Page 27 of Silent Night Temptation

As I walk past Coco and Nyree standing in the walkway, my eyes catch Coco’s. There’s something unspoken in her face, a look of hesitation, like she wants to tell me something. The urge to ask rises in me, but just as the words form, she turns away.

“Ethan, need any help in there?!” she calls out, already moving toward the outhouse.

I keep walking, letting the words drift away as I head to the back of the house, seeking the solitude that awaits me there.The snow is thicker here, undisturbed by our earlier efforts to clear the path. I push through it, my boots sinking into the cold blanket until I reach an old log half-buried in snow. Sitting down, I let out a heavy sigh, my breath misting in the cold air. My pulse slows, and I feel the weight of everything settle over me like the winter sky.

Why Ethan?The question nags at me, gnawing at my thoughts. Of all the men in the world, why him? Coco swore she didn’t know how much of a thorn he’d been in my side when they first started dating. But now that she does know, why stay with him? Is it love? Some form of blind emotion? Maybe it’s something like what I feel for Nyree. But Nyree is... perfect. Warm, thoughtful, good. What does Coco see in someone like Ethan?

The crunch of footsteps in the snow pulls me from my thoughts. For a fleeting second, I brace myself.I swear to God if that’s Ethan again…

But then I see her, Nyree. She moves carefully, as if she’s afraid to disturb whatever storm still brews inside me. She sits beside me on the log, close but not too close, and for a while, we just sit in the quiet.

Finally, she breaks the silence. “Hey,” she says softly.

“Hey,” I respond, my voice colder than I intend, the residual anger from Ethan still lodged in my chest.

“Umm… Happy Boxing Day.” Her tone is light, and when I turn to look at her, I see that innocent sparkle in her eyes. It’s so disarming, so absurdly gentle in this moment, that I can’t help but chuckle.

“Happy Boxing Day, Nyree.”

The tension between us eases. We sit there for a while, silent again, her presence offering a calm I most certainly needed. She’s thinking, I can tell. Trying to find the right words to lift me out of this dark mood. Finally, she turns to me, a playful energyin her voice. “So... you had a Christmas tree and Christmas dinner. Do you have any Boxing Day rituals?”

I shake my head, a small, bemused smile creeping onto my face. “No. Can’t say I do.”

She stands, brushing the snow from her coat, her expression bright with an idea. “I think I’ve got one we can do.”

Before I can ask what she means, she steps forward and lies down in the snow, spreading her arms and legs in wide, flapping motions. “Snow angels!” she exclaims with a laugh, her eyes glowing with childlike excitement.

It’s such an unexpected, innocent gesture, I can’t help but laugh. A real, genuine laugh that feels like the first in a while. She looks up at me with that wide smile, completely at ease. “My dad used to love ‘em… Come on, join me!”

I hesitate. The remnants of my earlier frustration still clings to me, but the allure of her joy is too strong to resist. I lie down beside her, careful to leave just enough space between us, and start moving my arms and legs in sync with hers, carving a snow angel into the powdery ground.

Nyree laughs. Loud, full, and rich laughter that for a moment, the world feels lighter. Just us, the snow, and this silly, sweet moment. Nothing else matters.

Her laughter fades into a quieter, more serious tone as she turns to me. “I know you’re just trying to protect Coco. You love her. But she’s an adult now. She can choose who she wants to be with... You understand that, right?”

The words hit me harder than I expect. I’ve been Coco’s protector for so long, ever since her mother passed. Her safety, her happiness and her life has been my priority. But Nyree’s right. Coco’s not a child anymore. She can make her own decisions, even if they don’t make sense to me. But Ethan?Ethan?

I shake my head, my breath escaping in a frustrated huff. “Anyone... anyone would’ve been fine. But Ethan... He’s no good for her, Nyree.”

Nyree nods, a soft, understanding look in her eyes. Maybe she agrees, or maybe she knows better than to push it any further right now. Either way, we fall into a comfortable silence again, just lying there in the snow, the cold somehow less biting with her beside me.

Then, a mischievous thought strikes me. I scoop up a handful of snow, packing it loosely in my palm. “So... you asked if I had any Boxing Day rituals?”

“Hmm-hmm,” she hums, curious and smiling.

“Well... here’s one.” I toss the snowball right into her face.

Her mouth drops open in exaggerated shock, her expression priceless as the snow splatters across her. “Ohhh, hell no!” she yells, scooping up a handful of snow and launching it back at me.

And just like that, we’re in a full-blown snowball fight. Laughter spills out of us, carefree and wild. We throw snow, dodging and ducking like kids. For now, nothing else matters. Not Ethan, not the tension, not the past. Just Nyree and me, playing in the snow, completely unburdened by everything else.

***

Nyree

The rhythmic click of my fingers against the keyboard fills the room, each keystroke echoing my relief.

And… send.

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