“Gabe! Help!” Finn waves at him.
Gabe squeezes my waist once before skating to Finn’s rescue, leaving me suddenly cold where his arm had been.
I manage to make it to the rail on my own, feeling unreasonably proud of this small accomplishment. From there, I watch the three men. These people weren’t even in my life a week ago, and now I can’t imagine my holiday without them.
“Earth to Melody,” Charlie appears beside me, leaning against the rail. “You’re oggling.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. With big, dreamy omega eyes.” She mimics an exaggerated lovesick expression.
“Shut up,” I nudge her playfully with my elbow.
“It’s cute,” she says. “I haven’t seen Everett this happy in ages. Not since before dad got sick.”
Before I can respond, a loud whistle pierces the air, and the crowd begins moving toward the Christmas tree. Mayor Reynolds stands on a small platform beside it, microphone in hand.
“Time for the main event,” Charlie says, hooking her arm through mine. “Let’s get you off the ice before the ceremony.”
We make our way to the edge of the rink, where Everett helps me step off the ice. His hands linger at my waist, and I pretend not to notice the little thrill that runs through me.
Gabe and Finn join us, the latter looking considerably more disheveled than when we started.
“I survived,” Finn announces proudly. “Barely, but I survived.”
“You were very brave,” I assure him.
We return our ice skates and join the crowd gathering around the enormous pine tree. Despite my aversion to Mayor Reynolds after our encounter, I have to admit he runs a good ceremony. His speech is mercifully brief, focusing on community spirit and the season’s beauty.
“And now,” he announces with a flourish, “the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Let the countdown begin!”
The crowd joins in, voices rising in unison. “Ten! Nine! Eight!”
I find myself wedged between Gabe and Everett, with Finn on Gabe’s other side and Charlie beside her brother. The energy of the crowd is infectious, and I’m counting along with everyone else.
“Seven! Six! Five!”
Everett’s hand finds mine in the darkness, his fingers threading through mine.
“Four! Three!”
On my other side, Gabe’s arm presses against mine, solid and warm.
“Two! One!”
The tree erupts in light, thousands of tiny bulbs illuminating all at once. The crowd gasps collectively, then breaks into applause and cheers. The tree is magnificent, towering above us.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
“It is,” Everett agrees, but when I look up at him, he’s not looking at the tree. He’s looking at me.
My heart does a little flip in my chest.
Music starts playing, and the crowd begins to disperse, moving toward the various vendor booths or back to the skating rink. But our little group remains, bathed in the glow of the Christmas tree.
“Hot chocolate?” Finn suggests. “I need something to warm my traumatized bones after that skating ordeal.”
“Seconded,” I agree.