My New Years Eve was supposed to be perfect. My two best friends –Sophie and Jayma, their boyfriends, and I were all going to a chalet in Colorado together. It was to be a low-key New Years Eve and just the kind of holiday I needed after the last year. I’d been promoted to a new position as the head buyer for Nordstrom and it required a lot of travel. Unfortunately, it had put a damper on my relationship with JC, my now ex-boyfriend and we’d ended it in June.  It was going to be my first New Years Eve in three years without him but instead of dwelling on that, I’d decided to do anything and everything to get my mind off of him while I was in Colorado with my friends.

But then Sophie announced that JC was joining us on New Years Eve and Jayma said that her supermodel-Victoria Secret’s cousin, Maya, would also be coming. To make matters worse, the day before New Years Eve, I’d gone ice skating – something I’d done maybe once when I was a child- and ended up spraining my ankle. So my New Years Eve would be spent on the couch watching Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve, most likely alone since Maya had already been here an hour and was following JC around like a lost puppy.

“Do you need anything?” Jayma asked me from the kitchen.

“Yes. I need you to send JC away and Maya with him.” I griped and narrowed my eyes at my friend.

“Oh, Isla, you know Maya isn’t JC’s type!” Jayma was actually laughing at my comment. “And besides, you told me you didn’t care that he was going to come a few days ago.”

“That was before I knew Miss Victoria’s Secret 2015 was joining us.” I knew I had a terrible attitude about everything but my ankle was throbbing and I didn’t care.

“She wasn’t Miss Victoria’s Secret. She was the Playboy Bunny of the Year back in 2012.” Jayma acted as though this information would make me feel better about the fact that my ex-boyfriend would probably be hooking up with her cousin before the end of the night.

“Wow, that makes me feel better. JC and I break up, I go on, like, two terrible dates, and he winds up with a former Playboy model!” I sighed and looked over at Jayma. “Now I just want to go home.”

Jayma frowned. “I’m sorry, Isla. You know there’s too much snow right now to even attempt getting you down the mountain. I asked Carson and Levi and Sophie if they wanted to stay in tonight so you wouldn’t be alone, but I guess Carson gets charged $100 if they cancel our reservations.” The two couples were going to some fancy restaurant in downtown Aspen for dinner that evening. I’d overheard Sophie’s boyfriend Levi asking Maya if she wanted to join. I tried not to listen to her response, but she’d now been upstairs in the bathroom getting ready for an hour and a half so I knew she was taking my place.

Just then, the front door opened and JC, Carson, and Levi walked in with their skis.

“It’s freezing out there!” Carson shivered as he began to remove his ski attire. “Hey babe.” He looked over at Jayma. “How’s your foot?” He asked me and walked to the end of the couch.

“It hurts,” I mumbled and tried not to look over at JC.

“I can’t believe you went ice skating.” JC mused. “I’m just glad it was just a sprain.”

I ignored his comment and pretended to be interested in whatever was on the television, which just happened to be sports news.

“We’re gonna go get ready. The Uber’s gonna be here at 6.” Levi was talking to Jayma and I was trying to get into whatever the sportscaster was talking about. The Green Bay Packers blah blah, the Patriots, blah blah blah. It was all meaningless chatter but it was better than laying there listening to everyone’s plans for that night.

“Jayma, I’m out of the shower!” Maya called from the balcony that overlooked the living room. I made the mistake of looking up and seeing Maya in nothing but a towel and then made an even bigger mistake by glancing over at JC who looked as if his eyes might bulge out of their sockets. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t realize you guys had gotten back!”

“Please.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head as discretely as possible but JC caught my eye and I could see him smirking at me.

“Thanks, Maya. I’ll see if Sophie needs it before I go.” I heard Jayma close the refrigerator and then she walked over to me. “I’m gonna go upstairs. You sure you don’t want anything?”

“I already told you what I wanted.” I looked at her right in the eyes and she sighed in exasperation.

“I meant do you want anything from the kitchen.”

“No.”

“Ok. I’m going to get a shower.” Jayma walked across the living room and over to the staircase. Levi and Carson followed her and soon it was just me and JC.

“Are you really watching Sports Center?” He was sitting across from me in the recliner now and I was still glued to the television.

“Yes.” I didn’t look at him but kept my gaze on the two sportscasters going on and on about who would be Super Bowl material.

“Really? Ok. So who’s Aaron Rodgers then?” Without even looking at him I knew he was giving me that ridiculous smile.

“He, um, he’s that guy.” I pointed to one of the sportscasters and JC laughed at me. “What? Isn’t his name Aaron?”

“His name is Steve.” JC just shook his head and reached for the remote. “Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.”

“Ok. Great. Your point?” I was being rude and I knew it but I didn’t care. This was not at all the way I’d planned to spend this vacation. Trapped in a chalet with a gimp foot and my ex-boyfriend who was going to be sleeping with a Playboy model tonight.

“Calm down. I was just teasing you.” JC began to flip through the channels. “What do you want to watch?”

“I don’t care.” That was true. I didn’t care what was on as long as it distracted me.

“What are you doing tonight? Are you really going to be here alone?” JC was still trying to find something on the television as he talked to me.

“Looks that way.” I brushed a strand of auburn hair out of my eyes. “I can limp to the refrigerator and heat up some of that meatloaf and I’ll drink the rest of that white wine while I watch the ball drop.”

“Isla, that’s ridiculous. You’re not going to stay here alone.” JC set down the remote and looked at me. “I’ll stay with you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’ll stay with me? Right. I’m so sure with Miss Playboy Bunny here that you’re going to miss out on that.”

“She’s pretty but she’s not my type.” JC shook his head. “And you know I don’t like it when girls fawn all over me.”

“I’m not going to let you stay here and miss out on a fun New Years Eve.” I was being serious, even if on the inside I was hoping he might stay in that night.

“Too bad. You can’t tell me what to do.” JC stood up. “I’m going upstairs to get out of these ski clothes. Be back soon.”

I didn’t say anything, only eased back into the cushions and tried to focus on Home Alone 2. I pulled out my phone and clicked on the camera to check myself. I looked horrible. I’d put on no make-up and I was still in my pajamas. Then again, I knew it shouldn’t matter what I looked like. JC was my ex now and if he wanted to give up a perfectly good New Years Eve to stay in with me while I griped to him on the couch, that was his loss.

But secretly, I wanted to somehow look presentable.

“JC says he’s staying in with you.” I heard Sophie coming down the stairs. “Are you okay with that?”

“What that he’s not going out with Maya the Model and potentially getting drunk and sleeping with her? Yes, that suits me just fine.” I sat up on the couch and made room for Sophie to sit next to me.

“Why’d you even break up? It’s so obvious you two still want to be together.” Sophie plopped down next to me.

“I’m never home and he’s always busy in the studio. And why would you even ask that? You know the answer.”

“Well, he’s staying in with you tonight. It’s New Years Eve. I think you should think about getting potentially drunk with him and then-“

“…oh you’re not going tonight, JC? That’s a shame. I guess I’ll have to find someone else to ring in the New Year with.” It was Maya talking to JC from the balcony. I looked at Sophie and rolled my eyes.

“Oh, I’ll have to find someone else to sleep with tonight.” I mimicked Maya’s voice and Sophie stifled a laugh.

“Shh, she’s just flirty is all.” Sophie looked up towards the balcony. “I better go and finish getting ready. Just remember that he’s not just staying for no reason. He’s giving up a night out with friends to stay in with you.”

Two hours later, it was just me and JC in the chalet. Everyone had left looking as if they were dressed to pose for a Kardashian Christmas card and I was still stuck on the couch in my pajamas.

“Be nice!” Jayma hissed in my ear before joining the others on their way out.

“I’ll try!” I smiled at her and they all left, leaving me alone. Well, alone with my ex-boyfriend still upstairs.

“I decided you looked really cozy in your pjs so I decided to join you.” JC was coming down the stairs in plaid flannel pajama pants and a Washington Redskins hoodie. I had to giggle at the Rudolph socks he was sporting. JC loved socks and I’d given him those last Christmas.

“I’m also in pain so if you really want to match, you can go jam your ankle on the ice skating rink.” I was being sarcastic and JC laughed at me.

“I still can’t believe you did that. I could’ve told you that you would’ve fallen.” He took his place in the recliner again, then looked over at the empty fireplace. “Hey, I’m gonna go outside and get some wood to make us a fire. Any objections?”

I shrugged and shook my head. He just nodded and headed outside. I had to admit it- this was the best part of this vacation so far. Even if we were broken up and I was injured on New Years, it was nice to be with him.

Five minutes later, JC returned with a stack of firewood in his arms and snow all over his pajamas. He shivered as he made his way over to the fireplace and began to make us a fire. I wished I could’ve helped him but all I could do was watch.

“Much better.” He nodded at the fire and then looked over at me. “Hungry?”

I was starving and didn’t realize it until he asked me. “Yeah, actually I am. But I think we ate most of the meatloaf from last night and-“

JC shook his head. “There’s a frozen pizza from Trader Joe’s in the freezer. I’ll put it in the oven. Oh, and do you want some wine while it’s baking?”

“JC, you don’t have to do – “ I started but he cut me off.

“I know I don’t have to. But you’re hurt and there’s no reason for you to be alone tonight.” He walked into the kitchen. “Besides, I still like doing stuff for you.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that last statement. Yes, we’d broken up mutually but since then it’d just been weird whenever we’d been in the same place together. And since he was good friends with both Carson and Levi, we were together more than I would’ve liked. Tonight was the first time we weren’t awkward around each other. In fact, if I was completely honest, we were quite comfortable with each other.

We ate our pizza and drank a bottle of wine while we watched old Christmas movies on OnDemand. It felt so familiar to be doing that together. I couldn’t help but sneak looks at him while we ate. He still ate pizza like a five-year-old kid and managed to get crumbs all over himself. Meanwhile, I ate it with a fork and knife like I’d been taught by an Italian exchange student back in high school. He used to tease me relentlessly about that when we were together. He said he found it endearing.

“Mm,” I grunted and moved my foot, which was throbbing now.

“You okay?” JC glanced at me.

“My foot just hurts.” I grimaced and tried to stand to go and grab the Tylenol on the kitchen counter but JC beat me to it.

“You’re crazy. Here.” He handed me the bottle of Tylenol. “You know you’re supposed to keep it elevated.”

“Stop being so bossy.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Also, I’ve been meaning to ask you. Why didn’t you go off on your annual Miami New Years trip?”

JC hesitated before he answered me. “Well, I guess this trip sounded more fun. Miami’s great. But I haven’t had a New Years where it’s been cold in a while.” He paused and let out a breath. “And I haven’t spent New Years without you.”

I tried to speak but couldn’t get the words to form a sentence so I just looked at him like he was crazy.

“Isla, I didn’t want to break up. But you were so adamant that we never saw each other and that our lives were taking a different turn that I, well, I guess I just gave in.” He sat down next to me on the couch and put my feet in his lap.

“But it’s true. You know we don’t see each other and, and-“

“And what? You started a new position. You were busy. I knew that. It didn’t mean I wanted it to end.”

“Don’t you want to be in a relationship with someone who you see all the time?”

“Sure. But I’m also wise enough to know that advancements in jobs are a big deal and you had to get used to that. I don’t know why you were so insistent that we had to end it.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just watch TV?” I had to change the subject.

“Isla-“

“No. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Fine.”

He moved off of the couch and went into the kitchen. I heard him banging around pots and pans and muttering to himself but didn’t turn around to ask what he was doing.

It was only when he called out, “Shit!” that I turned around and asked him what the hell he was doing.

“I burned myself taking the hot chocolate off the stove.” He was shaking his hand in front of him, then sucked on his finger. “I should’ve used a hot pad.”

“Are you okay?” I sat up and then I was the one who yelped in pain because I moved my ankle too soon.

“I’m fine. You just stay on the couch.”

We were certainly a sight to behold, that was for sure. He was running his finger under cold water and I was trying to position my foot so that my ankle rested on the pillow in the right way. A few minutes later, he leaned over the couch to hand me a mug of hot chocolate.

“Thanks.” I told him quietly and blew on it before I sipped from the mug. He resumed his position in the recliner and we were quiet as we watched the rest of White Christmas. The fire was crackling and the hot chocolate was perfect. I nestled into the couch as I drank it and occasionally glanced at JC, who was pretending to watch the movie as well. I knew he was pretending because his gaze was above the television set.

“I just didn’t want you to get hurt.” I finally spoke up.

JC turned and faced me. “What?”

“When we broke up, I mean. I just didn’t want you to get hurt if I was always gone and you had to be alone.” I cleared my throat and waited for him to speak again.

“Isla, you know that I was on tour for most of my twenties and had to be away from girlfriends for longer than you were away.” He was resting his fist on his chin and waiting for me to talk now.

“I know that. I guess…I don’t know. I don’t know what I thought. It seemed like it made sense at the time.” I put my mug down on the coffee table and looked at him. “Why’d you really come to Colorado?”

JC smirked and stood up from the recliner, walking back over to me. He knelt down in front of me and leaned in to kiss me. “Because maybe I wanted to see if I could win you back.”

I let him kiss me again and then chuckled against his lips. “How’d you know I’d take you back?”

“Because I know you that well, silly.”

“10-9-8…” The crowd on the television was going wild. JC and I were snuggled together on the couch watching as the ball dropped in New York City and Ryan Seacrest led the countdown.

“…5,4,3…”

“No better way to start the New Year, huh?” JC nudged me and I looked up at him.

“…2,1..Happy New Year!”

He leaned in to kiss me. “Happy New Year, baby.” I whispered and kissed him again.

I couldn’t help but think how hours ago I had been dreading tonight. But if I was honest, this was the best New Years Eve I’d ever had.