Chapter 16
Celeste
Leaving the Festival early meant Celeste and Sterling could get to The Snowball's Chance before the big rush. Celeste also liked walking the town's streets with no one in the way. The place was lit up, and every store was decorated for Christmas. There were trails of lights hanging in every frost-cornered window and thick, green wreaths on every door. That was one thing Celeste really loved about Winter Grove—how everyone came together for the season. That was what made the Christmas Tree Festival so special.
As she snuck a look at Sterling, she thought she saw him smiling, too, as he took in the beauty of the streets. Despite what he'd said about not liking Christmas, it appeared he was enjoying the festivities, even if just a bit. Was he starting to change his mind about the season? She wondered what could've caused that...
He turned to look at her. "I'm glad you're smiling again."
"I'm smiling?" Celeste said. She touched her cheek as it flushed red. She hadn't even realized.
Sterling laughed. "Yeah. You should do that more. It looks good on you."
"You should talk," Celeste grumbled. "But I just haven't had a lot to smile about lately."
"And now you do?"
Celeste shrugged. "I guess so."
As they neared the bar, Celeste spotted an unfamiliar car parked on the street out front. The car was old, probably even older than her, and it was spotted with patches of rust. It was very out of place amongst all the perfect shine and sparkle of the town's decorations.
"Where'd that piece of junk come from?" Celeste wondered aloud as they walked past.
Sterling laughed. "That's my car."
"It is?" Celeste's face went hot as she whipped around to look at him. "I'm sorry!"
"It's okay," Sterling said. "I know my car isn't much to look at, but it's a reliable car. It's out front because I took it in for a tune up today. I need to make sure it can handle the snow when I leave town."
"You're leaving?" Celeste said. For some reason, a chill crawled up the back of her neck.
"Not just yet," Sterling said. "Not until after Christmas."
"Right," Celeste said. "That's good. I don't want you to... miss Christmas."
"I won't," Sterling promised as they reached the bar's door. He held the door open for her and followed after she went ahead.
Inside, The Snowball's Chance was pretty much dead. There were only a few regulars scattered throughout, plus Olly behind the bar... and Alicia sitting on a stool across from him.
"Alicia?" Celeste cried at the sight of her friend. She ran over and threw her arms around her friend's neck, pulling her into a tight hug. "What are you doing here?"
Alicia giggled as they pulled apart. "Hey, Cee!" she said. "I was waiting for you."
"Did you just get back?" Celeste asked, looking her over. She still had her coat on, and her suitcase—well, Celeste's suitcase—was sitting next to her stool. "What are you doing here? I thought you were staying in Whistler for the whole break!"
Alicia let out a big sigh. "Plans change... especially when your very clever father decides that his newfound snowboarding skills are good enough to take on a black diamond run." She groaned and rolled her eyes.
Celeste winced. "Oh, no... What happened?"
"He broke his wrist," Alicia said with a shake of her head. "He needs surgery. Nothing serious, thank god, but he and Mom had to head back to the city. Mom said I should just head back here since Dad's just gonna spend the holidays hopped up on drugs—"
"The good ones, I hope," Olly interjected.
"The best," Alicia laughed. "But he's going to be useless until after his surgery and Mom figured it'd just be a bummer for me to stick around and wait with them. Besides, she was worried about you." She booped Celeste's nose. "She figured you could use the company."
"Aw, that's kind of her," Celeste said, truly touched. "While I'm sorry about your dad's injury, I won't pretend I'm not excited to have you back." She pulled her into another hug. "Now I don't have to spend Christmas alone!"
"What about us?" Olly cried, pretending to be hurt. He reached over the bar and wrapped his arm around Sterling's shoulders.
Sterling made a face but didn't push him off.
Celeste giggled, but her laugh faltered as she saw the look on Sterling's face. If she didn't know any better, he looked almost disappointed...
"I-I just meant," Celeste sputtered, rushing to find the right words. "On Christmas morning I won't have to wake up in an empty apartment. We'll still come over after!"
Sterling's face lit up again. Their eyes met and...
"You better," Olly said, releasing Sterling to do his best silver-screen starlet pout. "I'm making brunch and my eggnog French toast is to die for."
"We'll be there," Alicia said, "with bells on."
"You better—real bells. My home is not a place of subtlety," he said, motioning to his neon Christmas decor.
"We've noticed," Alicia said before turning to Celeste. "You two have got good timing though. I thought you'd be at the festival for a little longer. I was expecting to have to wait here for a while..."
"Yeah, why are you here?" Celeste interrupted, again looking down at the suitcase—her suitcase. "Why didn't you stop off at the apartment first?"
"Be-ca-use..." Alicia said, wincing back as if she was expecting an argument. "I lost my keys and I need you to let me in."
Celeste groaned and shook her head. "Again?"
"At least," Alicia said, doing her best to look innocent, "they're somewhere on a distant mountain and there's a very low chance of someone finding them and breaking into our place."
"A small comfort," Celeste said, folding her arms together and giving her friend a serious look. "We're going to get you new ones first thing tomorrow. C'mon, I'll let you in..."
Alicia grinned at her and got off the stool, reaching for the suitcase...
"Oh, don't go yet!" Olly cried. "What's the rush? It was so dead here that I was about to die of boredom before Alicia showed up. Stay!"
"You have Sterling to entertain you now," Alicia said, giving Olly a weird look. "I want to wash the airplane off me, like, ASAP."
"No!" Olly said. He widened his eyes at Alicia like he was silently trying to communicate something with her. "Stay for a bit, at least until the crowd comes. You can have a nightcap before you go!"
"Why...?" Alicia asked.
"Just 'cause," Olly said through gritted teeth, still staring at Alicia.
Why was he being so insistent? Celeste wondered. If she didn't know any better, he saw him glance quickly between herself and Sterling before looking back at Alicia.
Alicia narrowed her eyes like she was starting to catch on to whatever Olly was getting at. "Well, okay, maybe just the one..." She sat back down on the stool.
"Sure," Celeste agreed as she settled onto the stool beside the suitcase. "One drink. What should we get?"
"No Grinches," Sterling interjected as he went around to the other side of the bar to join Olly. "I've seen how you get on that stuff." He chuckled.
Celeste couldn't help but laugh, too. "Fair point—no Grinches."
As they laughed together, Olly and Alicia exchanged a look.
"Well, what can I get you, then?" Olly asked, clearing his throat.
"What do you recommend that's not alcoholic?"
Olly looked to be at a loss. "Uh... This is a bar, it's kind of all we do—"
"How about some of Olly's homemade eggnog?" Sterling said. "I put some aside before Olly could put the brandy in it."
"You did?" Olly said, looking surprised. "Why? I thought you didn't like eggnog."
Sterling shrugged but shot a look at Celeste.
"That sounds great," Celeste said, grinning.
Sterling grinned and headed off to get started.
With Sterling busy, Olly turned to Celeste. "So, how was the 'date' tonight?" he asked, a single eyebrow rising.
"Fine?" Celeste said.
"Yeah, what about your plan?" Alicia said, giving her a look identical to Olly's. "How's it going with... Jared?"
"Jared? Oh my god!" Celeste said, suddenly realizing. "I... I totally forgot about him! We didn't even see him tonight!" How could she forget? She had gotten so distracted by helping Sterling find his gift for the toy drive that it had completely slipped her mind.
Was it too late to go back? Or would that be too obvious?
"He saw you," Sterling said from the end of the bar where he was grating nutmeg on top of the mugs of eggnog. "And that should be enough. Remember what I said about leaving something to the imagination?"
Celeste twisted her lips. Her panic subsided. "Right. You're right."
Alicia shot Sterling a look. Celeste couldn't see her expression, but whatever it was, it made a Sterling frown. He lowered his head and ignored her.
"Maybe it's a good thing you forgot about him," Alicia said as she turned back. "Jared's not really worth it anyway."
"I don't know about that," Celeste grumbled. She already knew what Alicia thought of Jared. But her heart wasn't ready to give up just yet... "He's just confused."
"But is it even working?" Alicia pressed. "You'd think he would've come begging by now if he wanted you back."
"You haven't seen his reaction," Celeste argued, folding her arms. "Sterling's been working overtime to make him jealous."
"Oh, has he?" Olly said, his lips curling up like the namesake of his bar's signature drink.
"And still no results... Maybe you should just give it up for now. I'm sure Sterling would be happy to be freed from his obligations," Alicia said, giving Sterling another inscrutable look. "Right?"
Sterling whipped his head up, frowning. "But we're not finished," he said. "We have one more date planned."
"Does it matter?" Alicia prodded. Her voice had gone sweet like it did when she was only pretending to be innocent. Celeste knew she was up to something. "If Jared hasn't made his move by now, maybe he won't—"
"But I..." Sterling said, agitated for some reason. "I promised."
"So, you, Sterling Holt, actually want to go to the Christmas Tree Ball?" Alicia said, sounding incredulous now. "Why?"
"I..." Sterling sputtered.
"Why don't we all go?" Olly interjected, smacking Alicia in the arm. "As friends?" He mouthed something at Alicia that Celeste didn't quite catch but looked like, Play nice. "I don't open the bar on the night of the ball anyway."
"As friends?" Alicia said, still smiling though her gaze was sharp as it fixed on Olly. "That sounds like a great idea."
"Yeah," Celeste said, though, for some reason, she didn't feel as excited. "Friends."
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