XII | Winter Wonderland

"Halle, I want to thank you so much for staying behind and helping us clean up." Violet's arm rested on top of her prominent bump, while her mother continued to sweep the last of the crumbs off of the floor. She was a petite Japanese woman with a couple streaks of gray mixed into her silky, shoulder-length bob.

"You're so welcome." Halle dusted her hands over the overflowing trash can as she chewed the last of her cupcake. Pink and blue sprinkles stuck to the folded paper plates sticking out of it.

Violet's baby shower was a success. They'd effectively served over one hundred people from both sides of the family, opened gifts, and played games. Rowan had opted out of attending at the very last minute, and while the father-to-be was there, Karter didn't seem too interested. Half way through, he'd chosen to head upstairs for a nap.

The women at the function did what they could to make up for it though, cracking jokes and obsessing over sonogram pictures. It seemed to cheer Violet up for the time being at least.

"The food was absolutely amazing." Halle pulled Ms. Tomoko in for a side hug, and the older woman smiled her gratitude.

"There is still plenty more where that came from." She motioned to the table behind her. "Please, take some home."

Halle happily grabbed a to-go box and filled it with her favorite dishes of the day. She said her goodbyes, and exited the Steele household, taking a final glance at the portrait of Violet's late father - a retired marine who died of cancer. His daughter had inherited his nose and lips.

Orange and dark blue crept into the sky as Halle zoomed down the street, blaring pop music that elevated her mood.

"Now I've got you in my space, I won't let go of you. Got you shackled in my embrace, I'm latching onto you."

She loved the freedom that came along with driving her own car, and mentally vowed to drive it more. She always did, and then she found it collecting dust the majority of the time.

The exit to the penthouse was coming up on the left, but she bypassed it and instead, made a right turn. Just as she parked in front of the lit up building, her speakers echoed the default ringtone.

"Hello?" She unbuckled her seatbelt.

"You hung up on me earlier?" Chiko stuck the floss stick between his teeth.

"Maybe. What's it to you?" She grinned to herself, and reached for the key to cut the engine, transferring his voice onto her phone.

"A lot." He heard the sound of the car door shutting on the other line. "Where you at?"

"The gym." Halle grabbed her crossbody bag from her trunk, and headed for the entrance. "I gotta work off the meatballs I inhaled."

Their conversation carried on long enough for her to change into her exercise gear in the locker room. She had given him a general rundown of her time at the baby shower, enjoying being able to highlight small details that she knew Rowan wouldn't listen to, or care for.

"I twisted the napkins into bow ties. Just because it was gender neutral enough. Look at what I just sent you."

Chiko clicked on the notification that dropped down on his screen. "That's cute. What are they having?"

"I don't know. They're waiting until after the baby is born to reveal the gender." Halle stood from the bench after tying her shoe laces.

"Let me know when you're done with your workout so I can come and get you."

"What? No." She zipped her bag up and placed it in an open locker. "I'm going to be all sweaty and stuff."

"So?"

"So the answer is still no." She chuckled. "Duh."

"Why do I feel like you've been ducking me?" His eyes scanned the four walls of his bathroom while he awaited her answer.

Because I am.

"I'm not," she lied.

She had been telling herself for days upon days that she needed to lessen her availability to him, because she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop herself from taking things too far if they met up in person again. He said all the right things. He did almost everything that Rowan didn't, and it enthralled her more than she cared to let on.

All she could handle was phone calls, nothing more. Nothing less, either.

"Damn, I just thought you missed me like I missed you."

I do.

"I..." Halle removed the phone from her ear, her thumb hovering over the red button. "I should get started. I don't want to be here all night."

She pushed through her routine for the sake of her upcoming trip. It was five days away. Regardless of what the temperature was going to be, a vacation was a vacation.

"Seven, eight, nine... ten."

ꨄꨄꨄꨄꨄ

"I just want you to know that I'll do anything for this relationship," Rowan promised. "I want this forever. Okay?"

"Okay." Halle extended the handle on her suitcase, and pushed it forward. It glided smoothly over the airport floors, and made it easy for her to weave through the busy sea of travelers. She had barely processed his words, too taken with the view outside of the massive windows.

In a few short hours, they had traded beaches and palm trees for snowy mountains. It was a winter wonderland.

"Ro, I'll call you later tonight. We're about to catch the tram." She followed Sage through the revolving door, and was met with a wind that chilled her to the bone.

"Alright. I'll be waiting." He listened to the commotion in the background until Halle ended the call.

People flooded out of the building by the dozens, their breaths visible as they expressed their excitement for this weekend's festivities. Halle shared their sentiments, although there was a smidgen of worry in her stomach. She locked hands with her best-friend and boarded the tram, where they nestled side by side in a narrow seat.

"Okay, so sightseeing is the bulk of today's itinerary since it's only Thursday." Sage adjusted her engagement ring. "The main events start tomorrow."

"Girl, how long are you gonna stare at that rock?" Halle laid her head on Sage's shoulder to catch the gleam of the diamond.

"Until my eyes bleed." She smirked.

The cabins were uniformly lined in the valley between various monstrous mountains, making everyone's ears pop the lower they descended, and the air less frigid. Thankfully, there was also more oxygen.

Halle and Sage checked in at the front desk of their inn before making their way to their suite. The smell of scented wood and pure coffee grounds permeated the air. They dropped their luggage off in their respective rooms before exploring the adjacent ski resorts. Eventually, the aroma of piping hot desert carried them into a crowded bakery.

"So, one tarte aux framboise, one pistachio eclair, and two snickerdoodles cookies?" The cashier put the items into the system.

"Yes," Sage confirmed.

"Will that be all, ma'am?"

"Halle, do you wanna add something else?" Sage tapped her arm. "Halle?"

"Huh?" Halle's head snapped towards the menu, before she shook her head. "No, we've got enough. Thanks."

"That'll be $22.67."

Sage swiped her card and waited for the woman to bag their order. "Why are you looking around like that?"

"I don't know. I just got this weird feeling all of a sudden. Like I'm being watched or something."

It must be him.

She tried to mask her nagging anxiety by neutralizing her expression as she scanned the vicinity once more. Her eyes met a pair of deep-set ones of a man seated in a nook near the exit.

Oh.

He was familiar, yes, but not who she was expecting, which simultaneously relieved and disappointed her. Wolfe's mouth upturned into a tight-lipped smile and she mimicked him.

I guess everyone really does come to the Cabin Festival.

"You're done watching true crime." Sage accepted the pastries with a smile, and zigzagged through the rest of the awaiting customers with her arm linked through Halle's.

At sunset, they found themselves back in the center of the inn where the majority of the amenities were located. People in robes with dripping feet piled into the elevator before they could, sparking their curiosity about the spa and jacuzzis on the property.

"We should end the night at the sauna!" Sage suggested, pressing the elevator button.

"I'm down." Halle stepped aside to allow a man in a wheelchair to take the first available option. "We'll take the next one."

The sound of excited chatter coming from the other side of the glass behind her grabbed her attention. A husky man with multiple gold chains layered around his neck threw hand signs up, and showcased his grill as he posed for the camera.

"Make sure to get the shoes too, Nadi." He rubbed his hands together, and dropped his head.

"I gotchu, papa." She delicately moved her hair off of her glossed lips, and repositioned the phone. "You icier than these mountains."

"'Preciate it, baby. Okay, that's good. I'll look at them inside."

Halle pulled her beanie down over her ears when a group of six held the doors open, allowing the air from outside to nip at her nose.

"Whew! It's cold as a witch's tit out there!" A woman with hazel eyes shook snowflakes off of her natural mini twists, and tucked the collar of her coat underneath her chin.

"Cree, don't start! You knew where we were going." Another woman in a hot pink puffer removed her hood. "And I think this is the side door. We came in the wrong way."

"You did." Sage turns to point around the corner. "The check-in desk is over there. Love your jacket by the way. Is it fleece on the inside?"

"Yes! Thank you. I made it myself." She reached into her purse of the same shade, and handed each of them a gray business card. "I own a storefront in Atlanta if y'all are ever in town. Online works too."

"Oh, you're Giselle Lockhart." Sage palms her forehead. "I've totally heard of you. They use your photos on mood-boards all the time."

"Yes ma'am. I have a winter collection on sale right now." Giselle winked . "Welp, I better be going. I told my husband and friends that I wouldn't make this trip too much about business... unless I got complimented."

She gave her husband a knowing smirk, and he chuckled, leading her away to catch up with the rest of the group. "Have a good one, y'all."

"You too!" They laughed, and the metal doors finally slid open again.

~

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I had to put a little splash of the OG gang in here for y'all!

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