18. Aiden

CHAPTER 18

Aiden

All week, I’d been trying to bury the mix of guilt and longing that had taken up residence in my chest. Guilt, because I kicked Levi out so abruptly after what we shared. Longing, because it was… incredible. His touch, his voice, the way he looked at me like I mattered. My body—my entire being—had been crying out for more. But I couldn’t let that happen. That was the exact trap I wasn’t supposed to fall into.

We’d been politely avoiding each other ever since. Levi was focused on the farm, and I buried myself in my work. Both kinds of work, actually—the one for my graphic design business and the other on the chalet. But today, the farm was having a wreath sale with a wreath-making class and other activities, and Nicholas and Markus promised to stop by. It’d be rude of me not to at least offer to help out. So, I emerged from my self-imposed isolation, steeling myself for what was sure to be an awkward day.

Levi’s mom wasted no time gently bossing me around, and honestly, I didn’t mind. Schlepping things around for the setup gave me something to focus on.

She handed me a wreath, her hands dusted with pine needles and the faintest smear of glue on her wrist. “This one goes to the front display, sweetheart. Make it pop, would you?”

Her tone was cheerful, bossy in that motherly way that made it impossible to refuse—turning her down would be as offensive as spitting in someone’s coffee. I gripped the wreath, a perfect circle of cedar, red berries, and a big plaid bow, and nodded. “Sure thing, Mrs. Kincaid.”

“Call me Carol, or I’ll have to make you stay for supper,” she chided with a teasing wink before pivoting back to her wreath-making station.

It was set up just outside the barn entrance, under a wide awning that kept the work area sheltered from the chilly air. A long wooden table was piled with ribbons, sprigs of evergreens, and hot glue guns, with a couple of chairs for anyone needing to sit while working. She was like Levi in a way—relentlessly kind but with a core of steel. You couldn’t help but want to please her.

I headed toward the front of the barn, about twenty feet away, where a rustic display of wooden crates, fairy lights, and evergreen garlands was taking shape. Balancing the wreath on a small hook near the centerpiece, I adjusted it until the bow sat just right. The smell of pine and cinnamon filled the air, a reminder that Christmas was closing in fast.

When I stepped back to admire the display, I caught Carol out of the corner of my eye. She was glancing my way from her station, just close enough to call out. “You’re up for cider duty next, Aiden,” she said, her voice carrying easily over the lively buzz of the growing crowd. “The line’s starting to build, and we’ll need someone charming to sweet-talk folks into a second cup.”

“Charming? Me?” I joked, wiping my hands on my jeans.

“Sweetheart, you don’t give yourself enough credit.” She waved me off, already redirecting her attention to the small group gathered around her table, where she was demonstrating how to make a wreath base from scratch.

I made my way to the cider booth, a few steps farther down the gravel path. The booth was nestled between the barn and a small row of Christmas trees that were part of the sale. It was decked out with more festive touches—holly sprigs, twinkling lights, and a little chalkboard sign advertising “Hot Apple Cider: $3 or Free with a Smile.” A neat row of ceramic mugs sat alongside a simmering pot of the spiced drink.

The work was repetitive and easy enough, but every time Levi was nearby, I felt his presence like a physical weight. He moved through the crowd effortlessly, helping where needed, and the polite smiles he gave me were almost worse than outright ignoring me. His eyes darted away every time they met mine, as if looking at me for too long might break some unspoken rule. The awkwardness was unbearable, the tension thick enough to cut with one of the shears Carol kept at her station.

Nicholas and Markus finally showed up while I was still on cider duty. The cider booth was buzzing with activity, but fatigue was setting in. It’d been a couple of hours since the wreath sale started, and the steady stream of people didn’t look like it was letting up anytime soon.

When Paige swung by to take over cider duty, I grabbed the chance to take a breather. Nicholas and Markus were standing by the edge of the barn, chatting with a small group of people I vaguely remembered from when I was growing up, and the sight of them instantly lifted my mood. They looked like they were having a great time, Nicholas gesturing animatedly while Markus listened with that steady patience of his. It’d been a long time since we were all in the same space without tension hanging over us.

“Hey, look who finally decided to take a break,” Nicholas teased as I approached. He pulled me into a quick, one-armed hug. “You’ve been working your ass off, huh?”

“Something like that,” I said, grinning. “What can I say? Levi’s mom is a taskmaster.”

Markus chuckled. “She roped us into buying wreaths within the first five minutes. I’m starting to think she missed her calling as a salesperson.”

I laughed, the tension in my shoulders easing. “You think the wreaths are impressive? Wait until you see what we’ve been doing at the chalets.”

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “You’re really putting your stamp on this place, huh?”

“Trying to.” I motioned toward the gravel path that led to the chalets. “Come on, I’ll show you. It’s still a work in progress, but there are a couple of things I’m proud of.”

The three of us headed down the path, and as we walked, I gave them a quick rundown of the projects I’d been juggling. “My graphic design business is picking up, by the way. I’ve been doing logo work for a couple of small businesses, plus some website banners and social media graphics. It’s nothing huge, but it’s steady.”

“That’s awesome,” Nicholas said, clapping me on the back. “You always had an eye for that kind of stuff.”

“Yeah, but the real challenge has been balancing all that with helping out here,” I admitted. “Levi’s been teaching me the basics of carpentry—don’t laugh, Nicholas—and I even got to design a few custom pieces for the chalets.”

Nicholas smirked. “Like what? A wreath that spells out your name in glitter?”

“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes. “No, I’m talking about things that’ll actually make the space special. You’ll see.”

As we approached one of the chalets, the first thing that came into view was the new sign hanging above the porch. “The Hollow Chalet” was carved into the wood in bold, elegant letters, surrounded by a delicate design of evergreen branches and falling snowflakes. It was simple yet striking, and I felt a swell of pride seeing it in place.

“Wait, you did this?” Nicholas asked, his gaze fixed on the sign. He tilted his head slightly, taking it in. “It’s gorgeous.”

“I sketched the design,” I explained, stepping up onto the porch with them. “Levi helped me refine it, and then the woodworker in town brought it to life. It’s kind of the centerpiece of the whole project.”

Nicholas nodded appreciatively. “It’s perfect. Classic, but with personality. Very you.”

“Thanks,” I said, warmth rising to my cheeks. “That’s the idea. Levi wants this place to feel like a home away from home for visitors, and I wanted the signs to reflect that.”

Markus grinned, nudging me. “Well, it definitely says ‘welcome.’ What else you got?”

I opened the door, stepping aside to let them in. The scent of sawdust and fresh paint still lingered faintly in the air, and the warm glow of the interior lights spilled across the floor. “Come in and see for yourselves.”

Their gazes were immediately drawn to the mural on the far wall. It stretched from floor to ceiling, depicting a serene winter forest with snow-dusted trees and golden sunlight filtering through the branches. Nestled among the roots of the trees was a tiny cabin, smoke curling from its chimney, with a faint trail leading out into the woods.

Nicholas let out a low whistle. “Okay, now you’re just showing off.”

“This is—damn, Aiden,” Markus said, stepping closer to take in the details. “You drew this?”

“Yeah.” I tried to play it cool, but the way they were looking at the mural made my chest tighten with pride. “It’s supposed to tie the whole space together. Kind of like a centerpiece for the room.”

“It’s incredible,” Nicholas said, his voice softer now. “It’s like something out of a storybook. I can’t believe you didn’t tell us you were working on this.”

I shrugged, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I wanted to make sure it was good enough first.”

Markus turned to me, his smile steady and warm. “It’s more than good enough. You’ve made this place something special.”

I showed them the rest of the chalet, then we headed back outside, and as we walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off in the air.

And then, just like that, we ran into Levi.

He paused a few feet away, his eyes lingering on me for a second before he looked away quickly, his jaw tight, continuing on his way. The space between us felt heavy, and the tension in the air almost made me choke.

“Everything good?” Nicholas asked, narrowing his eyes between me and Levi.

I tried to shrug it off, but my stomach twisted. “Yeah. Just… you know.” I gestured vaguely, not sure how to explain the tension.

Markus looked between us, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “I see. It’s one of those situations, huh?”

Nicholas frowned, crossing his arms. “Aiden, what’s going on?”

Markus’s raised brow made the question impossible to dodge. “Nothing’s going on,” I said too quickly, my words sharp.

Nicholas folded his arms, his expression hardening. “You’re lying, man. And don’t give me that ‘nothing’ crap. You’re acting weird.”

“I’m not—” I started, but the words caught, and I knew it was no use. “Nothing’s going on,” I repeated, my voice quieter now. But I wasn’t convincing anyone, least of all Markus, who was staring at me like he’d already put the pieces together.

“Uh-huh,” Nicholas said, his tone dry. “So you’ve been spending all this time with Levi, working on this place together, and suddenly you’re twitchy whenever you see him? Sure, that’s nothing.”

Markus didn’t say anything right away, just tilted his head slightly, studying me. “Is it serious?” he asked finally, his voice calm but direct.

I let out a slow breath, the weight of their attention pressing down on me. “It’s... complicated.”

Markus raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how? Like you’re not sure, or like you think it’s a bad idea?”

Nicholas crossed his arms. “You’re not off the hook. Spill.”

Under their combined scrutiny, I caved.

“We... hooked up. Once. It’s not a thing.”

Markus’s brow furrowed, his voice low and steady. “You sure? Because it seems like a thing.”

I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the floor. “I’ve never been in a real relationship before. Levi seems like the kind of guy who wants something serious, and... I don’t think I want serious. Or at least, not yet.” The words feel heavy coming out, like they’re dragging something out of me I’ve been trying to bury. “It’s just... a lot.”

Nicholas let out a low whistle, his stance relaxing a little. “Man, you’re in your head about this, aren’t you? It’s Levi. You think he’d hurt you?”

“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “It’s not that. It’s just... I don’t know if I’m ready for what he’s offering. And I don’t want to screw this up if?—”

Markus cut me off with a steady look and a hand on my shoulder. “As long as it’s consensual and no one’s taking advantage, that’s what matters,” he said, his voice firm but kind.

Nicholas grinned, an edge of amusement creeping into his expression. “Honestly? I think it’s great. Levi’s a good guy. You two make sense. But why are you acting like this can’t work?”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustration bubbling up inside. “Because it can’t. I have a plan, and there’s no room for someone else in it right now. Especially not someone who’s going to live and die in this town.”

Nicholas exchanged a look with Markus, who gave a tiny nod before speaking again. “Plans are important, but so is making room for things that make you happy.”

I scoffed, shoving my hands into my pockets. “You sound like a fortune cookie.”

Nicholas’s expression softened. “You deserve good things, you know.”

Their words stuck with me as they hung out a bit longer before heading off. I watched them go, Nicholas’s words echoing in my mind: You deserve good things.

When I was finally alone, I stayed near the cider booth, my eyes drifting to Levi again and again. He was so good-looking it was almost unfair, but it was more than that. It was the kindness in his every action, the patience in his demeanor, the way he made me feel seen. The way he was always there, steady and strong, even when I pushed him away. Even now, every time he smiled at a customer or adjusted a wreath, I felt the pull, the what if I’d been trying to ignore.

The more I thought about it, the more it gnawed at me. Maybe… maybe I did deserve something good, even if it was just for a little while. And it wasn’t like we had to be in a real relationship to… to bone.

The thought sent a shiver of anticipation through me. Screw it. Screw my plans, my doubts, my fears. I wanted him. I wanted this. And maybe, I’d let myself have it.