Zeke

The bar's lights shut off just as Zeke stepped out of the door. He checked his phone and saw that it was exactly ten o'clock. He groaned. The town turned in early, and he wasn't ready to head to bed yet...

One of the hotel employees walked past, and Zeke waved them down.

"Hey, is there anywhere I can get a drink in this town that doesn't close at ten?" Zeke asked.

The employee, a tall, reedy guy with a flat expression, looked over. "Oh, sure. Lucky for you, it's just down the street."

A small glimmer of hope filled Zeke's chest. "Does it have a name?"

"It's called The Snowball."

Zeke's face fell. "Is that the only place open past ten?"

"Yeah," the guy said with a shrug. "It's a small town, y'know how it is."

"I do," Zeke grumbled. "Thanks."

The guy nodded and pushed through an EMPLOYEE ONLY door. Zeke stood there and sighed, tilting his head to look up at the ceiling. They had even woven evergreen boughs across there, too. There was no escaping Christmas in this town.

Of course, he thought to himself. The only place in this town to get a drink, and I've been banned from it.

Thinking of his ban, Alicia flashed into his mind. The memory lingered on the bright flame dancing in her dark eyes, her smug smile as he was dragged away by his mother, unable to refuse his family's holiday enthusiasm.

He had been wrong about her. She was more than trouble—she was dangerous. He couldn't believe she'd somehow roped him into yet another family outing—several of them in fact.

The Winter Grove Games...

This was going to be a nightmare.

He shook his head and abandoned his hopes of finding a place to get a drink. He stuffed his phone back in his pocket and headed to the elevators, grumbling to himself the whole way.

He thought one of the few redeeming qualities of small towns was that they were supposed to be peaceful. This place had brought him everything but.

As Zeke closed in on his room, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He paused in front of his door to pull out his keycard and brought his phone along with it.

His heart stuttered as he glanced at the screen.

It was a message from her.

Can we talk?

Seeing her name on the screen sent a stab of pain through his chest. The memory of the last night he'd seen her flashed through his mind... The penthouse, city lights...

He quickly shook it off and dashed off a quick reply, his taps harder than they needed to be.

What's left to say?

Then he turned on Do Not Disturb and shoved it back in his pocket. He didn't care what she might reply.

He swiped his key card on his room's door, and it beeped open. If he couldn't get a drink, maybe he'd raid the minibar again...

Behind him, the door across the hall opened.

His dad stepped out.

"Zeke," he said, his tone serious.

Zeke turned. "Dad?"

"Could you come in here for a moment?" his dad asked. "Your mother and I would like to have a chat."

Zeke grimaced, already dreading whatever he might have to say. But he dutifully abandoned his own suite and headed into theirs. His father led him into the sitting room. His parents' room was beautiful, with separate sitting and sleeping spaces. It had been well worth the price he'd paid to upgrade them, but even it was festooned with greenery and glitter. The Wintergreen Inn's festive touches were not limited to public spaces. The room even had its own Christmas tree tucked into the corner near the fireplace, filling the room with sparkling light.

His mother was already seated in one of the armchairs by the fire, waiting for him. His dad took his place in the matching chair next to her and offered Zeke a spot on the love seat opposite.

Zeke dropped himself down into the mass of pillows that lined the seat. He didn't bother asking what they wanted to talk about... he already had a pretty good idea.

His parents exchanged a worried look before his dad cleared his throat.

"Celeste told us about tonight."

Zeke let out a long, low breath.

Of course.

It wasn't enough that he was being forced to participate in these stupid Winter Grove Games, but now he was about to be raked over the coals for losing his cool...

And he was still dangerously sober.

He could really use that drink.

"What about it?" Zeke asked, eyeing his parents' suite and looking for their own minibar. Could they object if he took something? He was paying for it, after all...

His mom clicked her tongue. "Remember what you promised? About being civil?"

"I was being civil!" Zeke said. "Or I was, until Alicia started..."

He stopped himself. He was not sure how to explain the strange situation he'd gotten himself into. Saying it aloud would sound insane.

What would he even say?

Celeste's best friend is trying to bully me into liking her boyfriend?

"What about Alicia?" his dad pressed.

"It's nothing," Zeke said quickly. "But, for the record, I was trying to be civil. I just snapped, I didn't mean anything by it."

His mom didn't look convinced. "If you didn't mean anything by it, then maybe you should apologize."

Zeke took another deep breath. Visions of tiny minibar bottles danced in his head.

"I'm sorry."

His mother frowned. "Not to us."

Zeke winced. They wanted him to apologize to Sterling. That was the last thing he wanted to do. Though even he had to admit the 'loser' comment was out of line...

Whatever he thought of Sterling, saying it out loud was a step too far.

"Fine," Zeke said. "I'll apologize to Sterling."

"And stick to your promise going forward," his dad added. "Be civil."

Zeke fought the urge to roll his eyes. "Right. I'll be on my best behavior. Promise. Pinky promise."

His parents relaxed into their cushy chairs. They appeared satisfied.

He waited for a moment before asking. "Is that all? Can I go now?"

His dad gave him a quintessential 'dad' look before he and his mom exchanged another look.

"There's one more thing," he said.

"What?" Zeke asked.

"We think you're being too hard on Celeste."

Zeke huffed and got up from the couch. He was suddenly restless. He went to the fireplace and leaned against the mantle, staring into the flames.

Behind him, his mother continued. "Celeste really seems to care for this Sterling guy. And whatever his past, he seems like a nice boy and he clearly cares for her, too. They're happy together. Can't you be happy for them, too?"

Zeke gritted his teeth. Why did no one seem to get it? "It's not his past that I'm concerned about. It's his future." He looked back at them over his shoulder. "He's a bartender, and from the sounds of it, that's all he ever plans on being."

"People are more than their jobs," his dad replied. "I mean, just look at you! Just because you sold your company, does that mean who you are has changed?"

Zeke didn't answer, just turned his gaze back into the fire. If he was being honest, it did feel like a fundamental part of him had changed.

Not just because he lost the company...

But her, too.

His mom seemed to read his mind. "Is all this because of... Nancy?"

Hearing her name sent something sharp pushing through his chest. Zeke bristled and wheeled around.

"It has nothing to do with Nancy," he snapped. "This is about Celeste's future, not mine."

His mother didn't back down. "Celeste's future is her own. These are her decisions to make. She only wants your support."

Zeke scoffed. "I can't give what I don't have."

"What if this was Nancy?" his dad interrupted. "What would you have done if Celeste hadn't liked Nancy and didn't even try to hide it?"

Zeke paused, trying to picture it. All it did was suck all the air out of his lungs. "I wish that had been the case. Maybe I would've listened, and..."

"Maybe, maybe not," his dad said. "And if not Nancy, then another girl, whoever you meet next. What if..."

Zeke tried to imagine it, but it wasn't easy. He tried to picture the face of a girl he might like, who might put his own heart back together...

But it was Alicia who appeared in his mind unbidden.

Just a flash of that first night in Winter Grove when they hit it off at the bar. He remembered how that spark felt, the first glimmer of hope.

But he shook the memory off, dismissing the idea of her.

He was certain she only appeared in his mind because of all the time they'd been forced to spend together these past few days.

"What if Celeste didn't like her?" his dad continued. "Wouldn't that matter to you?"

Once again, Alicia pushed into his mind. He imagined what would've happened if they'd continued their conversation that night, uninterrupted by that disastrous dinner, before he remembered she was Celeste's best friend...

If they had ended up together, what would've Celeste said?

Would Celeste be gracious, happy that her best friend and her brother had found a connection?

Or would she object as he had, certain his relationship would ruin her friendship?

Would it matter what she said?

Would he risk it all anyway?

Would he—

"I can't be bothered thinking about 'what-ifs'," he said. "What matters is that I feel how I feel, and no amount of pestering will change that."

His mom's gaze softened. "We're not asking for you to change anything. We'd just like you to try."

"Try?"

"Try and give Sterling a chance, a real chance... to get to know him."

Zeke's resolve faltered at those words.

It's almost as though Alicia had been whispering in their ears.

He couldn't guarantee she hadn't.

But his parents' faces were earnest, careful. This wasn't a ploy or a trick. They aren't saying all this to upset them. They just wanted peace between their children and peace for Christmas.

He could at least give them that... try to give them that.

"Fine," Zeke said, his voice quiet, the defeat plain. "I'll give him a chance. One chance, and that's it."

But that was enough for his parents. They both smiled.

"That's all we wanted to hear," his dad said, clapping as if the matter was settled. "Fortunately, you'll have plenty of opportunity to do that at the Winter Grove Games."

Zeke couldn't stop from scowling as he remembered what awaited him tomorrow.

Oh, yeah. He was definitely raiding the minibar tonight.

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