Chapter 33 - Be Merry ♡︎

Upstairs, the shared bathroom was lit with the warm glow of the vanity bulbs, the mirror fogging slightly from the steam of Jackie's curling iron. Laughter echoed faintly down the hall — the kind of laughter that came easily between two people who had grown close through chaos, secrets, and sisterhood. Olive sat on the edge of her bed, her legs crossed neatly, clutching a pastel-blue sweater in her lap while Jackie rummaged through her closet with the decisiveness of someone on a mission. Clothes were scattered everywhere — soft scarves, cozy knits, and enough jeans to clothe the whole ranch.

Jackie finally turned around, holding up a soft cream-colored sweater with delicate embroidery along the sleeves. "This one," she declared, walking over and holding it against Olive. "It's cute, it's cozy, and it's very you. Cole won't be able to stop staring."

Olive's cheeks flushed pink immediately, her fingers brushing over the sweater's fabric. "It's really pretty," she murmured, her voice quiet but full of appreciation. "You really think it's not too much?"

Jackie smiled warmly and shook her head, sitting down beside her. "Ollie, trust me—this one's perfect for tonight. It's festive, but still simple enough to light up the room."

Olive giggled softly, carefully slipping the sweater over her head. It fit just right, the kind of sweater that made her feel wrapped in warmth. Jackie stood up to grab her makeup bag, humming along to the faint Christmas song playing from her phone on the dresser.

"Alright," Jackie said, opening her compact and waving Olive closer. "Come sit. Let's make you glow just a little more than usual."

Olive obeyed, sitting on the stool as Jackie began brushing soft tones of blush across her cheeks and dabbing a subtle shimmer over her eyelids. Olive sat still, her heart fluttering at the thought of the night ahead—the party, the music, the lights, and of course, Cole. The way he'd look at her from across the room always made her feel like the only person there.

"I can't wait for the party," Olive said suddenly, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at herself in the mirror, watching Jackie's hand move carefully across her face. "To be with everyone, I mean. And..." she paused, biting her lip with a shy smile. "Especially my boyfriend."

Jackie froze mid-brushstroke, her eyes flicking up to meet Olive's reflection in the mirror. A teasing smile spread across her face. "You know, I'll never get tired of hearing you call him that," she said with a light laugh. "Cole Walter. Your boyfriend. Who would've guessed?"

Olive giggled again, blushing harder as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know," she admitted softly. "I never thought it would happen. He's... so different from me. But he's also just—" she hesitated, searching for the right word, "—kind, in his own way. He makes me feel safe."

Jackie nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah," she said quietly, blending a bit of highlighter along Olive's cheekbone. "He does that when he really cares about someone. You bring out a soft side of him I haven't seen before."

For a few moments, they were both quiet, lost in thought and the gentle sound of brushes and powder. When Jackie finished, she capped her lipstick and stepped back. "There," she said proudly. "You look beautiful. Not that you needed any help, of course."

Olive stood and turned toward the mirror, her eyes widening slightly. Her makeup was soft and natural—peachy tones that made her eyes shine and her lips look just a bit fuller. "Oh, Jackie..." she breathed. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Jackie smiled, setting down her tools and turning to grab her own outfit from the chair—a dark red sweater dress paired with black tights. "You're welcome," she said, tossing Olive a playful grin as she started getting ready herself. "Now let's both try to look like we didn't just spend an hour raiding my closet."

As Jackie brushed her hair and touched up her mascara, Olive sat cross-legged on the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest. The excitement bubbling inside her was impossible to contain. "You know," she said softly, her voice full of warmth, "we should do a double date sometime."

Jackie paused mid-motion, a small smirk curving her lips. "A double date, huh? You, me, and our Walter boys?"

Olive nodded shyly, laughing under her breath. "Yeah. I think it'd be fun."

Jackie chuckled, turning around fully to face her. "I can't believe it. We really are both dating Walters. You with Cole, me with Alex—it's like some weird family romance plotline."

Olive's laughter filled the room, soft and bright. "It's kind of crazy," she agreed. "But... in a good way."

Jackie smiled and walked over, leaning down to pull Olive into a gentle hug. "It is a good way," she said softly. "I'm really happy for you, Liv. He makes you happy—and that's all I care about."

Olive hugged her back tightly, resting her chin on Jackie's shoulder. "Thank you, Jackie. For everything."

"Always," Jackie said with a grin as she pulled back. "Now come on. Let's go show off how adorable you look before Cole comes barging up here to find you himself."

Olive giggled, grabbing her purse and smoothing her sweater one last time.___

The house was glowing with soft golden light from the garlands and stringed bulbs hung around the living room. The faint smell of pine and cinnamon lingered in the air — Katherine's doing, no doubt — and laughter could be heard from the kitchen where the boys had been goofing off while waiting for the girls to come downstairs. Cole leaned lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, dressed in a deep forest-green sweater that hugged his shoulders just right, his hair slightly messy in that deliberate way that Olive secretly adored.

When he heard footsteps at the top of the stairs, his head lifted, and everything else around him seemed to fade out. Jackie came down first, her crimson sweater dress elegant yet relaxed, but right behind her came Olive — soft curls bouncing slightly, cheeks rosy, her cream-colored sweater perfectly matching her gentle aura. Cole's gaze locked on her instantly, his breath catching for half a second. It wasn't just that she looked beautiful — it was the way she carried herself now, a quiet confidence that had grown since the first day she'd arrived at the Walters' ranch.

Olive glanced up shyly and caught Cole staring. She fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, smiling nervously. "What?" she asked softly, though she already knew what.

Cole pushed himself off the wall, his smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he crossed the room. "What?" he echoed playfully. "I can't look at my girlfriend?" He slid an arm around her waist, pulling her in close, and leaned down to press a gentle kiss against her lips. "You look beautiful, tiny."

Olive's blush bloomed bright and immediate. Her eyes fluttered, and she giggled softly, pressing her palm against his chest. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice small and sweet. "You look really good too."

Cole chuckled quietly, brushing his thumb along her cheek before whispering near her ear, "You're gonna make it really hard for me to focus on anything else tonight."

Before Olive could respond, Jackie's teasing voice broke through from behind them. "Alright, lovebirds, let's try to keep the PDA under control until after we leave the house."

Cole shot her a look over his shoulder. "You say that like you're not just waiting for Alex to show up so you can do the same thing."

Right on cue, Alex appeared from the hallway, fixing the sleeves of his maroon cardigan. His eyes immediately found Jackie, and his smile softened. "You look amazing," he said sincerely as he stepped closer.

Jackie smirked, trying to hide the faint pink tint on her cheeks. "Thanks, Alex. You don't look too bad yourself."

"Not too bad?" Alex teased, laughing as he bent down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll take it."

Across the room, Parker was making hot chocolate in the kitchen, rolling her eyes at the couples. "You're all disgusting," she said with mock annoyance, but her grin gave her away. "Can you leave now before you guys start another Hallmark scene?"

Olive giggled, squeezing Cole's hand before letting go to grab her coat. "Okay, okay, we're ready," she said softly, still flushed from the attention. She picked up her little purse, double-checked that she had her phone, and then looked back at Cole expectantly.

Cole grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch and slung it over his shoulder. "Let's roll out," he said with that signature confident grin, the one that always made Olive's stomach flutter.

The group filed out the front door, the cold air nipping at their cheeks as they headed down the snowy walkway toward Alex's car. Their breath puffed in small clouds, laughter echoing softly under the gray sky. Olive wrapped her arms around herself, and Cole immediately noticed, shrugging off his jacket and draping it around her shoulders without a word.

She looked up at him, eyes wide. "Cole, you'll get cold."

He shrugged, grinning down at her. "I'll live."

Jackie watched from behind, shaking her head with a knowing smile as she whispered to Alex, "He's so in love."

Alex chuckled quietly. "He's happy. That's what matters."

Once everyone was settled in the car — Jackie in the passenger seat beside Alex, Olive and Cole in the back — Alex turned the key and the engine came to life. The radio hummed to life with soft Christmas tunes, and the headlights illuminated the gently falling snow as they pulled out of the driveway.

Olive leaned her head against Cole's shoulder, the warmth of him seeping through his sweater. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her cheek, steady and grounding. Cole rested his hand over hers, their fingers intertwining naturally.

"I can't wait for tonight," Olive said quietly, her voice barely audible over the soft music. "I haven't been to a Christmas party in forever."

Cole looked down at her, his expression softening. "Then we'll make it a good one," he promised, brushing his thumb over her knuckles.

As Alex steered down the winding road toward Skylar's place, the car filled with the sound of light conversation and music. Jackie and Alex laughed up front, talking about class projects and finals, while Olive and Cole exchanged quiet smiles in the back seat.___

Snow dusted the edges of the sidewalk and twinkling lights lined Skylar's house, wrapping around the porch columns and glowing in the soft, wintry evening. The faint sound of Christmas music spilled through the front door every time it opened, mixed with laughter and the hum of a crowded room. The air smelled like cinnamon, cocoa, and pine. When Alex pulled up, Olive's eyes widened as she took in the sight — Skylar's house looked like something straight out of a Christmas movie.

They all climbed out of the car, their breath visible in the cold. Jackie wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck, linking arms with Alex as they walked up the driveway. Cole reached back for Olive's hand without thinking, his fingers slipping into hers naturally. She smiled softly at the gesture, her gloved hand small and warm in his. "It's so pretty," she murmured as they approached the porch, her eyes darting around at the glowing decorations.

"Skylar goes all out every year," Jackie said with a grin. "You should've seen last year — there was fake snow inside the house."

Cole smirked. "Please tell me he's not doing that again. I'm still finding glitter from last time."

Olive giggled as they reached the door. Skylar opened it with his usual big grin, wearing a ridiculous Christmas sweater covered in flashing lights and reindeer. "Finally! The Walters are here!" he announced, opening the door wider. "Get in here before you all freeze."

The warmth hit instantly — the cozy scent of baked goods and the faint burn of the fireplace. Inside, people were scattered everywhere — classmates, teammates, and friends — talking, dancing, and laughing under soft red and green lights. A massive Christmas tree stood in the corner, ornaments glimmering, and the sound of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" filled the air.

Olive's eyes sparkled. "Wow," she whispered, taking in the atmosphere.

Cole leaned closer to her ear and said softly, "Stick close to me, tiny. This crowd's a jungle."

Olive smiled shyly, nodding as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She felt safe near him — grounded. They wandered through the crowd together, stopping at the food table where Skylar had truly gone overboard: trays of cookies, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, and even a chocolate fountain. Jackie and Alex soon disappeared toward a group of friends, laughing and mingling, while Cole and Olive found a quieter corner near the big window.

Everything was going smoothly — until Olive noticed someone across the room watching her. Dylan. He was leaning casually against the snack table, a soda in his hand, that same easy grin on his face. When he caught her gaze, he pushed off the table and started walking toward her.

Olive straightened nervously, her fingers tightening slightly around her cup of cocoa. Cole immediately noticed her shift and followed her gaze. His jaw tensed the second he saw Dylan heading their way.

"Hey, Olive," Dylan said when he reached them, flashing a friendly smile. "You look nice. I was hoping I'd get to talk to you for a minute."

Cole raised an eyebrow, his arm sliding around Olive's waist in a casual but unmistakably possessive gesture. Olive blushed instantly at the closeness but didn't move.

Dylan glanced briefly at Cole, his smile still polite. "Our date was fun, by the way," he said, his tone even. "You're really sweet, Olive. It was an honor getting to know you a little."

Olive opened her mouth, unsure of what to say, but before she could respond, Cole let out a quiet chuckle — low, sharp, and with that signature edge of teasing confidence. "That's great, man," he said, his smile faint but not exactly friendly. "But that's all it was — a date. You got your chance, and she's with me now. So maybe you should take your cocoa and go find someone else to 'get to know,' yeah?"

The way he said it — calm but firm — made Dylan blink in surprise. A few nearby people turned their heads slightly, sensing the tension, but Dylan just nodded once, clearing his throat. "Right," he said quietly. "Got it." He gave Olive a small, awkward smile before turning and walking back toward the other side of the room.

Olive exhaled softly, looking up at Cole with wide eyes. "Cole..." she started, her tone a mix of embarrassment and awe.

He looked down at her, still smirking, though his eyes softened a bit. "What?" he asked casually, brushing a bit of hair from her face. "You wanted me to just stand there and let him flirt with you?"

Olive's cheeks flushed. "He wasn't flirting," she murmured shyly, though she couldn't quite meet his eyes.

"Mm-hmm," Cole said with mock doubt, pulling her closer. "Doesn't matter. You're mine, tiny." His voice lowered a little, warm and teasing, though there was a hint of sincerity underneath. "And I don't share."

Olive's heart fluttered at his words. She pressed her hand lightly to his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath the soft fabric of his sweater. "You're so possessive," she said quietly, her lips curving into a small shy smile.

Cole grinned and bent his head just enough to whisper near her ear, "You love that about me."