A Unity Falls Holiday Story
It’s the insider tradition nobody talks about. But every resident of Unity Falls knows it’s coming.
The lights go down. The lines are drawn.
For one night, everyone has to choose a side.
Welcome to the coziest sabotage of the year!
Previously in Decoration Games:
Ben learns more about the town history and is all in to help Riley however he can.
Chapter 6
Riley came up to the group, looking just as mischievous as her friends. “Did you explain everything to him?”
Ben saw that same anticipatory gleam that fired many eyes in the building. This was a side he didn’t often see of her, and he liked it.
Kei answered, “We got as far as the history–”
“We haven’t talked about the mission yet,” Dani finished.
“Mission?” Ben asked, shaking his head. “This town is really, really taking this seriously.”
Riley grinned. “Every year. Welcome to the Unity Falls tradition.”
She put an arm around Ben’s waist and snuggled in. That move always made him melt a little. He’d never admit it, either. But he loved when she snuggled in like she was nesting under his shoulder. Riley might not need protecting, but he liked when he felt he could make her feel safe.
He kissed the top of her head. “So, what’s our mission?”
Riley peeked out from under his arm, looking at bit guilty. “Yeah, about that. So… you know that since Alvin ran off, didn’t marry me, and you and I got together, things have been a little bit weird in town between me and the Whitcombs.”
Dani snorted. “The Whitcombs. She means Loubelle. Eddy’s been nothing but nice to you.”
“When he’s by himself,” Kei added.
Riley shrugged. “It is what it is. But given the nature of the games…”
Ben understood immediately. “You’re not taking part.”
She nodded. “In the strictest effort to keep the peace. I’m not taking part.”
“But I thought this was all like some Roger-Roger, Secret Squirrel kind of stuff. How would she know?”
Dani snorted. “’Roger-Roger, Secret Squirrel.’ Where do you get this stuff, Ben?”
Ben shrugged. “I don’t know. I heard it somewhere.”
“Anyway,” Riley said, elongating the word, dragging the conversation back on track, “while everything that happens is supposed to be ‘Roger-Roger, Secret Squirrel,’” her lips twitched with laughter using Ben’s phrase, “we aren’t ever supposed to talk about the Decoration Games, no one can resist telling their bit over coffee or a beer. If I sit out, nobody has to lie or feel compromised.”
“And I bet Loubelle was thinking you’d be on her side as her daughter-in-law this year,” Kei added.
Riley shrugged, uncomfortably.
“Let’s go back to the store, then,” Ben said, seeing an out. “We can… open for drinks or something like that for the late-night people. I thought the whole point was like the Christmas crowd.”
Riley, Kei and Dani looked at each other uncomfortably.
Ben was becoming an expert at that look. He took a step back so he could look Riley directly in the eye. “What haven’t you told me?”
To her credit, Riley took charge. “The late-night open store thing on Decoration Game night is kind of a Joe’s Donuts thing.”
“What about Harri? She’s keeping her bookstore open for this,” Ben said.
“Yeah, but she’s not selling food or drinks, so…” Riley drifted off, not knowing how to finish.
“You’re telling me now?” Ben knew his voice was irritated. He had cash, but his business still had to make money.
“Yeah, I can see where I slipped up there. Absolutely,” Riley said. “But I really wanted you to be part of this tradition. Kind of like your official welcome to Unity Falls. Are you really upset?”
“No. I don’t need to step on Joe’s toes if this is a town tradition. I just would have liked a heads up.” Ben raked the toque off his head. “But I have certain feelings about Loubelle, too. She hasn’t been particularly kind to me either. I’m almost over her calling me ‘The man who stole her son’s girl.’”
Riley rolled her eyes. “That might actually carry some weight if he hadn’t taken off with his ex-girlfriend at his bachelor party.”
“Which you arranged,” Dani said helpfully.
Kei punched her in the shoulder.
Dani rubbed her shoulder and glared at Kei. “What? He did organize it.” She smiled beatifically at Ben. “And I’m grateful every day.”
Ben gave Dani an inscrutable look and said nothing. This was one of those moments that silence was the better part of valor. Because he didn’t totally disagree with Dani. He just didn’t want to be caught saying that out loud.
Ben had been willing to step aside, break his heart and watch Riley and Alvin get married. Thankfully, fate seemed to have other plans. He couldn’t say he was upset about it.
Needing answers, he pushed the issue. “If you need to sit out, how come I don’t need to?”
“Because as your real welcome to Unity Falls, we have some Secret Squirrel shit for you to do,” Riley said with a grin.
Want to see how Riley and Ben got together?
Their story begins in Riley and the Love Jinx → link
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About the author:
Cleo Croft writes sweet contemporary romance set in the fictional town of Unity Falls. → About Cleo