Page 56 of Holly Ever After

“Out! Out, out, out!” I shriek, ushering him towards the door.

He rolls his eyes but steps outside. “Fine but hurry up. You act like you haven't seen—”

“I've seen enough, thank you!”

Oh, and what a sight it is.

The door slams shut, and I hurriedly get dressed. There's a knock just as I'm pulling my hoodie over my head. “You decent?”

“Depends on who you ask, but yeah, come in.”

“Better?” he asks, still stark naked.

“Marginally.”

“Good. What now, your highness?”

“We need to make plans. You know, figure out how to keep from killing each other, that sort of thing.”

He chuckles. “You think we're gonna be here that long?”

I glare at him. “Aren't you Mr. Wilderness? Tell me, how long can a blizzard last?”

He shrugs. “Could be hours, could be days.”

“Days?!” My voice skyrockets again.

“Oh for the love of—” Sean grabs my shoulders, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Calm. Down.”

“I'll have you know, I'm very calm.” I wriggle out of his grip.

“Sure, as calm as a caffeinated squirrel.”

Starbucks would be amazing right now.

Concentrate, Holly.

My phone buzzes from the nightstand, another weather alert. “Heavy snowfall expected to continue. Residents advised to stay indoors.”

“See! Even my phone says we're stuck. Doomed! Trapped like rats!”

“Rats?” Sean chuckles. “Don't insult us. If anything, we're like... sexy snow leopards or something.”

I snort. “Speak for yourself. I feel more like a deranged penguin.”

He laughs, throwing his head back, and just like that, the tension breaks.

“We're fine,” he says, softer now. “We're more than fine. We have food, heat, and hey—” his eyes darken, turning that delicious shade ofwe-shouldn’t-but-we’re-going-to-again—“we've got each other.”

I consider this, looking at the blizzard outside, then back to Sean again.

“God help us,” I mutter under my breath, walking into the living room. I snatch a notebook and pen from the coffee table. Nothing soothes the anxious mind like making a good old-fashioned list.

He arches an eyebrow as he watches me. “What are you doing?”

“Making a list. Lists make me feel better.”

He leans against the wall, arms crossed. “Okay, what's first on this list of yours?”

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