Page 37 of One Chance to Stay (Bears of Firefly Valley #4)

Patrick: The whole town will be here. You’re coming.

Seamus: Maybe.

Patrick: You can handle three days of socializing in one week.

Patrick: Don’t make me call in reinforcements.

Patrick: You’re coming.

Seamus: …

New Group Chat

Patrick: I warned you.

Grace: Dad, stop being you. Get cocoa with me.

Seamus: …

Seamus: Fine.

Patrick: Was that so hard?

Grace: I told you Patrick was a good influence.

Reed set a box of bottles on the sill, and I jumped. I had been staring at Grace’s text for the last ten minutes. I knew she’d convince him in the way only a stubborn daughter could with her dad. That had been expected. Her commenting on my relationship with her dad had come as a surprise.

“This is the last of them.” Reed looked dapper with his bowling cap, scarf, and sweater. “Are you sure you don’t want help?”

I looked about the tiny shack where the basketball players used to serve hot chocolate. The kid from the team had walked me through the process. Laurel and Bobby’s boyfriend had a table set up with food for sale, giving me one less thing to deal with. Drinks, warm or cold, that I could handle.

“I think I’ve got it. How bad can it be?”

Reed’s eyes went wide. “You’ve obviously never been to an event here. It’s cold. There’s fire. You might as well be serving the elixir of life.” He laughed. “For some of them, it might be.”

“Can’t be any worse than the bar on karaoke night. Nothing makes the singer more bearable than a couple of shots.”

For the last hour, it had been easy enough.

Parents brought their kids in droves, and I did a few tricks, tossing the whipped cream over my shoulder.

They stood in awe, then I served them paper cups filled with pure sugar.

Reed made it sound as if they’d turn bloodthirsty and climb over one another for drinks.

“You have Julie’s number. If you need reinforcements, call .”

“Will do.” Reed walked away, and I sorted through the supplies.

As I pulled out a bottle, I crossed it off my checklist. Four signature cocktails.

Julie had a great imagination, and if left up to her, I’d be shaving candy canes for the drinks.

Thankfully, she relented and agreed I could just include one hooked on the side of the cup.

Another half hour and I had everything set up. Coolers had been filled with snow, placed as far from the sad excuse for a space heater as I could manage. Everything was within reach. It wasn’t the usual bar setup, but I’d make this work.

“You couldn’t escape, could you?”

I looked up to see Amanda and Jon, both with ice skates dangling from their shoulders. After seeing Jon’s wild dancing at the club, I wanted to see how he stayed upright on skates. I bet this ended in a bruised backside.

“You make it sound like Firefly won’t let me leave.”

Amanda laughed, doubling over. She paused. “One hot chocolate, please.” Laughing resumed. Even Jon joined in.

“Says the man who traded his freedom for a few extra days at Valhalla. I love that house, but my sister swindled you. You might as well forward your mail.”

“Well?” Amanda finished the hysterics and wiped the tiny icicles from the corners of her eyes.

“Well, what?” I could sense a trap. She’d be the one to lead me into it. Next time she came to Spectrum, I was going to make her mocktails all night. Bartenders always got the best revenge.

“Was it worth it?”

“I need more context.”

“Staying?”

I had two weeks without work. I missed it, but it wasn’t the job I looked forward to seeing again. It was the people saddling up at the bar. It took some time to reach the conclusion and maybe a few swift kicks in the pants, but I had reached it.

Jon had his arms around Amanda, his eyelids fluttering.

Oh. They weren’t asking about my future career path.

These two nosy Nellies wanted the gossip about my love life.

I’m sure Jon had already started a group text called “Will They/Won’t They.

” Even with the cold nipping at my nose, I could feel my cheeks beating red.

“It was worth it.”

“Another player joins the other team.” She held out a hand. “Can I have the tequila so I can pour one out?”

I scowled while Jon let go of Amanda. He jumped up and down while clapping his mitten-clad hands. “Does that mean you and?—”

“Whoa, boy. Let us figure it out. It’s… complicated.”

“Love is?—”

“Never complicated,” Amanda finished.

Jon pouted. “That’s my line.”

“You say it so much.” Amanda grabbed the man by the shoulders, pulling him to the side. I have no idea what happened. She squealed. Blood curdling, high-pitched, louder than the screaming kids on the ice rink. What on Earth had?—

She dropped her skates and bolted.

“What’s going on?” I leaned over the counter, following Jon’s eyes.

She had just mocked me for finding somebody special, and now…

Amanda swept up the most beautiful woman in her arms, spinning her about.

Only after the third turn did her companion flail.

When she set her down, the two kissed. I couldn’t help but whistle.

“You’re going to say it, aren’t you?”

Jon had that fluttery look again. “Love is never complicated.”

Amanda’s girlfriend, at first, appeared less than thrilled. The roll of the eyes and neutral face resembled Seamus. Amanda’s over-the-top energy couldn’t be repelled, and she thawed. A quick peck turned… I leaned back into the shack.

“That stopped being PG pretty quick!”

Jon held up a hand, shielding his eyes. It only lasted a second before he spread his fingers, stealing another glance. “Oh. It left PG-13 and we’re rounding an R rating.”

Jon eyed me, his eyes narrowing. I could hear the deluge of questions forming in his head. Avoiding eye contact, I went to make him a drink. Without my usual tumbler, I had to rely on a candy cane to stir his drink. When I raised the glass, ready to offer him one on the house, I locked eyes.

“What!”

“I have a question… it’s selfish.” He took the red cup, sniffing the cocktail. “Are you leaving Spectrum?”

“Why would… no. At least no time soon.”

“Even if you go back to school?” Jon licked the candy cane clean before taking a swig.

“How did you—” My eyes rolled back. “Evelyn? Grace?”

He chuckled. “Bonnie brought it up while I checked out. She thinks you’re doing the right thing. Carl went back to school, and he loved it.”

“I’m glad I have Bonnie’s approval.”

“She said you could have his backpack.”

I refrained from making a snarky comment.

Had I even met Bonnie? It’d be easy to focus on the intrusive nature of Firefly.

They were a nosy bunch, but they were like a fan group.

Even this mystery woman offered her support.

A stranger. I needed to have as much faith in myself as the people who only knew me by name.

“That’s sweet,” I mumbled to myself.

The sky turned that blue-gray shade of early snow. Kids shouted on the rink, and someone somewhere was roasting marshmallows. I could feel my face flush, but not from the cold.

“So, you’re not leaving me?”

Grace had walked me through the process. First school. Internship. New job. Until the last step, I didn’t plan on leaving Spectrum. While I wanted more, I’d never be able to say goodbye to the people who made it home.

“When I decide to leave, you’ll be the first to know.”

He sucked on the tip of the candy cane, making perpetual eye contact. Thanks, Jon, I appreciated turning an innocent conversation weird.

“Once you stop serving drinks, maybe we’ll get you on the dance floor.” The smirk couldn’t be more devious if he tried. “With the company of one fine silver fox?”

He waved, vanishing into a crowd of ice skaters before I could reply. I didn’t have time to dwell on the idea of Seamus on the dance floor, especially with the thump of techno pop hits. A mom and dad with three kids wearing Santa hats reached the counter. It was time to put on my game face.

“Welcome to Valhalla’s first annual bonfire! What can I get you and your family?”

“It’s for your wish.”

I held the sheet of paper, flipping it back and forth. Bundled in layers of sweaters and a scarf that left her resembling a snowman, Evelyn rolled her eyes. She handed sheets of paper to a couple, still sipping their drinks.

She turned back to me.

“Write your wish for the new year. Then fold it and toss it into the bonfire.” I still didn’t get it. “You’re literally putting your wish into the universe.” She gestured like a big explosion. “Just do it or I’ll bill you for all the pie.”

“Hey!”

“Wishes!” Evelyn turned about, yelling. “Who needs wishes?”

I didn’t quite know what to write. Every time I looked at the blank piece of paper, I tried to think about what I wanted. How did I put hope for the future into words?

There was no stopping her. I think the bonfire had officially gotten under her skin.

I hoped this bought her all the goodwill she deserved.

Seeing hundreds of people watching the ice skaters or gathering around the bonfire, I think she created something special.

If nothing else, the six-foot-tall logs ablaze made for quite the spectacle.

With a lull in customers, I rested on my elbows. To my surprise, I had already run out of business cards for Harvest & Vine. The adults were excited to hear about the tastings. I even hinted at something in the works between them and Bistro on Maine.

I spotted Grace trudging along the snow, dodging a wayward snowball. Much like Evelyn, she layered to the point where I doubted she could lower her arms. Style went out the window when it came to surviving the winter. I appreciated the mismatched colors in the pursuit of warmth.

“Not yet.” I didn’t tell her I kept scanning the crowd looking for Seamus. I’d be disappointed, but he always found a way of making a dramatic entrance, even if it was begrudgingly.