Page 66 of Sweet Silver Bells
The town square was at the end of the street, and they were headed right toward it, passing new vendors. Darius stopped to get another beer. Hunter offered Olivia one, which she immediately crinkled her nose at, but seemed entirely more interested in the hot roasted cashews that Sadie forced them to pull over for.
The band near the Christmas tree was taking down their setup as a women's choir wearing all black, bundled up in puffy jackets, took over the area. They arranged themselves in rows as people below the steps huddled together to watch.
“I’ve probably got another half an hour in me, then I’m going to head out,” Darius announced, his steps getting a little wobbly.
“How about you let me get you a driver to take you home, my man,” Hunter said. “We can all band together and make sure everyone gets their cars in the morning if they need to leave them here.”
“We don’t drink and are happy to help carpool,” Nina chipped in.
“Does she expect an award?” Sadie muttered, mouth clenched, on Hunter’s free side.
“Play nice, Sadie.” Hunter nudged her, pulling Olivia into him as his weight shifted.
“So, Olivia, what do you do?” Darius asked, nodding toward Hunter.
He appreciated the subject change. There was an odd hostility lingering in the air, and, funnily enough, it didn’t have anything to do with the woman he thought he had dug a grave for earlier in the day.
He could feel it pressing at the edges of his patience, but when he looked at her, he realized it wasn’t her fault. Any frustration he had existed only in the questions he didn’t have answers for. It surprised him, this lack of blame. He wasn’t sureif it made him a fool or something worse. Either way, changing the subject felt easier than explaining any of it out loud.
“She just moved here, Darius; give a girl some room to breathe,” Elaine said, her voice airy, cool, and unbothered as she looked up at the sky.
“I take care of trees.” Olivia surprised Hunter by engaging. He hadn’t heard her say much to anyone else that wasn’t him. Elaine and Celia seemed to make her comfortable, then.
“You’re an arborist? That is honestly the most amazing thing I think I’ve ever heard.” Darius’s face broke out in pure amazement, a child filled with hopes and dreams on Christmas morning. “Are you looking for work? Who hires arborists? Is it the city?”
Olivia blinked at him in the way she did while their group continued to walk past more stands, more tables filled with the late-night crowd who appeared with too many mules already in their bellies.
“Olivia is more of a soloist, aren’t you?” Hunter smiled.
She nodded.
“Ah, an entrepreneur. How fetching. You’re making me jealous, Olivia. I need to dream bigger.”
Darius sighed.
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Celia said, walking a few steps in front of them. “You’re young, you're attractive, you’re obnoxiously passionate. Just be careful not to wallow; you attract the same energy you put into the world. Oops, sorry, Hunter.”
“Sorry for what?” Hunter's attention was elsewhere, staring down at Olivia’s hand in his, at the way her finger rubbed little circles around the outside of his thumb.
“I think Hunter is attracting the exact attention that he needs.” Olivia’s sweet voice coated his ears.
I certainly am.
“Ooooh, Hunter and Olivia kissing in a tree,” Sadie started dancing.
“K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Nina joined in, her head bobbing like a maniac.
Hunter and Olivia smiled at each other. He laughed as she looked down awkwardly, not knowing how to handle the attention and energy, despite how playful it was. They were awfully loud.
“It’s easy to tell you all work with children.” Elaine rolls her eyes.
At least they’re not making fun of me about pickles today.
“Watch out for his pickle, Olivia!” Sadie spat her laughter out.
I stand corrected.
“These are friends?” Olivia looked at him, genuinely asking.
