He holds his hand up, silencing me, and I can tell by the stern expression on his face that he is not interested in anything I have to say. And judging by the way Jackson’s running his fingers through his already disheveled hair, he’s as tense as I am.
“Yesterday was simply the gust that blew the house over. I’m done, Sheriff Williams is done. And this?” He gestures his pudgy finger between the both of us. “Is done. So here is what’s going to happen. We all know that this stems back to your annual Christmas parties. Every single year, each of your families tries to outdo the other. It never fails, Wayne somehow gets called in because of it. Now, I’m all about the Christmas spirit—you both should know that better than anyone—which is part of the reason that I’ve let this go on for as long as I have.” Pausing, he sighs. “But this year is when it stops. I won’t be approving permits for either of your parties.”
My heart stutters in my chest at what he’s saying.
No party?
That’s… that’s never happened in the entire time I’ve been alive. In all of the years my family has lived in Strawberry Hollow. My family, along with Jackson’s, unfortunately, are famous for our annual Christmas parties. The entire town knows this.
“But—” I start, but he shakes his head, silencing me once more. I’m beginning to feel like a chastised child who’s gotten punished during this conversation. I understand that what happened was unacceptable, but this as a punishment?
“I’m not going to change my mind on this, Emma. If you want to have a party, you’ll have it together at Town Hall.”
My gaze shoots to Jackson’s, and I see his jaw working as he clenches his teeth together. Clearly, he’s as unhappy about this as I am.
There is absolutely no way that the two of us, much less both of our families, can be in the same room for an extended period of time without someone losing an eyeball.
“Actually, now that I’m saying it out loud, I think that there is no more perfect plan than this.” Mayor Davis smiles, suddenly entirely too happy to be the one to hand down this ridiculous punishment. “Either you have the party together at Town Hall, or the general store will go ahead with pressing charges, and this ‘accident’ will remain on both of your records. Permanently.”
“Jed, come on. This isn’t happening. Be realistic,” Jackson scoffs, his body visibly tensing further as he speaks.
“It is, and it will. This is nonnegotiable. Have the party together or have a permanent record due to your negligence. The choice is yours. I’ll expect you to pick a date and get started on the planning, immediately. And one last thing.” He glances between us. “Everyone is invited. There’s no singling anyone out. The point of this… punishment, per se, is to make both of you and your families understand that Strawberry Hollow values community, and there shouldn’t be such bitterness between our residents. We should all come together during this Christmas season and spread joy. It’s the reason for the season, after all.”
For a moment, everyone is silent. I even almost feel bad for Wayne, who’s standing in the back, glancing between the three of us with a somber expression.
Thanks for nothing, Sheriff.
“Throw this party, and bury the hatchet while you’re at it. You two caused the damage, so I want the two of you to work together, and I do not want to have to get a call like this again. Understand?”
Obediently, we both nod, and with a smile, he tips his head at us and turns back toward Wayne as if he didn’t just flip our entire world upside down on its axis.
Once we’ve signed the discharge paperwork and have been officially released, I practically bust through the front doors of the jail, out into the frigid December air, pulling my jacket tighter around me.
I’m so upset, and angry, and just… ready to explode on someone. Particularly the stupidly attractive man on my heels.
“This is all your fault!” I grit out as I whip around to face him, my finger pointed in his face. “God, I hate you.”
“My fault? How in the hell is this my fault? You’re the one who decided to fight with me like a petulant child over a fucking Christmas decoration,” Jackson retorts, taking a step closer to me. I can feel the frustration radiating off him in thick, pulsating waves.
Good, because I’m frustrated just as much, if not more, than he is. My parents are going to have a colossal meltdown when I break the news that their beloved Christmas party is being… tainted by the Pearce family.
That a tradition that has been in our family for generations is now gone, all because of me.
What an absolute mess.
“Clearly, I didn’t do this by myself, Pearce. You are just as guilty as I am, and that’s exactly why we both just spent the night in jail. I didn’t sit there alone.”
“Yeah, don’t remind me. I just spent the night against my will with Strawberry Hollow’s very own ice princess.”
My gaze narrows, my chest heaving as we stand toe to toe on the sidewalk outside of the jail.
I heard Mayor Davis loud and clear. I know what the consequences are. I get it.
But… I also don’t know how it’s physically possible for me to be around this man for longer than thirty seconds without wanting to rip his clothes off while simultaneously wanting to punch him right in his smug face.
It’s not happening.
There’s no way that we can work together.
“This isn’t going to work,” I mutter defeatedly. “Working with you is impossible.”
The small space between his dark brows furrows as he shakes his head and leans forward. “Oh… it’s happening. I’ll be damned if I let you taint my reputation in this town. Looks like we’re throwing a party together, Emmie.”
Joy to the world.
It looks like we’re both going to need a Christmas miracle to make it through the next few weeks unscathed.
jackson
Joy to the world… not.
I need a fucking drink and to forget the past twenty-four hours ever happened. Even if it is barely lunchtime.
I just spent the night in a damn jail cell.
The bell above my head jingles as I push through the old wooden door of the Rusty Rooster, and my best friend, Oliver, greets me with a nod and the biggest shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen.
“Well, if it isn’t the delinquent himself gracing my bar during lunch hour?” He chuckles as he places a glass on the bar top and pours a dark amber whiskey into it before sliding it my way.
Unsurprisingly, the word spread like wildfire, as it usually does. The residents of Strawberry Hollow waste no time when it comes to gossip. That much I know.
The legs of the barstool scrape across the floor as I sit, my fingers folding around the glass and lifting it to my lips. “Ask me how I get into the shit that I do.” I sigh, taking a long sip. “This one might actually take the cake though.”
Oliver’s smirk widens. “Yeah, you two are the talk of the town, brother. You know how fast news spreads in this town. Already got the down-low from Bree.”
I was hoping that I had time to speak with my parents about the events from last night, but I should’ve known better.