Kayla Ryan Richmond and I have spent every Christmas since we were kids in the same snowy Alpine village. As we grew, so did our chemistry. On our eighteenth winter, we made a ‘festive friends-with-benefits’ pact: take advantage of our limited time together, then wave goodbye with no strings attached. Those two weeks were the highlight of my year. Until, without warning, Ryan stopped coming here for the holidays. It broke my heart, and I’m determined not to waste another winter pining over him. Ryan The best things about Christmas are snow, skiing, and sneaking around with Kayla McInnes. My oldest friend is funny, adventurous, and gorgeous. She's everything I'd want in a partner, if only she didn’t live half a world away. We always agreed a long-distance relationship was pointless, but saying goodbye got harder and harder. I thought if I stopped visiting, I’d get over her. But I was wrong. I can’t stay away anymore. And I’m hoping this year we can make winter last forever.