Page 114 of Holiday Friend Zones
“Great!I’ll see you Saturday.”He nods and heads in the opposite direction.
The second he’s gone, my brain does what it always does lately: slides straight to Lauren.She played golf in high school… well, mini golf, but close enough.Besides, this isn’t Augusta.It’s whacking balls across a frozen lake.If nothing else, she’d make it fun.
When I arrive home, the air is thick with garlic and tomato.My stomach growls, but it’s nothing compared to the other hunger that hits me when I see her.Lauren’s at the stove, bathed in the golden glow of the overhead light, hair loose around her shoulders, humming to herself.She doesn’t even know how heartbreakingly pretty she looks in that ordinary moment, and that’s the problem—I notice.I always notice.
“Seriously,” I say, tossing my keys on the counter.“I should’ve had you move in ages ago.”I pull off my boots and hang up my coat.
She glances over her shoulder, smiling like she doesn’t have a care in the world.“You’re just lucky I enjoy cooking and not playing the drums.”She dips a spoon into the sauce and holds it up.“Here.Taste.”
I step closer.She steadies the spoon at my parted lips.When the sauce touches my tongue, warmth floods through me that has nothing to do with the sauce.Her eyes flicker down to my mouth, linger, then drift back up.She pulls the spoon back slowly, her gaze lifting to meet mine again, and for one insane second, I almost lean in.
“Well?”she asks, soft but teasing.
“Phenomenal,” I say, my voice rougher than I’d like.“I could eat that on its own.”
She laughs again.Soft and sweet.“Lucky for you, you don’t have to.”She points to another pot and a sheet pan on the stove.“I have noodles and garlic bread too.”
I tear myself away before I do something stupid, like stare at her mouth again, and head to my coat.“Speaking of lucky…” I pull out a package from the inside pocket and toss it to her.
She catches it midair.“Red Vines!”Her face lights up, which, unhelpfully, makes my chest flutter.She rips the package open, bites into a string of licorice, and groans.“You know, my ex once gave me Twizzlers,” the red licorice bounces in the air as she points it at me, “trying to convince me they’re the same.I think that’s why we broke up.”
I gasp dramatically.“Monster.”
“Exactly.Red Vines are far superior.”She takes another bite.
“Well, my gift doesn’t come without strings attached.”I open the fridge and pull out a chocolate pudding.She passes me a spoon as I rip off the top.I stand next to her at the counter, ankles crossed.
Her eyes narrow, but there’s a smile tugging at her lips.“Strings?”
“I need a partner.”
“For…?”
“The Frozen Classic on Saturday.I was supposed to play with Julie, but obviously…”
Her brows lift.“Isn’t that… golf?”
“Yes.Frozen golf to be exact.Eighteen holes drilled into the ice on Lake Noel.It’s a charity event.Very prestigious.”
She bites another piece of licorice, lips curving.“Prestigious, huh?”
“Extremely.”I shove a spoonful of pudding into my mouth.
She chews slowly, her mouth curving like she knows I’m watching it.“Well… I did spend a summer working at Mount Holly Putt-Putt.And I still hold the record for the longest putt.”
I point my spoon at her.“See?Which is actually perfect since most of the holes are mini-golf style with obstacles along with a few par threes.”
Her smile deepens, and my stomach flips.“I’ll run it by Brie so I can have the day off, but… yeah.Sounds like fun.”
“Perfect.”I toss my empty pudding cup into the garbage.“I’m going to change out of my work clothes.”I grin, heading into the living room before I do something insane like kiss the Red Vine sugar off her mouth.
* * *
Two days later,Lauren and I are standing on a frozen lake as people mill around the fire pits and the mobile bar.Some are even partaking in snow yoga.
The Frozen Classic started twenty-three years ago as a group of golf friends wanting a winter sport to play.With each passing year, participation doubled and soon turned into a charity event with donations going to the Mount Holly Community Club.
Lauren curls her arms around herself.“Why did I agree to this?It’s like five degrees outside.”
