my shoulder before he headed off.

Holly looked at me as I took a gulp of the strong coffee. ‘It’s nice seeing some of your life now. I like that you still come here. Remember that time I beat you at pool? You were furious!’

‘Never happened,’ I replied, holding back a smile.

‘It did!’ she cried. I let her see my smile and she swatted my arm. ‘I still don’t know how I managed it. I bet you were distracted by a cute girl or something.’

‘Probably,’ I agreed, knowing full well the cute girl had been her. But she had never noticed. ‘We should have a rematch while you’re here,’ I added, before I could stop myself.

‘Oh, I’m coming with you here on Saturday. I need to see what you’re like on the ice now you’re all grown-up and I want Elliot’s gossip about you. Once I get a couple of beers in him, I bet he’ll tell me about all the hearts you’ve broken in Birchbrook while I’ve been gone!’

I shook my head but I knew my ex, Rach, would likely say I hadn’t treated her all that well. I felt terrible that I’d hurt her but I hadn’t been able to be who she’d wanted me to be. ‘Will you tell us about the hearts you’ve broken?’ I countered, wondering if there was anyone waiting for her back in the city. I kind of hoped there was. Then I could just catch up with my old friend without relapsing into the same longing I’d had as a teenager.

‘There hasn’t been anyone special,’ she replied with a shrug. ‘And I hate dating. Honestly, I wonder if relationships are even worth the hassle. But then I see the special connection that my best friend Georgia has with her husband, or Willow and Dylan, or what Elliot and Lewis all seem to have. Then I wonder if I should try harder.’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean,’ I replied, wishing I hadn’t felt a shot of relief on finding out she hadn’t got a true love waiting for her back home. I stood up quickly. ‘Better be getting back to work,’ I said, needing a break from this conversation.

‘Uh, right, sure, yeah, me too,’ she said, hiding her surprise at my abrupt movement. I knew I was acting like a dick and she probably didn’t understand why, but self-preservation was key here. I couldn’t let Holly in again.

Even if I wanted to.

15

PAUL

Holly was quiet on the way back and I wanted to apologise for cutting our time together short but I didn’t know how to spend time with her without blurting out how hard I’d found it to chat about our past again. To remember the fun we’d had together. It just brought back the hurt that had followed it all.

As we approached Birch Tree Farm, she turned to me. ‘I haven’t gone to see my mum yet; is that really shitty of me?’ She blurted it out like she’d been thinking about it since we’d got back in the car.

‘Why haven’t you seen Donna?’ I asked instead.