Page 23 of Unwrapped

His eyes brighten, and he holds the snow globe out toward me. “Then I think you should add this one to your collection. A souvenir from tonight.”

I take the snow globe from him, feeling a warm flutter in my chest. “Are you sure? It’s your first time here—you should keep it.”

He shakes his head, his smile turning gentle. “It’s a memory I’d rather share with you.” He holds his card out to the woman behind the stall, purchasing the globe.

For a second, I’m speechless, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. I look down at the snow globe in my hands, at the little village inside, and then back up at him. “Thank you, Asher. Really.”

He shrugs, trying to play it off, but I can see the faint pink tinge on his cheeks, and it makes something inside me soften. “It’s just a snow globe, Ivy. No big deal.”

“Maybe not to you,” I reply, a smile tugging at my lips, “but to me, it’s kind of perfect.”

He holds my gaze for a beat longer, then glances away, clearing his throat. “So, what’s next on the holiday tour? Should we find some roasted chestnuts or try out that skating rink over there?” He points to a rink just beyond the market stalls, where couples and families glide across the ice under the glow of fairy lights.

I follow his gaze, feeling a flicker of excitement. “Only if you’re ready to risk bruising your pride. I’m pretty good on skates, you know.”

He gives me a mock-serious look, raising an eyebrow. “Is that a challenge?”

“Absolutely,” I reply, stepping closer to him, our shoulders nearly brushing. “Unless you’re afraid of being shown up. Maybe there’s something you’re not amazing at?—”

He leans in, lowering his voice as a playful grin spreads across his face. “Ivy Calloway, you have a little snark to you, you know that? I think you’re starting to enjoy this—challenging me.”

I tilt my head, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Maybe I am.”

The words slip out before I can second-guess them, and for a moment, the world seems to pause. His smile softens, turning almost contemplative, and the look in his eyes makes my heart race. He opens his mouth, like he’s about to say something more, but then a gust of wind sends a swirl of snowflakes dancing around us, and the spell is broken.

“Well, come on then,” he says, holding out a hand with an exaggerated flourish, “show me what you’ve got.”

I hesitate for only a second before slipping my gloved hand into his, letting him lead me toward the skating rink. The contact is brief, but it leaves my skin tingling, my mind buzzing with the possibilities of what might come next.

We lace up our skates, the cold biting at our noses and cheeks, but I hardly feel it. I’m too focused on the way Asher’s smile keeps slipping into something softer when he looks at me, like he’s seeing me in a new light. As we step onto the ice, he wobbles a bit, catching himself with a laugh that echoes through the night air.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall,” I tease, skating a circle around him with ease.

He narrows his eyes at me, a playful challenge in his expression. “Is that so? We’ll see about that.”

I laugh, pushing off to glide across the ice, and he follows, a little unsteady but determined. For a while, we just skate,weaving in and out of the other skaters, the lights above us casting shadows that stretch and shimmer on the ice. He picks up speed, closing the distance between us, and I can’t help the rush of exhilaration that courses through me.

Asher catches up to me, his breath visible in the cold air, and he reaches out, gently tugging on the end of my scarf. “You’re a show-off, you know that?”

I grin, turning to skate backward so I can face him. “Hey, I told you I was good. You should’ve believed me.”

He laughs, a sound that sends warmth blooming in my chest. “Okay, okay, I believe you. But I think you owe me a little mercy.”

I slow down, letting him catch his breath, and he comes to a stop beside me, still gripping the end of my scarf. For a moment, we just stand there, our breaths mingling in the frosty air, the lights casting a golden halo around us.

“I’m really glad we did this, Ivy,” he says quietly, his voice carrying a hint of something deeper. “I feel like… I’m seeing a whole new side of you tonight.”

I swallow, feeling a lump rise in my throat. It’s terrifying, being this close to someone, letting them see the parts of you you’ve kept hidden for so long. But when I look into Asher’s eyes, I see something genuine there, something that makes me want to take the risk.

“Maybe you are,” I say softly, my voice barely more than a whisper, “but I’m still the same girl who likes mystery novels and dragons.”

He smiles, stepping closer, his hand brushing mine. “And I like that girl. A lot.”

My breath catches, and for a moment, I think he might kiss me. But instead, he just holds my gaze, his thumb tracing a slow circle over the back of my hand. And even though the distancebetween us is maddening, I realize that maybe, for tonight, this is enough.

Chapter 8

Asher

---