Page 42 of Trapped with the Ice Queen

As they stood together, the weight of the moment settled between them—not as aburden but as something grounding, a foundation they could build on.

“We don’t have to figure it all out right now,” Alex said, her voice steady. “No timelines, no grand plans. Let’s just start with lunch.”

Vivienne blinked, her lips quirking into the faintest smile. “Lunch?”

“Yeah.” Alex grinned, her confidence returning. “Something simple. We’ll eat, talk, and see where it goes. No pressure.”

Vivienne hesitated, glancing around the office as if tethered to it by invisible strings. Her calendar was packed, her emails overflowing—but in this moment, none of it seemed as important as the woman standing before her. She could feel the beginnings of something unfamiliar yet thrilling: the choice to let go, to not have everything mapped out for once.

“Lunch sounds…good,” she said at last. “But you’re paying.”

Alex laughed, a rich, genuine sound that sent warmth blooming through Vivienne’s chest. “Deal.”

They left the office, their steps in sync, a quiet strength betweenthem. As they stepped into the bustling streets, the city alive with the usual noise and rush, they moved together through the crowd, a united front against the uncertainty of the future. Their hands brushed together as they walked, the simple connection more grounding than anything they had said in the past few minutes. They didn’t have it all figured out, but they didn’t need to. For once, it was enough to simply be together, the rest of the world falling away.

The city felt brighter as they walked, the possibilities endless, the future unwritten but full of promise. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Vivienne wasn’t afraid to leap.

EPILOGUE

5 YEARS LATER

The mountain air carried a crisp stillness, the kind that only came after fresh snow.

Outside, the world was blanketed in white, the towering pines bowing under the weight of glistening frost. Inside Vivienne and Alex’s home, the quiet was filled with a different kind of warmth—a gentle hum of holiday preparation.

The living room was a reflection of the life they had built together. The stone fireplace, Alex’s handiwork, crackled with golden flames, while the mantle above it bore elegant garlands of evergreen sprigsand twinkling lights, a nod to Vivienne’s eye for detail. Nearby, a Christmas tree stood proud, its decorations a careful mix of shimmering glass baubles and homemade trinkets. One ornament caught the light—a delicate snowflake etched with the words “First Christmas Together,” a relic from years past.

Vivienne stood at the dining table, a thoughtful expression on her face as she arranged a centerpiece. Her fingers moved with practiced grace, tucking sprigs of holly among the candles she had chosen for their understated elegance. A faint hum escaped her lips, a melody Alex couldn’t quite place but recognized as one of Vivienne’s holiday habits—new this year and wholly unintentional.

“Caught you,” Alex teased, leaning in the doorway with a playful grin. She was dressed casually in a flannel shirt and jeans. Her hair, now grown out to her shoulders, was tied back, though wisps had already escaped. “Didn’t think I’d ever hear you humming a Christmas tune.”

Vivienne paused, narrowing her eyes butunable to suppress the slight smirk. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, of course not.” Alex crossed the room, stealing a cookie from the tray Vivienne had set aside for guests. “Must have been the wind whistling Jingle Bells.”

“Those are for the party!” Vivienne swatted at her, but her reprimand lacked any real heat. She shook her head, her dark curls bouncing, and turned her attention back to the table. “And for the record, I wasn’t humming Jingle Bells. I have standards.”

Alex popped the cookie into her mouth with a grin, leaning a hip against the table as she chewed. “Well, whatever it was, I liked it. It’s good to see you enjoying the season.”

The comment caught Vivienne off guard, and for a moment, she stilled, her gaze drifting to the tree. She let out a soft breath, her voice quieter. “I didn’t think I ever would, not like this.”

Alex’s expression softened. She reached out, resting a hand lightly on Vivienne’s back. “You’ve come a long way, Vivi. We both have.”

Vivienne turned tolook at her, the warmth in Alex’s dark brown eyes steadying her. It had taken years to unlearn the habits of a life spent rushing from one goal to the next, years to embrace the quiet moments like this one. But with Alex, she’d found her way, not just to the holidays but to something deeper—a home, a life, a sense of belonging.

“Do you think they’ll like it?” Vivienne asked, nodding toward the decorated room. “The city crowd and the mountain crowd?”

“They’ll love it,” Alex said without hesitation. “It’s us. A little bit of you, a little bit of me. That’s why it works.”

Vivienne’s lips curved into a smile. Alex was right. The room was a reflection of both of them: the crisp lines of Vivienne’s taste softened by the rustic charm Alex had brought into her life. Even the scent—a blend of pine, cinnamon, and something warm and buttery—felt like a perfect blend of their worlds.

As if on cue, Alex pulled her into a loose hug, resting her chin on Vivienne’s shoulder. “You know,” she murmured, “I think this might be the coziest Christmas yet.”

Vivienne leaned into her, letting herguard down for just a moment. “It’s certainly better than my old routine of work, wine, and denial.”

Alex chuckled, her breath warm against Vivienne’s cheek. “Progress.”

They stood like that for a moment, wrapped in the glow of the firelight and each other. Outside, the wind stirred the snow into a delicate dance, but inside, there was only stillness and peace.

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