Falling for the Grinch ✔️

Fourteen | Wonderland

Rhett

I remember as a kid my parents would take me out of town to Missoula to our favorite ski and snowboarding resort, Snow Paw. If I had to count, I've probably been eleven times and I still get excited to this day as if I've never been. Just driving down the highway with Holly seated next to me in the passenger seat of my truck has a rush of excitement coursing through me.

It's one of my core memories growing up.

We'd wake up early since the drive is about almost two hours. Dad would pack up a Thermos filled with hot coffee, Mom would have all of our gear ready, and I would stash some snacks in my backpack for the road. Even Christmas tunes would be playing through the speaker of their SUV and if I ever mentioned that to Holly I swear she might overreact a bit.

I glance to my right to take another quick look at her. She's in a faded violet snow bib with a black compression shirt underneath. Her boots are also black and her silky blonde hair is in a high ponytail on the top of her head. She's taking a sip from the Starbucks drink we stopped to get on the way and I can't help but stare at those rosy lips when she swallows and licks the bottom of her lip.

Thoughts of our text messages last night come running back. Gosh, it's like speaking dirty to me. I had to adjust the length in my pants when I read that message. Honestly, I had to read it three times before telling my cock to calm the fuck down. Holly will always surprise me, but shit, I wasn't expecting that.

I'm looking back at the road when Holly says, "You're extra quiet this morning."

She's not wrong.

"Sorry, just thinking."

Damnit, she's going to bite.

"Thinking... about?"

How fucking tempting you are.

"My parents took me here a lot growing up. I haven't been back since..."

Okay, it's not a total lie. I was thinking about my parents a minute ago. But, it's not the entire truth either.

"Since they passed?" She questions softly as if I'll react a certain way. I nod, glancing at her again with a sad smile to show her it's alright and relief shows on her ivory skin. "Well, tell me more."

I take a sip of my black coffee before placing it back in the cup holder and slowing down at a red light. "What do you want to know?"

"Whatever you'd like to tell me."

She's so curious to know more about my life and it doesn't bother me at all. I once was so closed off that it would take not even a therapist to unravel my grief, but all it took was the beautiful girl seated next to me to change everything.

"Well," I start. "I stopped to get us coffee because my Dad would always do that before we left the house. We would drink it on the way, I would have snacks stashed in my backpack and Mom would blare music through the speakers."

Holly pipes up at that and I can't help but chuckle. "Yes, Wonderful Christmastime would play on repeat."

She gleams in excitement. "I love Paul McCartney."

"So did she," I reply. "We stayed at the resort a few times, eating in the dining room and making s'mores in the fireplace. The owners didn't mind. They would join us before the night ended and throw on a Christmas movie."

"That sounds amazing, Rhett. I'm glad you have these memories to hold on to."

Her words hit me in the chest like a truck. Feeling all warm and fuzzy inside shouldn't be so comforting, but fuck it feels good. I can't remember the last time I felt like this and it's only because of words coming out from Holly's mouth.