Page 97 of Snowed In

My brow furrows. “Well?”

“So you can probably make it about halfway today.”

“Half...” He’s got to be kidding me. “Halfway?”

“Yeah, well the roads up to around Goodwin aren’t bad, but after that, they’ll need a couple of days to thaw.”

“Goodwin? Where Hunter grew up?”

“Yeah. His family has a cabin there. If the roads are too bad to make it all the way here tonight, he said you can stay there for a night or two.”

“How is that any better than the dorms?” My voice has gone up an octave. This is not good. Not good at all.

“It’ll get you close to home, and if the roads aren’t too bad, then you’re free to drive the last two hours to us. This gets you closer though.”

I look out my dorm window. It’s snowing but not too heavy, and I don’t really want to be around here for winter break. I miss my family desperately. I’m the baby out of five kids. Zane is next, and then we have three older sisters. Older sisters, who are all married with kids. I can hear my nieces and nephews in the background, making my heart ache to see them all.

I’m sure Mom and Dad are in the kitchen making food for theentire hoard of humans invading their home right now. Probably living their best lives. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Yes! I knew you wouldn’t be too much of a pain in my ass.”

I roll my eyes. “We’re going to try to make it tonight. I can’t stomach spending a night with Hunter and his family.”

“No family. It’s an empty cabin, apparently. His parents don’t live there, and they’re out of the country for Christmas.”

I frown at that. Hunter is an only child, but he usually spends Christmas with our family. I wonder momentarily what he did before he met Zane but push that thought away. It’s really not my concern.

“That’s even worse.”

He chuckles. “Just don’t kill him, okay? I kind of like the guy.”

I grumble but promise him I’ll try not to murder his best friend before I hang up and grab my bag to go meet Hunter downstairs. Apparently, they were both pretty confident Zane could get me to agree to this.

This is a horrible,horribleidea. I know it in my gut, but I can’t say no to Zane. I really can’t make him worry about me or try to come and get me himself when Hunter is right here.

So I guess I’m doing this.

Chapter Two

Hunter

Holy shit, he’s cute. I mean in an adorkable way. And it just does it for me. Simon walks out of the dorm with a bigass black duffle over his scrawny shoulder, wearing a beanie over his dark curls and a huge puffy coat.

At least he’s dressed for the elements, but it’s that scowl on his pretty face that seriously does me in. His lips are so fucking pretty, all pursed like that.

No. Off-limits, Hunter. Totally off-limits.

I have to remind myself. “Little Sharpe!”

“No.” He automatically shuts me down, and I can’t hide my smile as he ambles his way to my truck. “I told you I don’t like that nickname.”

I grin because I know, but I still can’t help trying to get him all riled up. He’s adorable when he’s flustered, which seems to be all the time when I’m around. “Aw, but you’ll always be Little Sharpe to me.” I can’t help but goad him as he makes it to my truck, and I take his duffle from him, slinging it into the cab behind his seat. “We better get going.”

His scowl hasn’t changed, and I can’t help but smile bigger as Iopen his door for him. He grumbles but then hops into the passenger seat before I close the door and move around to the driver’s side. I don’t waste any time after I’m buckled and put the truck into gear, heading out toward the highway.

I was more than happy to take Simon home with me today, but I had no doubt he wouldn’t be happy about it. I told Zane as much, but he assured me his little brother would be grateful for the ride. I try to cover my laugh with my hand as I think about the earlier conversation.

“What’s so funny?” Of course Simon is like an owl and doesn’t miss a thing.

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