Page 3 of My Secret Santa Daddies

“Temperature okay?”

I nod, rubbing my hands together, though the warmth is already creeping back into my fingers.

“Thanks for your help,” I say stiffly.

Wyatt glances at me, his green eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before returning back to the road. “No problem. You’re pretty lucky I found you out here.”

I shiver, not entirely from the cold. “Yeah, well, lucky isn’t my middle name.”

I don’t tell him that I don’t believe in luck, not anymore. Not after what happened to her.

I glance out the window, watching the snow pile up, feeling his eyes on me.

“What were you even doing out here in this storm?”

“Coming back from my parents'. Didn’t expect it to get this bad.”

“You should be more careful.”

The words sting a little, but I don’t respond, staring straight ahead instead. He’s always been like that—looking out for everyone, even when they didn’t ask for it. The truck bumps along the road, the silence between us growing heavier with every passing second.

“What are you doing back in Silver Ridge?” I finally ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Wyatt glances over, briefly meeting my eyes before returning his attention to the road. “Griffin and Cody are coming into town for the holiday. Figured I’d join them.”

Griffin and Cody. Of course. My stomach twists at the thought of seeing them again after all this time. Their names hang in the air, making the space between us feel even smaller, more suffocating.

I swallow hard, suddenly feeling claustrophobic in the truck. “How have they been?” I ask, trying to play it cool.

“Good.”

“Any particular reason you’re all back?”

“Just the holidays, I guess. Time to catch up, see family, you know the drill. Griffin bought a place out here.”

I wish he would’ve left me to freeze in my car out there. I stiffen at those words and the dull ache in my head doubles in pain.

“He what?”

“Bought the old lodge near the mountain.”

“Well, that’s...nice.” I manage to choke out, turning to keep my gaze out of the window. We crawl past theWelcome to Silver Ridgesign that’s now buried in snow looking like a thick lump jutting out of the ground. I have a million questions buzzing in my head.

I want to know why they’re back. Why now? After all this time. I grind my teeth together, keeping my eyes out the window.It’s not worth prying. The less I know, the better, and I can try my best to avoid them at all costs.

“I can’t believe I’m back,” Wyatt sighs, turning down the road to reach my house. He still remembers the way without hesitation. “And to find you right there on the road,” he continues. “It’s like you were waiting for me.”

“Yeah. I crashed my car in the snowbank just for you.” I mutter sarcastically.

He laughs. It’s a deep, hearty sound that I haven’t heard in years.

“I’ll be in town for a few days, anyway. If you need help with your car, or anything?—”

“I have it under control.” I reply a little sharper than intended. I don’t need his help. I don’t need anyone’s help.

“I didn’t mean to?—”

“I know, I just?—"

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