Page 86 of The Lodge

“It’s okay.” He’s so much more understanding than most guys would be if their hot date had just been interrupted. “I’ll go find some candles for you—maybe we can do breakfast?”

I nod. “Breakfast would be amazing. Thanks for understanding.”

He slips out, and I wave goodbye before shutting the door.

“I bet this place looks incredible with the lights on!” Lauren calls out from somewhere deep in the shadows of the penthouse, her voice echoing from the high ceilings. “Where should I sleep tonight?”

I find her in the living room, her face pressed up against one of the windows even though it’s too dark out there to see much of anything.

“Lauren,” I say, watching as she continues to just… make herself at home. “I kind of have a lot of work to do.”

“In the middle of the night?” she says, genuinely clueless. “In a blackout?”

“No, I mean in general—this really isn’t the best time for me to host anyone.”

She glances over her shoulder, a teasing grin on her face. “Sure looked like you were enjoying your hosting duties with that random guy when I showed up.”

“Tyler’s not just some random guy—”

As if on cue, Tyler returns, two Target bags in hand. They’re full of votives and tea lights and long white tapers still connected by the wick.

So. Many. Candles.

“Think this will be enough?” he says, handing the bags over.

Something about the ridiculous number of candles strikes meas absurdly funny. “Looks like you robbed a candle factory—I think we’ll be good.”

Behind me, Lauren lightly clears her throat.

Because everyone who invites themselves over unannounced, interrupting one of the best kisses of the last decade, is apparently entitled to an introduction.

“Tyler, this is my sister, Lauren—Lauren, meet Tyler.”

I’m thankful for the darkness. She was very into True North back in the day and took Jett Beckett’s disappearance pretty hard. At least she won’t recognize him tonight in such low lighting. Tomorrow, though, in daylight… that could be a problem.

“Good to meet you,” Tyler says diplomatically, like he didn’t overhear every word of our call this afternoon. “How was your trip?”

“Not bad at all,” she replies. “I rushed to the station and got there just in time for their last train out—lucky, right?”

Solucky.

“Even luckier,” she goes on, “the concierge knew exactly who Alix was. It was meant to be!”

She sounds so sincerely excited to be here.

There’s no use fighting it: it’s late, there’s no power, and there’s a ton of snow on the way. Like it or not, Lauren is staying here tonight.

“Guest bedroom is on the left,” I say. “And you’re on your own for breakfast—there’s a café down in the village. I’ll leave an extra key out.”

She flings her arms around me. “Thank you, Alix! I’m glad I didn’t get the text you tried to send—I missed yousomuch.”

Her hug ends as abruptly as it began; she disappears down the hall, Puffin trotting happily behind.

Once I’m sure she’s out of earshot, I let out a long sigh.

“If you need anything, you know where to find me,” Tyler saysquietly, and I feel his fingertips graze my lower back. “See you for breakfast?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

---