"Thank you, but I can't take the credit. I hired people to put everything together." I force a smile and take another sip, my eyes flicking side to side, looking everywhere except into his eyes, where it seems he wants me to look.
Trying to be subtle, he pulls a small box out from his pocket and thrusts it gently into my free hand, a sweet smile dancing across his quivering lips as another gust of wind blows, giving us all a chill as it kicks up snowflakes in it's path
"What's this for?" Inspecting the perfectly wrapped box, I ask in a soft voice, trembling on the inside but not from the cold.
He smiles, winking, silently urging me to open it. "I wanted to get you something to show my appreciation for all that you've done since my father was killed."
My heart hurts, but I return his smile, internally questioning what he could be up to. Staying silent, I nod, handing him my almost empty glass of wine so I can tear open the silver foil wrapping paper. Opening the lid to the maroon velvet box, my jaw slightly drops and my blood begins to boil as my eyes scan over the necklace secured inside.
"Really, Cole? It's bad enough that you have to call me the ice queen, but now you're buying me jewelry with ice on it?" I scoff, trying to be grateful but, at the same time, feeling hurt and defeated on the inside.
"It's not meant to be a joke gift, Noelle. The ice cubes remind me of your eyes, so that's why I got it." He takes the box out of my hand and pulls out the necklace, undoing the clasp to put it on me.
"Well, that's sweet," I admit, allowing him to drape it around my neck. "Thank you," I tell him, gliding the cubes through my fingers, only now realizing my name is engraved into one of the cubes and his name is engraved in the other one.
"Fresh start?" He asks, his voice sounding hopeful.
"Might as well try... it's a brand new year after all."
"I'm sorry, Noelle I shouldn't have blamed you for my father's murder."
Shocked, my lips part to speak, but nothing comes out. What am I supposed to say? So many questions are running through my mind, but I don't even know where to begin. The look he gives me as I stare deeply into his eyes is so familiar, yet I can't seem to place it.
Looking over his shoulder, I catch the stares of his friends, the guys who play on the same team as him, and a shiver runs through me as I take in their smiles. Suddenly, a feeling deep inside begins to gnaw at me, and the questions in my mind double. I glance back at Cole, his mischievous smirk letting me know I might be on the right path.
Could it be them who had something to do with the kidnapping? My hands tremble down by my side, and of course Cole notices. He winks and hands me back my glass of wine, and I finish it in a single gulp that leaves my head spinning.
"Happy New Year, Noelle," he says, my name dripping like honey off the tip of his tongue, a mysterious yet knowing gleam in his eyes as he flashes another wink before walking off and leaving me speechless.
As I stand here, the crisp winter air biting at my exposed skin, my mind races a million miles an hour. The warmth from the earlier encounter with Q lingers in the back of my thoughts, creating a strange tension as the reality of the present solidifies around me. Everything feels distorted—like my emotions are being pulled in two different directions, tugging me between the heat of passion and the chill of uncertainty.
I clench the necklace around my neck, feeling the rough edges of the ice cubes against my fingertips. Cole's gesture had been thoughtful and undeniably sweet, but the memories of what he had put me through linger, festering like an open wound. There is an air of mischief around the backyard; my senses are heightened, as if every sound and whisper carries a weight of secrets unshared.
I glance around, half-expecting to see Q stepping out from behind the trees, ready to whisk me away into another world where I could forget about everything happening here. But he’s not there; the backyard is filled with Cole's boisterous teammates, laughing and cheering as the countdown tomidnight approaches. A part of me wishes to be anywhere but here.
"Hey, you made it!" A voice breaks through my thoughts, and I turn to see Maya, a close friend and colleague, making her way toward me with a broad smile stretched across her face. "You look stunning! And I love the new necklace." She leans in to admire it, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Thanks,” I mutter, forcing a smile as I try to wipe away the residual unease lingering in my gut. “Just trying to survive the holiday chaos.”
She giggles, and instinctively I feel myself relax a little as she brushes her hair behind her ear. “We’re gearing up for the countdown! Are you ready for what’s next?”
I glance back at the party, the energy buzzing undeniably vibrant. “I guess. Just trying to figure it all out, you know?”
“Hey, it’s a new year, right? Anything is possible!” She winks, slipping her arm through mine and guiding me toward a smaller group near the firepit. The warmth radiating from the flames feels like a welcoming embrace, easing the tension in my shoulders just a fraction.
As I tuck myself next to Maya, I steal a glance at Cole again. His laughter harmonizes with his friends, carelessly cradled in revelry. He catches my eye and grins, the familiarity frightening me. Flickers of that old warmth mix with the icy memories, wrapping together into something nearly suffocating.
“Alright, alright!” Hudson, a blond with an infectious grin, begins shouting as the countdown starts. “Let’s do this! Everyone, gather around!”
Laughter erupts, and the crowd forms tighter around the fire. My heart pounds louder as the ticking feels louder than ever, echoing through my ears. I can sense anticipation hanging in the air, tangible.
"Ten... nine...” the chorus begins, and I feel Maya squeeze my hand, excitement bubbling within her as she leans in closer.
My thoughts drift back to Q, the heat of his touch still etched into my memory. I wonder where our own countdown to midnight may have led us, if only the party were far away.
“Five… four…”
Suddenly, it feels as if time moves in slow motion. The world around me fades. I’m transported back to the bathroom, to the pleasure, to the thrill of what I had touched.