Ethan

Ethan glanced at the clock. It took longer than he thought to load the massive ice sculpture and the little shopping detour Ethan suggested didn't help matters. Plus, they had to stop back at the house to change for the party.

By the time, Ethan followed his brother into the barn, the party was in full swing. The word ‘barn’ also didn’t do the space justice. He liked how the Price family seemed hell bent on underwhelming people by calling their five star hotel a lodge and the gorgeous storefront a barn.

The barn was beautifully decorated for Christmas. There were trees, wreaths and pine garland strung with lights everywhere he looked. He loved the simple red and black buffalo plaid that gave the cocktail tables a rustic feel. Even the pine dance floor looked inviting with the party-goers dancing to the live band.

Ethan took in the gorgeous scene wondering if he could ever accurately describe the beauty of the barn party to someone who hadn’t experienced it. But his musings were cut short when he saw Chloe. The breathtaking Christmas scene didn’t hold a candle to the vision walking across the dance floor.

Chloe was wearing a long evergreen dress with her long hair down around her shoulders. It looked like silk and Ethan could scarcely think of anything but running his fingers through it.

She walked right up to him, not shy about her glowing smile. “Hey you.”

“Hey yourself.” Ethan stared at her, searching for just the right words. “You look . . .” like the most beautiful thing in the room, Chloe. He shook his head, knowing better than to admit his true feelings. “Very nice.”

She grinned. “Thanks. You look pretty nice, yourself. I was starting to worry about you.”

“You were?”

“Yeah, you guys were gone a long time. Did everything go okay with the ice sculpture?”

Right on cue two guys dressed in lodge sweaters wheeled the massive reindeer into the barn. “Yeah.” He nodded to the ice sculpture. “Owen was just being cautious. The roads were pretty icy.”

“Good. I’m glad you were being careful.”

Ethan stared at Chloe’s shy smile. Are you worrying about me, Chloe?

“Do you want to dance?” she asked.

With you? More than anything. He gave a slight nod. “Okay.”

Chloe led him to the dance floor and once Ethan had her in his arms he didn’t want to let go. He found himself wondering how on earth he’d ever survived without spending every moment of his life with his arms around this girl. And even worse, how was he going to manage to let go when Christmas came to an end?

Ethan swayed to the music, letting Chloe do most of the leading. He couldn’t seem to do more than run his fingers through her hair.

“I like your hair like this,” he whispered. “You should wear it down more often.”

“Ethan Hall, are you commenting on my hairstyle? You'd better be careful.”

“Why’s that?”

“You're starting to sound like a boyfriend.”

He laughed. “Is that so?”

“Definitely.”

“Well, I guess I will have to take your word for it since I've never been a boyfriend before.”

Chloe shook her head. “I still don't know if I believe you. You are definitely boyfriend material.”

“Boyfriend material, huh? For who?”

Before Chloe could answer Brady suddenly appeared. He wore a grin that Ethan wanted to wipe off his face. “Hey, Chloe. You owe me a dance.”

She frowned. “I do?”

“Sixth grade, you got chicken pox and I had to go to the dance all by myself. You said you’d make it up to me. Well, this is me calling in that dance.” Brady looked right at Ethan and winked. “You don't mind, right bro?”

Of course he minded but once again Ethan kept his emotions in check and stepped away from Chloe without a word.

Brady

A new song started, its pace a little faster than what Brady would’ve preferred. But Chloe didn’t even seem to notice that they were the only two slow dancing to a fast song. Her eyes were still on Ethan. She’d watched him walk away with a longing in her eyes that Brady was familiar with.

He’d seen that look before. The way Chloe was watching Ethan . . . it was the same way she used to watch Brady. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach. Was he too late? No. He refused to believe it. He and Chloe had a history. He just needed to make her remember.

Brady tucked a long strand of hair behind Chloe’s ear. “Clo?”

“Hmm?”

“I was saying you look beautiful tonight.” He’d said it once already but it was as if she hadn’t heard him at all. She felt like a mannequin in his arms.

“Oh, thanks.”

“I had a great time snowmobiling today.”

She smiled at him but not the way she used to. “Yeah, today was fun.”

“Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow's Christmas, Brady.”

“So. We always used to hang out on Christmas.”

Chloe bit her lip. She was looking at him now, but he wished she wasn’t. “Brady, things aren't like they were before.”

“What do you mean? I thought we were friends again.”

“We are. And I’ll always love our friendship, Brady, but I don't want to go back to how it was before.”

“Back to being my girlfriend you mean?”

She nodded. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lead you on. I wasn't really sure how I felt at first, but now . . .” She paused and glanced over Brady’s shoulder again. He followed her eyes to where they landed on Ethan. “Now, I just feel like we’re not as right for each other as I thought.”

“Because of him?” Brady asked, jutting his chin in Ethan’s direction.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s okay, Chloe. I’m not mad. All of this is my fault. I’m the one who screwed up and let you go.”

“Maybe you didn’t screw up. Maybe we weren’t meant to be more than we are.”

Brady tried to smile but he felt a dull ache in his chest as his hopes deflated. “Well, if the next guy screws up maybe we'll find out.”

“Maybe.”

“Make sure he treats you better than I did,” Brady said, kissing her on the cheek. “Merry Christmas, Chloe.”

“Merry Christmas, Brady.”

With a sigh, Brady let his arms fall away from Chloe. His heart felt heavy as he turned to walk away. Maybe she was right. Maybe they weren’t meant to be more. Either way, it looked like he wouldn’t find out. Chloe didn’t want to give him another chance. And he really couldn’t blame her.

Brady stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked off the dance floor. When he passed Ethan he frowned. Brady wanted to hate the guy, he really did, but as he’d said to Chloe, this was Brady's fault, not Ethan's.

Brady gave Ethan a sad smile and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Good luck.” Then he walked away.

Brady found himself wondering if maybe he should’ve hung a different wish on the Christmas tree yesterday. Instead of wishing to find something he’d lost, he should’ve wished for knowledge. Because if he’d known what he had in the first place, he never would have let it go.