Nicole hadn't slept well, but for the first time in weeks, she hadn't woken up crying at three in the morning either.
That alone felt like a miracle.
She stood behind the counter at work, absentmindedly folding receipts, her thoughts drifting back to the snowman, to James standing in the hallway with that hesitant look in his eyes. The memory made her chest feel strangely warm and unsettled.
"Earth to Nicole," Michelle whispered loudly. "You've been staring at nothing for five minutes."
Nicole blinked. "Sorry. Just tired."
"Tired?" Michelle raised an eyebrow. "Or thinking about your rich neighbor?"
Nicole shot her a warning look. "Don't start."
Before Michelle could respond, the glass doors slid open.
And Nicole froze.
James Karen stepped inside.
He was dressed simply dark coat, scarf loosely wrapped around his neck but there was nothing simple about the way he carried himself. Calm. Confident. Out of place.
Every head turned.
Including Nicole's.
"I… uh…" she stammered, stepping forward. "James? What are you doing here?"
He smiled softly. "I came to pick you up."
Michelle's jaw dropped.
Kai, who had been restocking nearby, slowly looked up then straightened immediately.
"Well," Kai said smoothly, "this just got interesting."
Nicole's face burned. "You didn't have to—"
"I wanted to," James said gently. "You said yesterday you walk home alone."
Her throat tightened.
Before she could respond, a voice cut in.
"Is this the mysterious neighbor?"
Their boss stepped out of the office.
Tall. Well-dressed. Effortlessly composed.
Kai's breath caught.
"Mr. Lawson," Kai said quickly, a little too quickly.
James extended his hand politely. "James Karen."
Their boss shook it with a knowing smile. "You must be special. Nicole never has visitors."
Kai didn't hear the rest of the conversation.
He was too busy staring.
Something about the way their boss smiled — warm, subtle — made Kai's chest tighten in a way he hadn't felt before. It scared him.
And excited him.
---
A Truth Revealed
Later, in the break room, Michelle sat unusually quiet, twisting her fingers together.
Nicole noticed immediately. "Okay. What's wrong?"
Michelle exhaled shakily. "I wasn't going to say anything today, but… I'm pregnant."
Nicole's heart stopped. "Michelle… what?"
"I just found out," she whispered. "I'm terrified. I don't know what I'm doing."
Nicole pulled her into a hug without hesitation. "You're not alone. We'll figure this out together."
Michelle cried quietly into her shoulder.
Across the room, Kai sat silently, thoughts tangled — about their boss, about courage, about truth.
Everyone was changing.
All at once.
---
James Falls Quietly
When Nicole clocked out, James was waiting by the door, patient, unbothered.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded.
As they walked, snow crunching beneath their feet, James glanced at her from time to time. He didn't push. Didn't pry.
"You didn't have to come," Nicole said softly.
"I know," he replied. "But I wanted you to know… you don't have to walk through things alone anymore."
Her chest tightened.
James didn't realize when it happened only that somewhere between the snowman and this quiet walk, his feelings had shifted.
This wasn't curiosity anymore.
This was care.
Real, dangerous care.
And as Nicole laughed softly at something he said, James knew, with unsettling clarity, that he was falling in love with her slowly, quietly, and without any intention of stopping.