We spend a better half of the next hour discussing our favorite holiday films and our cheesiest Christmas traditions. Surprisingly, making eggnog is not Nik's. Although I did tease him for his. Nik's parents used to make him take a Christmas card every year –holding all his photos from previous years.

"I must see the latest Christmas card," I say, laughing. "How old were you?"

"About 22. That's the last year before they died," Nik says quietly, but his smile is gentle.

"So that card has about 21 other cards in it?" I ask.

"About right," Nik laughs, rubbing the back of his head. "So, what's your family's cheesiest tradition, Noe?"

"Besides naming children after Christmas themed songs and related paraphernalia?" I cringe.

"Yes, besides that." Nik laughs.

Hmm. "We have a lot, to be honest."

"What comes to mind first?" Nik asks, his eyes red.

I think about everything my family does around the holiday season –starting the day after Thanksgiving really. There's our annual chopping of the first tree at Trodder's Farm. Of course I can't forget the matching pajamas Christmas morning.

"Cheesiest would have to be our stocking wishes," I admit. My heart swells just thinking about it this year.

"Stocking wishes?" Nik asks.

I nod. "Each year, we write our deepest wish for Christmas on these tiny scraps of paper. We hide them in the bottom of our own stockings."

"Secret, deep wishes in your stockings?" Nik tilts his head. "That's not cheesy. That's magical."

"Well," I laugh. "Magical, I don't know. But it is nice to sort of gift your own wish to yourself, I guess. Easier to write things down than ask for them out loud."

"I can find the reason in that." Nik nods. "When do you write the wishes?"

"Christmas Eve, of course," I say. Tomorrow.

Nik breaks eye contact for a moment and I feel myself turn a violent shade of red –especially under these spotlights. Nik starts shaking his head, laughing.

"What? Don't make fun! I told you it was cheesy."

"I'm just still surprised your favorite Christmas movie is Elf."

"Nik!" I punch him on the shoulder.

"Ow, watch the right hook."

"Elf is iconic, thank you." I defend my decision.

"It's great. Will Ferrell's best work. But iconic?" Nik arches his brow. "I expected you to prefer the classics. You know –It's a Wonderful Life or White Christmas."

"Both honorable mentions," I nod.

Nik shifts in the little makeshift seat on the bench. I stand to stretch my legs and walk the inside perimeter of the gazebo. It's the clearest night I've seen since arriving on the Midnight Express.

"It's so beautiful out. We should do something," I say, looking up at the dangling icicles.

"Like what?" Nik asks.

"Not sure," I frown. "We could walk the loop again? Any other ideas?"

"Or—" Nik stands up and bridges the gap between us. "Let's dance. White Christmas style." Nik insists.

"I can't dance like that!" I laugh. "Plus this is a gazebo. Not the same thing."

"Ok, so we can make it our own. A fake gazebo dance. A waltz." Nik says, taking my hand in his and placing the other around my waist.

"You can waltz?" I ask, looking up at him.

"Believe it or not, I can do more than chop down trees," Nik teases.

I am so close to him now that I can almost feel the warmth radiating from his body. I concentrate on the thick cable-knits of his sweater. Nothing else even exists in my head.

Nik swings me around in grand fashion. We pretend to dance and pretend to know what we're doing. Preston would never have done this type of thing. Too embarrassing and too public. Our faces are filtered by red, green, and golden lights. As Nik dips me back, I feel his hands sliding up my back. I can't help but think nothing could be more perfect in this moment.

The Christmas spirit is alive and thriving in this little town gazebo.

My mind settles on a stocking wish. It's not an ostentatious engagement ring, a five-year plan, or even those black leather boots I've been ogling at Saks. In fact, all those things seem lightyears away.

"Now I can mark that off my bucket list." I take a seat beside Nik. My heart is still hammering from the fake gazebo waltz.

"The overtly cliché Christmas dance?" Nik asks, grinning.

"Exactly." I admire Nik's curls falling into his eyes. The perfect complement to his midnight shadow. No one has ever worn a beard so well.

"So, Noelle Manger," Nik says, his lips parting just barely.

"So, Nik Demming," I mirror.

"What did you ask for this Christmas?" He asks.

"Besides a quiet, off-the-beaten-track place to hideout from NYC?" I furrow my brow.

"Exactly."

"Nothing," I shrug. "There's nothing more I need."

I truly mean it.

"How about you? More plaid? Or something flannel?"

Nik's eyes crease with laughter, but he shakes his head. "Nothing."

"We finally agree on something." I whisper.

Nik's lips are so close to mine. I can feel my body responding to his proximity.

"It was bound to happen." Nik's palm cups my chin, lifting my lips to his.

The last thing I see is the yellow light dancing on Nik's lips.

...

"It's almost 11 PM. I should walk you home," Nik says.

"The responsible thing to do," I say, biting my lip. All I can think about is cozying up in Nik's cabin!

We walk through the empty school parking lot. It's almost a Christmas ghost town, except for a few walkers still out and about in town. If I listen very carefully, I think I can hear All I Want for Christmas Is You playing inside the corner bar.

"So, when can I see you again?" Nik's abrupt question tears my mind far from Mariah Carey.

"Um," I pause. "Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve."

"Like I could forget," Nik jokes, eyeing the nearest garland-wrapped lamppost. "Are you going to the Barn Benefit?"

"Like I'd be allowed to miss it." I roll my eyes.

"It's a date then. I can pick you up?" Nik asks, peering surreptitiously.

"I'd like that."

My dad's oversized Star of Pennsylvania comes into view as we turn the last corner onto our street. I rest my head against Nik's shoulder, watching my breath exhale in tiny spirals.

"Reminds me of the first night I drove you home," Nik says.

"Drove?" I tease.

"You know what I mean." Nik smiles beneath his growing beard.

"I do. And it does." My parents' porch is almost in full view. I'm not ready for this perfect night to end!

"I for one am really glad you ditched NYC." Nik squeezes my hand. "I have to admit, this has all been quite unexpected."

"Agreed. An unexpected surprise for sure." I grin.

We stop walking at the end of my driveway.

"Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Noelle."

"Merry Christmas Eve Eve."

I place a palm on Nik's chest to steady myself as I reach up and kiss him goodnight. I pull myself back from him and feel someone else shift beside me. I expect to find my parents or even Stella or maybe Trotter.

"Hi, Noelle."

I shake my head clear and flat-out gasp in the crisp night air.

"Preston?"