In the picturesque town of Winter Grove, the tenacious Alicia Whittaker faces off against her best friend's snobbish brother Zeke Brighton when his disapproval of his sister's boyfriend threatens to upend their Christmas.
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Tenacious college studen...
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Zeke
The humming neon of The Snowball's Chance sign blazed in the dark, bright even among the abundance of twinkling lights. Zeke headed for it like a beacon. At least the desk clerk was right, and the bar wasn't far from the hotel. But even with the short distance, the cold was already getting to him. The wind whipped at him, and the snow was coming down hard. He needed to get that scarf or hat sometime soon...
He pulled his coat closer and hurried forward. A rush of snow and cold followed him as he pushed into the bar.
"Shut the door!" cried some grumpy regular in the corner.
Zeke rolled his eyes but did as was asked. Shaking off his coat, he took a look around at the bar. It definitely had a different vibe from the five-star establishment he'd just left. Like the rest of the town, the bar was smothered in decor, but none was in the classic green and red. Instead, the place was plastered in pastel, pink, mint, and icy blue, all trimmed with a fluffy white tinsel. And glitter... there was so much glitter.
Zeke couldn't stop his nose from wrinkling as he chose a spot at the bar. If this was all Winter Grove had to offer for a social life, this trip would feel so much longer.
Whatever.
He didn't have to love this place. He just had to drink here.
He waved down the bartender. As the man sauntered over, Zeke got a good look at his shockingly ugly Christmas sweater. Worse, it was paired with a fluffy pink hat Santa Hat. A shock of the bartender's bleached hair poked out from underneath.
"Welcome to The Snowball's Chance," the bartender said with a big, cheery smile. "What can I get you?"
"Whiskey, neat. Need something to warm me up."
The bartender eyed Zeke, skimming over his trim dress shirt beneath his thick wool coat. Zeke could guess he dressed better than the usual clientele.
Something glinted in the bartender's eyes.
"If you're cold," he began, "might I suggest a serving of our signature hot chocolate instead?"
Zeke scoffed. "No thanks. Whiskey is fine."
"Hot chocolate, it is," the bartender said with a smirk.
Zeke was about to argue, but the bartender had already wandered away. It seems like he does as he pleases, Zeke grumbled to himself. Well, if the guy was so determined to serve him hot chocolate, it better be on the house...
He heard a giggle from down the bar...
Zeke looked up, and his eyes went wide.
Just two seats down sat a beautiful girl, staring at him with big doe eyes. A tasteful and stylish tan sweater dress hugged her figure, and her full, pouty lips were pulled up in a smile.
