Catch Yourself a Snowmance (Have Yourself a Merry Little #2)

2. Carson

Chapter 2

Carson

You're skipping Christmas!

Isn't that against the law?

~Spike Frohmeyer, Christmas with the Kranks

“ H old the line!” Gage shouts at the television where the defensive line of our favorite team starts to fall apart.

“They can’t hear you. You know that, right?” Mitch asks Gage.

“Didn’t you guys record this game so we could skip commercials?” Liam asks the three of us.

“It’s recorded,” I confirm.

“So he’s yelling at a recorded game,” Liam says to me only.

“Basically.”

The commercials start and we don’t fast forward them.

“I love this one!” Gage says. “Makes me want hot wings, though. You got any hot wings, Carson?”

“I don’t.”

“What kind of host are you?” Gage jokingly complains. “It’s a football game, man. We need all the food. Don’t fret.” He grabs his cell off the coffee table. “I’ll get us delivery. What do you want? Garlic parmesan or hot wings?”

“Both,” Mitch says even though Gage is asking me.

“I don’t care. Get both, I guess.”

Gage orders the wings along with who knows what else, and he and Mitch entertain themselves with the commercials.

Liam angles toward me on the couch. “So, Noelle and I were talking about the first week of her Christmas break.”

“Uh huh.”

“And we want to go up to this cabin in North Carolina.”

“Sounds good, man. A romantic holiday weekend with your girl. If you’re into those things.”

Liam chuckles. I play up the perpetually single angle with all my friends. I’m not looking for a girlfriend. Been there, done that, got the list of ways I need to improve myself to show it. My friends fill my need for companionship. My job as a financial advisor keeps me busy. I’ve got hiking trails and events and hotspots in our small town to fill the hours I’m alone. I don’t need a woman to complete my life. I realized a long time ago that some men are the settling down type, fit for a bridle and saddle, and some are like wild mustangs, born to run wild across open pastures. I smile at the image. Yeah. I’m a mustang.

“You’ve got a little something …” Liam points to his own chin.

I brush my hand across my face in the spot he indicated.

“Just kidding, man. You’re good. The wings aren’t even here and all I’ve seen you eat are those sour cream chips.”

“You’re brutal.”

We both chuckle. The game resumes and I watch it while I listen to Liam who seems dead set on discussing his plans for the holidays with his adorably sweet girlfriend. I love the two of them together. She’s a teacher and she’s got the perfect personality to work with kids all day. And she makes Liam incredibly happy, which is all that matters to me.

“Anyway, back to the plans for this getaway.”

“Mm hmm.” I’m listening, but I’ve got my eyes on the other team’s defense heading straight for our quarterback.

“Block them!” I shout, reflexively.

“Now who’s yelling at a recorded game?” Gage asks.

I laugh. “Busted.”

None of our eyes leave the screen until the play is over.

“We want you to come,” Liam says.

“With you two? That’s a hard pass, man. I love you and all, and Noelle is awesome. But I don’t do third wheel. Why would you want me to come anyway? That’s just weird.”

Liam laughs hard. “No. We want all three of you to come. And her four closest friends. Like a friendsgiving, but over the winter break. We’d be less than five minutes from Beech Mountain. The views are incredible from the deck of the cabin. Hot tub. Firepit. Massive stone fireplace. The works.”

He whips out his phone to the page on the rental site and starts scrolling through photos of the place.

“What’s that?” Mitch asks.

“Some deluxe mountain home Liam’s referring to as a cabin. He’s taking Noelle there the week before Christmas.”

“Now you’re an overnight cabin enthusiast?” Mitch teases Liam.

“Another one bites the dust,” Gage says. “Once they find a girlfriend, the bros are forgotten for good.”

“It’s not like that,” Liam says. “I’m actually hoping you all will come. We’ll have more time together, not less.”

“I’m down!” Gage says without even seeing the photos or hearing the whole plan .

“With Noelle and her friends,” I add, looking at Liam and then glancing over at Gage and Mitch. “It would be a co-ed trip.”

Mitch looks at Liam. “I only met one of her friends so far. That brown haired girl who came here to drop off a gift for your mom with Noelle. She’s nice looking. A little uptight, but cute.”

Liam groans, drags his hand down his face and turns to Mitch. “This. Isn’t that. I’m not inviting you three up there so you can hit on my girlfriend’s friends. You’re all in the wedding. They’re all in the wedding. We thought it would be good for our two friend groups to finally get to know one another since we’ve been dating a whole year and never really introduced you to each other.”

“And why exactly is that?” Mitch asks. “I always thought it was strange that you kept us away from her friends, honestly.”

Mitch pulls his shirt up and scratches his belly. Granted, it’s a six-pack, but still.

“And none of that while we’re there.” Liam sounds like his dad. It’s almost eerie how much he sounds like him.

“None of what while we’re where?” Mitch asks Liam. “Nah! No! Dodge him! What do you think they pay you in the millions for? Weave around that D!”

Yes. The game is still on. Yes. We’re totally multitasking, discussing this vacation idea while cheering on our team, the Tennessee Trojans.

“None of you lifting your shirt and scratching yourself like some primate while we’re staying with Noelle’s friends at this cabin. I want you all on your best behavior.”

Mitch glances at Liam and back at the screen. “That was my best behavior.” Then he chuckles with amusement.

“Seriously, though. I really want to pull this off.” Liam’s voice has a slight pleading to it now. “Noelle has her heart set on this idea of the nine of us hanging out for barbecues and swim parties in the future. She even talks about us all going on the occasional trip as a group.”

Gage burps. “And why haven’t you tried to make this happen sooner?”

Liam and I look at one another and share a smile.

“As if that burp wasn’t your answer,” I tell Gage.

“I’m down,” Mitch says. “I’ve got nothing going the week before Christmas. No one’s buying trucks and cars when they’re spending up their credit cards on gifts. It’s a lull in my business anyway.”

“I’m in,” Gage says. “As long as I’m around for the actual day of Christmas, my mom doesn’t care what I do the week before. I’ve got vacation accrued with the flight school.”

Gage is a helicopter flight instructor and does courier work under contract for a few companies. He’s a daredevil and always up for an adventure.

All eyes are on me.

“Yeah. Sure. I’ll go. Why not? I haven’t been skiing in ages. And I love making Noelle happy.”

“She’ll be so happy,” Liam assures me.

“Then I’m down.”