17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Evie

I can't believe that tonight is Sean and Jessica's party at the ice skating rink. Time is flying faster than usual for this time of year with all the preparations for their wedding.

There is a light flurry as I drive to the park. As I turn the corner, I can see the glow lights coming from the ice rink, and I gasp.

"Wow! It's like a winter fairyland." My stomach settles for the first time this evening as I take in the sight before me.

There are lights up from all the poles around the outside of the rink. They're connected in the center so that the entirety of the ice is lit. The trees around are glowing in fairy lights, casting a warm glow as you are led to each fire pit.

The hot chocolate stand is in the back corner. Next to it is a portrait setup with an image of Main Street in its Christmas glory and mistletoe hanging from above. A smile creases my face as I realize how much Sean is going to love this.

I turn off the ignition and grab my hat. Jess got Penny and me matching Santa hats with Maid of Honor and Bridesmaid embroidered on them. Her reason was that it makes us easily findable, but I can't help but wonder if she thought it was funny rather than cute.

I shrug. Actually, she may have thought both.

Before heading out, I pull down the visor and look over my makeup. I reapply some lip gloss and check to make sure that everything is in place. When I finally look in my eyes, I see uncertainty reflected there.

My stomach swirls. This will be my first time seeing Jamie in over a week. For someone who is ‘pursuing' me, he's been awfully quiet, and if I'm honest his silence has been extremely unsettling. Just like Jamie to say "I love you" and then run.

I shake my head at the thoughts running through my mind, feeling like one of those balls that just keeps spinning in all different directions.

I want to talk to Jamie about why he left the way he did. What has changed from then to now? Did he mean it when he said he loved me? Why hasn't he at least texted me to ask how I'm doing?

Men!

"Enough, Evelyn." I blow out a big breath. "You have a party to attend, and you need to be focused."

My stomach swirls as I get out of the car, knowing that I won't have to wonder if I'll see Jamie tonight because I know he'll surely be here. My heart starts to gallop, and I feel my palms sweating under my gloves.

"Evie!" Jacob calls to me as I close my car door. The sound of Christmas music is softly playing through the air. "What do you think?"

"Jacob, it's so much more magical than I could've possibly imagined." I do a spin and smile widely, gesturing at everything around me. "Jessica and Sean are going to be on cloud nine."

"I'm so delighted to hear it." Jacob chuckles. "We put out an extra fire pit because the forecast said it would be a bit more windy than originally planned."

"Perfect!" Keeping everyone warm is key to keeping everyone happy.

A car door closes behind me, and I swallow hard as my stomach drops. I anticipate that the only other person who would be early is Jamie. Sean is notorious for making entrances, and Jessica has always been on her own schedule.

"Jamie!" Jacob yells, confirming my thoughts. "How are you?"

"I'm great. How are you?"

At the sound of Jamie's voice, my knees buckle slightly. I turn to see him, grinning from ear to ear, and my body heats at the sight of him. My eyes, of their own volition, travel slowly from the tips of his toes to his clean-shaven face. They pause at his lips before moving up to his dancing hazel eyes.

"Evie." His smile makes my heart stutter, and I almost raise my hand to fan my face but catch myself in time.

The timber of his voice runs through my body, setting every nerve ending alight. The grin stays on his face as his eyes slowly move across my face before landing on my lips. When he meets my gaze, I'm struck by the affection I see there, and my breath catches.

"Ah-hem." I snap my head over to Jacob, and my face gets even hotter. I forgot we had an audience. His smile is a bit brighter than before, and, unless I'm mistaken, there is laughter in his eyes. "Are you ready to take a closer look?"

I shyly glance back at Jamie to find his gaze is still watching me. "Ready?"

"After you." He nods and puts his hand out.

I step forward and follow Jacob but feel Jamie step beside me. "You look breathtaking." He leans in close and says for my ears only.

My lips slowly lift at the corners, and my heart continues its sprint. "So do you," I whisper.

I don't look at him, but I can feel the heat of his eyes on the side of my face, followed by the heat of his hand as he hovers it over my lower back. Instead of pulling away, I slow down to lean into his hand.

Jacob is talking and showing us each station, introducing us to the people staffing them, but I don't hear a word. I can't focus on anything except the man walking next to me. His scent fills my senses, and the heat of his touch has my body humming.

I hear Jamie responding to Jacob and saying hello while I just smile at everyone.

"Right, Evie?" My eyes widen as I whip my head toward Jacob, who is obviously asking me a question, and then over to Jamie.

"I'm sorry?" My face heats again as I run my hands down my coat.

"I was just saying that you thought it was magical." The gleam in his eyes and the smile crossing his face tell me he knows exactly why I was distracted, but thankfully, he doesn't say anything else.

"Ah yes." I smile back at him, regaining my composure. "It's better than I could've possibly imagined. Everyone is going to have a wonderful time. Thank you so much, Jacob, for going above and beyond what we could've ever dreamed of."

"It's what I live for. Besides hockey, that is." He chuckles and then walks toward the office. "I'll be just over here if you need anything, but honestly, anyone at any of the stations can help you, too."

"Thank you, Jacob. I'm sure everything will be perfect." With a small smile, I watch him walk away and then look around at every little station to avoid looking at the man next to me.

My heart is racing, my mouth is dry, and my mind is blank. I always know what to say in almost any situation, but here and now, I am entirely at a loss for words. Thankfully, he speaks first.

"This is really amazing."

"It is," I agree. I can still feel his eyes on me, and I swallow hard before I meet his gaze. My heart melts at the warmth I find in his eyes. "You look…"

"Good?" His lips curve up in a smile, and his eyes dance at me. I can't stop the laugh that bubbles up.

"Yes. But," I narrow my eyes at him and tilt my head as I take him in. "There's something different about you. I just can't put my finger on it."

"Maybe you're just imagining things." He chuckles and then looks at the car pulling into the parking lot. "Jess and Sean are here."

I turn to smile at my brother and best friend. Jessica's face is glowing as she looks over the entire setup, and my heart expands. I can see her clapping her hands and bouncing on her feet as she throws her arms around Sean, squealing with delight.

"Wait a second." I put my hand on Jamie's arm before he can walk up to Jess and Sean. "Sean didn't give you something to announce you as the best man?"

Jamie puts his hand over mine, and I can feel his warmth radiating through my gloves. Jamie's eyes stray to my head, and for the first time, he notices my hat. The smirk that appears makes my stomach feel as if a swarm of butterflies are attempting to take flight all at once.

"Oh, he did. But I'm not wearing it."

"What?! Why not?"

"Because top hats are ridiculous." I burst out laughing, and a crooked grin crosses his face. "My point exactly."

The smile on my face is so big I fear my cheeks will crack, but the thought of Jamie in a top hat has me laughing all over again. He looks back at me with narrowed eyes that contain a mischievous glint, and my smile gets even bigger as he takes a step closer to me, squeezing my hand.

"Listen here, Miss O'Connell. Your little Santa hat is a tad ridiculous, too." I pretend to glare at him but his next words have my heart stopping and struggling to breathe. "But nothing can truly take away from how beautiful you are. And you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid my eyes on."

My mouth falls, and I stare at him. The tension between us crackles. My heart stutters before it starts pounding so hard against my ribcage that I think it must be visible to anyone looking at us.

"This is beyond anything that I ever could've imagined." Jessica breaks the trance that I'm in with a hug. My hand falls from Jamie's arm and I immediately miss his warmth. "And your hat looks adorbs."

I hear Jamie snicker and I choose to ignore him as I relish in Jessica's excitement.

"I'm not sure one of my movie crews could've done better. Where's Jacob? I'd love to thank him." Sean grabs Jamie's arm and makes him take him to Jacob.

My lips lift at the corner, and my eyes follow him. He looks back over his shoulder and meets my gaze. My stomach flutters at the grin he flashes me.

I'm pretty sure that any remaining ice around my heart has melted. In fact, if you look closely, you can see the steam from it as it puddles on the ground.

"So?" Jessica interrupts my thoughts.

"So?" I meet her dancing gaze with narrowed eyes.

"You and Jamie." She points between me and her brother's back as she nudges my shoulder. "So?"

I can't stop my face from heating or the slight grin that crawls across it.

"YES!" She yells, and everyone looks at us, including my brother and hers.

"Shush," I say, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. "It doesn't mean anything."

"Oh, come on, Evie. It means everything ." She pulls my arm into the crook of her elbow and smiles at me. "You and Jamie are perfect together."

I open my mouth to say something, but she cuts me off.

"Come on and show me around this glorious winter wonderland!"

I can't help but smile at the excitement I feel for the night ahead as we begin our trek around the ice rink before everyone else arrives.