Page 2 of Thaw My Heart

The promise of an ice-cold beer is the only thing getting me through this damn day.

The rustic, yet charming town of Aspen Hollow is alive with sparkling Christmas lights and decorative wreaths on every door. Fake reindeer with bows on their necks are strapped to Santa’s sleigh, and the nativity scene is already set up in front of the old church.

A goddamn spectacle.

Elkhorn Tavern, one of my favorite haunts in town, used to be a saloon in the late 1800s—a historic place fashioned inside an old barn. Ryker and I used to frequent quite often, but it’s been a while since my last visit. Rarely did I venture into town at this time of year, and for damn good reason.

“Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas!” Jolly mechanical Santa greets me.

And that’s one of them.

“Die in a fire,” I growl before pushing open the double barn doors, debating on setting Santa on fire.

Perhaps I could drag it out back and dispose of it once and for all. I wonder if anyone would notice if creepy Santa went missing…

A wolfish smirk crosses my face as I make my way into the bar. Timber walls surround me with horseshoe coat racks, a padded bench with plaid pillows, and a blue neon sign that reads Beer This Way. Past the threshold, the bar is lit with fairy lights strung around in random places. Two refurbished pool tables take up the corner, with lantern lights on the tables, and elk horns hanging on the walls in disarray. And a small stage is at the back for when local bands come to play. I plop down on a wooden stool, far from the other customers. Country Christmas music plays softly from the speakers, grating down my spine.

There seems to be no end to this holiday bullshit.

“Hey, Kit,” Ernest, the owner of the bar, slides my pint of Budweiser towards me. Of course, he still remembers my preferred brand to drown my sorrows. “Haven’t seen you here in a while. It’s been at least three months,” he scratches his black goatee, recalling the amount of time.

“Busy on the ranch,” I reply, taking a sip. There’s always a mountain of work to do, but still, I’ve been avoiding this town on purpose. Since it’s so small, everyone’s adamant about forming close relationships, but I feel differently. I moved out here to be alone, to escape the city, and what better place than the rural town of Aspen Hollow?

Or so I thought.

“Bit early for Santa, don’t you think? It’s November.”

Well, the end of it, but I’m holding on tight to those last days like a life raft with holes in the sides. Undeniably a sinking ship.

Ernest laughs heartily, polishing beer glasses. “I put it out every year just for you, Kit,” he winks.

I glare as if I can shoot lasers from my eyes.

“Besides, you know how much this town loves Christmas,” he adds.

“So, how’s things?” I ask him, moving on.

He chuckles at my change in conversation. “Family just came through from California. Gave me another postcard for my collection,” he points to the timber ceiling above the bar, covered in colorful postcards from passing visitors.

My beer gets stuck in my throat.

I spent the last two years trying not to think about my past. About the decade I spent in San Francisco chasing my dreams, like my dear mother would’ve wanted.

But it only ended up breaking my heart.

I take another sip, attempting to wash away the bad memories of the woman who broke my heart and the little girl I had to leave behind. “That’s nice.” I set down my glass, not meeting his eyes, hoping that’s a good enough response to enjoy the rest of my beer in silence.

“Your new neighbor seems nice,” he says, breaking the silence with a playful smirk.

“Excuse me?” What the fuck is he talking about?

“She’s bright, bubbly, and fine as frog hair,” he muses, pretending that he doesn’t hear me. “You met her yet?”

“What goddamn neighbor?” My voice rises. I live in a modern rustic two-story home. A home that’s close enough to the ranch but far enough to give me the solitude I crave. Only one house is next to mine, a vacant one, or so it has been since I moved back home.

“Her name is Sadie Lane,” he lights up.

My mind launches into overdrive, trying to fill in the missing blanks.