Trapped with the Blizzard (38 page)

“What was is like running into a burning building?”

“How has Liz thanked you for saving her baby?”

“Is Bryan the Blizzard
your
hero?”

I didn’t handle the attention as gracefully as Liz. I couldn’t ignore them like her. She’d rush past to hide in the car if they’d cornered us. I’d strut by with my middle fingers up. The final straw came after a nice lunch down in town when we were ambushed on Main Street.

“How many people do you think you saved that morning?”

I stopped dead in my tracks and looked one idiot straight in the eyes. I had no idea who’d called out what question, but this idiot would have to do. He got all excited and pushed his phone into my face, eagerly awaiting my response. “Ten, fifteen maybe. Considering how many I have buried in my backyard, I think I could’ve done more to make it even-steven.”

A few of them laughed, but they’d gotten what they wanted. I’d stopped and actually spoken. Now they could dig their teeth in for the real sound bite.

“Do you think your father would be proud of you?”

With Liz tugging at my sleeve, I glared into their cameras. “He’s my father. He’s always proud of me,” I replied incredulously.

“Well, yeah, when he wasn’t a vegetable,” one of the scumbags laughed.

“I’ll make you a fucking vegetable,” I shouted as I lunged into the crowd. I just had to get my fingers on his fat neck.

Liz yanked me back and shoved me into the car. After that, we all agreed it might be time for me to return to California. The decision was made quickly and a flight booked for two days later. At least I had enough time to say goodbye to Miah.

The day before I left, he fought his way through the crowd of paparazzi at the bottom of the drive. It’s not like we could meet up at a coffee shop. There was no way to avoid photos of him entering the house, but we’d have some privacy.

He stood awkwardly in the bedroom door as I cleared a space on the bed for us to sit. I jumped up and patted the spot beside me, already fighting back tears. He half-leaned on the bed and took my hand in his. We stared at the floor, neither of us knowing what to say.

“Marie wanted me to give you her number. Said you could text if you felt like it.”

I sniffed and rolled my eyes. “We’ll see. I don’t think we’re there yet.”

Another silence stretched between us. “It’s weird being in the same room with you,” he finally laughed.

He made a good point. We’d talked a lot since the storm, but it was mostly through text or on the phone. Even after spending days together in the lodge, we still hadn’t spent much time alone. I smiled and pulled out my phone, quickly typing out a text.

Is this better? We can cut human interaction down to nothing ;)

Miah gave me a half-grin as he saw me typing, the smile growing wider when he read my text. He typed out a response. I stared at my phone as I waited for it to pop up.

But then I can’t do this…

When I looked up for an explanation, he ran his hand along my jaw and lifted my lips to his. The breath caught in my throat. The connection between us pulsed like a live wire, stronger than ever. The desire was there, but just a steady current we dared not dip into. His lips lingered, creating a soft, heady kiss that left me breathless as he pulled away.

Click
.

My eyes fluttered open only to see Miah’s phone in my face.

“What the hell?”

He flipped the phone to show me the photo. My wet lips were slightly parted, and my hair was swept back – not a bad picture. “I couldn’t let you leave without replacing that dick pic you sent me.” He peered down at the photo lovingly. “And now I have something I can remember you with.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I replied, gripping his hand. “I mean, I’m leaving, but I’m coming back.”

Miah nodded sadly. “You don’t know that and that’s okay. I’m just glad that I got to meet you in the first place.”

“This is going to sound corny as hell,” I said, almost as a warning. I grabbed his hand and pressed it to my chest. I nearly didn’t continue. I nearly defaulted to sarcasm, avoidance. The urge to shun my true emotions was almost too strong, but I pushed through. “There’s a piece of you in me now. I can’t run from it, even if I wanted to.” I dipped my head to meet his eye. “When I’m with you, that dark dragon doesn’t feel so strong inside.”

His chest rose and fell as he took a few deep breaths, visibly fighting back tears. “Come here,” he choked out. He pulled me towards the pillow and lay my head against his chest. We wrapped our arms around each other and lay there feeling more together and more apart than ever before. I didn’t want to move. I never wanted to leave that place. If it’d been possible, we would’ve built a wall around that room and never left each other. And for a few minutes, we pretended we’d done just that.

There was a knock on the door. “Hey guys,” Liz called out. “I just made some pizza if you want to come down and have lunch.”

I sighed and nuzzled closer. The world keeps spinning and we have to keep moving. “We’ll be right down.”

Miah kissed my forehead, the slightest scratch of his stubble on my skin. I was going to miss him so much my chest already ached. I slid from the bed and stood in front of him, wedging myself between his knees and wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I’m coming back,” I insisted.

He pressed his lips together and nodded. “I believe you.” As I walked away, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back. I gasped as I collided with his chest, but he gave me no time to react. His mouth was hot and insistent on mine this time, capturing my lips with a hunger I might’ve given into if Liz and Bryan weren’t waiting downstairs. A tiny groan escaped my throat. With a hand on his chest, I pushed away.

“I’m not sad you’re leaving,” he said with a tiny smile, “because I’m looking forward to welcoming you back.”

June 17th

Driving back into Tellure Hollow was beyond surreal. As I swung my Jeep onto Main Street, the mountain looming large in the distance, it dawned on me I’d never been here in the summer. The town looked so different not buried under ten feet of snow!

I slowed to see the progress with Walt’s shop. A huge dumpster sat out front, filled with the charred remains of the interior. Bryan and Liz said the insurance would pay out enough for him to get it built back up, but they weren’t sure he was up to running it anymore. This past winter had taken a lot out of all of us, him most of all.

The wind whipped my hair around as I sped out of town and towards Liz and Bryan’s house at the foot of the mountain. I was genuinely excited to be back and looking forward to the summer and year to come.

I didn’t see their cars in the drive, but Bryan had insisted I come right up to the house as soon as I arrived in town.

“Someone will be home, I promise. Can’t wait to have you,” he’d left on my voicemail.

With a bag slung over my shoulder, I climbed the familiar stairs, only this time I pushed pine needles away with my toes instead of snow and ice. After a couple knocks on the door, I tested the doorknob and found it open.

“Hello?” I called out as I stuck my head in.

“Come in!” Liz shouted from deep inside.

I had a strange moment of déjà vu. I tensed up, that dark apprehension seizing my core with a vice-like grip.
You’re gonna screw this up, they don’t want you here, you’re just going to cause trouble, you’ll never amount to anything…
Closing my eyes and taking deep breaths, I pushed the feeling away, like a phantom adolescent tantrum.

Liz bounded down the stairs with Jack in her arms. Wearing shorts and a white tank top, her skin already sun-kissed, she was the picture of good health. Oh yeah, and the big round baby bump under the top.

“You got here so quickly!” she exclaimed as she hugged me with one arm. “I hope that doesn’t mean you were speeding.”

“Of course not,
Mom,
” I said dramatically. I returned her hug and smile before giving Jack my hand. “The traffic was light on the way up and I can’t resist the open road. He’s gotten so big!”

“Yes, he has,” she replied, bouncing him. “And heavy. Can you say hello to your cousin Dani?”

He pressed his face into Liz’s chest as he bashfully watched me. “Hey, little guy, do you remember me? Can you say hi?”

Jack grinned and mumbled something that sounded like, “Hi,” before burying his face in her shoulder. As he moved his head, I caught a glimpse of his hearing aid. I must’ve grimaced because Liz preempted my question.

“Only one ear. And the doctor thinks it might get better with age.”

I brushed his soft, blond hair and sighed. “All things considered, we walked away pretty lucky. I can’t wait to testify at the trial.”

“You, me, and a dozen others. Not all of us will walk away. We’re already planning a huge sentencing party,” she added with a wicked smirk.

“Oh, the reporters are gonna
love
that,” I laughed. “Bryan up at the mountain?” I adjusted the bag on my shoulder.

“Yeah, getting the dirt bike trails set up. Why don’t you throw your things upstairs and I’ll put a pot of coffee on.” I made a face and looked at her belly, which she instinctively stroked. “Decaf for me, don’t worry.”

“You look like you’re smuggling a basketball,” I laughed.

“Just another blizzard baby,” she grinned. “Go on and get settled. I can’t wait to catch up.”

I fought my natural instincts and embraced my genuine feelings. I didn’t deflect or kill the moment with sarcasm. Instead, I returned her smile. “I’d really like that.”

The room was exactly as I’d left it, minus the Christmas decor. It felt strangely like coming home. I flopped on the bed and pulled out my phone. I’d promised I’d text the minute I got in.

Hey, I’m here. You ready to start a little trouble?

~

I’m not sure… your idea of trouble might get me killed.

~

That’s the risk you take when you date a Marsh.

~

Oh, we’re dating now?

~

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I parked the car in the back lot, heading in one of the secret back entrances I’d since learned about. It was my main point of entry now, easier to avoid the growing mob of protesters outside.