Alicia

The bells above the door of The Snowball's Chance gave a loud jingle, and Olly looked up from the drink he was making. Alicia stepped through, already shrugging off her snow-dusted coat.

"Back so soon?" Olly asked.

Alicia didn't respond and just gave him a glum look.

Olly understood. His brows arched in silent question.

That bad, huh?

Alicia rolled her eyes in response.

You have no idea.

Olly wanted to ask more, but he was with a customer, so he just nodded and raised a finger. Alright. Gimme a sec.

He finished the drink and handed it over, waiting for the customer to return to their table before he beckoned Alicia over to sit. Alicia dropped herself down on a stool and deflated, letting out a long breath as she folded over the bar, resting her head on her arms.

"What the hell happened?" Olly asked, staring down at Alicia. "Did Celeste's parents end up despising Sterling or something?"

"Not them," Alicia muttered, her voice muffled against the bar top. "They seem to like him just fine. Celeste's brother, however..."

"Her brother?" Olly asked. "I didn't know her brother was coming. I didn't even know Celeste had a brother."

"I completely forgot that she did," she said with a shake. "He's not around much because he's some hotshot entrepreneur. His arrival was supposed to be a surprise." She gave a bitter laugh.

And what a surprise he had been...

"So, why didn't he like Sterling?"

Alicia finally raised her head. "He was unhappy to find out Sterling was 'just' a bartender. Apparently his precious little sister is too good for 'just' a bartender," Alicia said, mimicking the snobby tone Zeke had taken. "Fortunately, Celeste didn't put up with it. She stormed out with Sterling."

"What a mess." Olly shook his head. "How'd Sterling take it?"

"It definitely hit him where it hurt, but he's doing okay. It probably helps to know that Celeste has his back, no matter what. They're at the apartment now and I let them be. After all that, I figured they'd need some space..."

"...which is how you ended up here," Olly finished for her.

"Exactly. And which is why I need a drink." She made grabby hands at the extensive collection of alcohol behind Olly.

Olly didn't need to be told twice. "One spiked hot chocolate coming right up!" He grabbed the biggest option from his collection of tacky holiday mugs. As he spooned in the ready-made concoction from the pot on the counter, he continued the conversation over his shoulder. "I'm guess this big brother Scrooge has put a bit of a damper on all plans for Christmas?"

"That's putting it lightly," Alicia grumbled, leaning on her hand. "So much for our best Christmas ever..."

Olly shot her a sympathetic look as he topped the hot chocolate with his signature mountain of whipped cream, as much as the mug would hold. "Hey, Christmas isn't for a couple more weeks. There's plenty of time for the Brightons to work out their family drama."

"Yeah, I guess," Alicia muttered, releasing a big sigh. "If only there was some way I could help..."

"Oh no no no," Olly said, frowning at her as he added sprinkles to the whipped cream. "You need to stay out of it. This is between Celeste and her family."

"But if I can help—"

"Help? You're not going to help, you going to meddle," Olly said as he brought over her hot chocolate but held it just out of her reach. Alicia reached for it, but he pulled it back like a warning. "You should stay out of it."

"I'm not going to meddle!" She grabbed for the drink again.

"Uh-huh, and if I believed that, you could sell me a bridge," Olly rolled his eyes but finally handed over the hot chocolate. "You know, maybe all your meddling energy is better spent getting to know that guy..." He waggled his eyebrows.

Alicia blinked at him. "What guy?"

Olly looked at her like it should be obvious. "The one you were flirting with before you left?"

"I-I wasn't flirting!" she sputtered as her whole body suddenly felt hot. If only Olly had any idea of who that guy was...

"Well, maybe you weren't, but that guy sure was," Olly said with a smirk. "You should go for it. He was cute."

It felt like her face was suddenly aflame. "There are like a thousand reasons why nothing is going to happen with that guy. And he was not c—"

The bar's door jingled again, interrupting her.

Alicia turned. A chill chased up her spine, a chill that had nothing to do with the burst of icy air that followed the newcomer...

Zeke.

He shook the snow from his auburn hair, looking as good as ever.

Zeke glanced around. As he spotted her, a smile spread across his face...

Yeah, he wasn't cute... He was so much more. That only made Alicia madder—not only had Zeke insulted her friend and wrecked their happy Christmas, but he had to look like that while he did it.

Why did he have to come into her life now?

Why did he have to be Celeste's brother?

And why did he have to be a complete jerk?

"Well, well, well," Olly muttered under his breath. "He sure looks happy to see you. Go on! Now's your chance!"

"Olly, I can't!" Alicia hissed back.

"Why not?"

"Because that's Celeste's brother!"

Olly's eyes widened, and he blinked at her before slowly turning to face Zeke as he approached them.

"Alicia, hi," Zeke said, smirking nothing had happened. "I was hoping to find you here. Can I buy you a drink? I want to apologize for the scene my family made at dinner—"

"Sorry," Olly cut in. "We're closed."

"What?" Zeke glanced around the obviously still-full bar. "No, you're not."

"Sure, we are," Olly said. "We're closed. At least, we are for you."

"Me?" Zeke said, frowning in confusion. "Why?"

Olly just stared him down, a single eyebrow raised. "You look well-educated, I'm sure you'll figure it out."

Zeke's frown deepened. "What are you—?"

"Let me handle this," Alicia said to Olly, then slid off the stool. She grabbed Zeke's arm and pulled him towards the door. Zeke was bewildered enough that he went through the door without much trouble.

Outside, the weather had turned for the worse. The snow was heavier, the wind sharper. It whipped at Alicia and wished she had thought to bring her coat... but there was no backing down now.

She swung Zeke around and pushed him to the sidewalk.

"Wait, what the hell just happened?" Zeke gave a shocked laugh. "Did I just get... kicked out?"

"What did you expect?" Alicia snapped, crossing her arms. Despite the chill settling into her bones, she did her best to look fierce. She nodded upwards, where the neon sign was buzzing above them. "Did you forget that this is where Sterling works?"

"So?" Zeke said with a shrug. "He's obviously not working tonight."

"No, but Olly is. Olly owns the bar, Sterling is his friend, and he doesn't take kindly to anyone who insults his friend."

"Wow, word travels fast in this nowheresville," Zeke scoffed. "I have no idea what Celeste sees in this... this forgettable town full of forgettable people."

Alicia bristled. "Maybe Winter Grove isn't the biggest and fanciest town in the world, but it's not forgettable—and neither are the people. The people here are warm and caring and kind... Something it appears you know nothing about."

Zeke frowned, his eyes narrowing at Alicia. Gone was the charmer from earlier. He now watched her with the shrewd and exacting stare he used to cut through Sterling.

"You don't know me. And my issue with Sterling is none of your business. This is a family matter, between me and my sister..."

Alicia straightened up and did her best not to shiver in the cold. She wasn't afraid of him. "Well Sterling is my family, so it is my business."

Zeke looked truly annoyed now. "Look, I'm sorry for any hurt feelings, but I was only speaking the truth. Celeste is my sister. I want the best for her, it's what she deserves. And, I'm sorry, but I don't think Sterling—or this stupid little town—is it."

"Well, then your idea of 'best' is wrong," she snapped. "You should be happy your sister has found a person that loves her like Sterling does. Just because it doesn't measure up to your expectations doesn't mean it's wrong. And how you can't be so certain about someone after just meeting them for five seconds? You don't even know Sterling—"

Alicia froze. Everything went silent as something dawned on her. Even the wind seemed to calm, just for a moment.

Zeke stared at her, clearly confused.

"Are you gonna finish that thought?"

Alicia looked at him, but her gaze went straight through him.

"That's it."

"What's it?" Zeke asked.

"You don't know Sterling..."

Zeke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, maybe I don't, but I know enough. I don't have to to know much to see that he's not right for my sister—"

Alicia raised her hand to cut him off. "No, not that."

"Then what the hell are you talking about?" Zeke huffed.

A slow smile spread across Alicia's face.

"You're going to get to know him."

"Oh, yeah?" Zeke replied with a hollow laugh. "And who's going to make me?"

Her smile widened, turning smug, as something bright sparked in the depths of her dark eyes.

"Me."

She shot him one last look, then turned and marched back into the bar, leaving Zeke out in the cold.

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