Page 56 of Snowed In on Valentine's Day

I shook my head vehemently. “No, it’s fine. You have your walks, and I’ll find—there are so many different things to do at the gym. I’ll be fine.”

Mari looked between us, and I couldn’t decipher her expression. “But being out in nature is so much better for you. Don’t you think, Peter?”

“I do.”

“Well, that’s settled then. You two can start walking together. It’ll be a chance to get to know each other better.” Her eyes were shining as she looked at each of us. “This was so fun. Wehaveto do this again.”

I groaned inwardly while attempting a smile. I didn’t have the heart to say no, not when she lookedso happy. This was not the Mari I’d known for so many years. I wanted to cry tears of joy when I saw the joy on her face. She was such a good person; she deserved to be happy.

But I also wanted to scream, because … what had she just signed me up for?

Chapter 15

Iwas finishing up a video call with Roxy the next day when the doorbell rang.

“Hang on, Roxy, I’ve got to answer the door,” I said.

“It’s OK. We’re done anyway,” she said. “Bye, Hazel.”

“Bye—” And she’d already hung up. OK then. She was such a kind, thoughtful woman, but she was also ruthless about efficiency. I think she hated the idea of using someone’s time, which usually stemmed from low self-esteem, feeling unworthy of someone’s time. I smiled while walking to the front door. I was already starting to think like a real counselor, and I hadn’t even started yet!

After pulling open the front door though, I felt my smile slip.

“Hello,” Peter said. “Ready to walk?” He looked down at my long-sleeve T-shirt and shorts and frowned.

“Oh. Um … really?” I gripped the edge of the door.

“Yes, I walk at this time every day.”

“I know, but—” Oh no, did I just admit to knowing his routine? I felt my face flush. “We don’t have to do this, you know.”

“Don’t you want to walk?”

“No? I mean, I don’tnotwant to walk, but I meant—” I paused, taking a long breath. “It just felt like Mari decided this for us, so I’m just saying that we don’t need to.”

“If you don’t want to go, that’s fine,” he said, his face stoic.

“I—it’s not that I don’t want to.”

“Then you do want to?”

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it. And I’m not dressed for it.”

“I’ll wait.”

I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it. Shrugging, I turned around and went to my bedroom to change.

It might be better to just get this over with.

We’ll both see how awkward it is, and he won’t ask me again.

Problem solved.

At least in theory.

But as we walked a long loop in what was a cool but surprisingly invigorating February day, I wasn’t hating it. In fact, I felt a tiny bit sad when we rounded the corner and our houses came into view. We’d barely spoken. But it was—well, if I didn’t know how much we disliked each other, I’d almost call it a companionable silence.

When we reached his house, I expected we’d say goodbye, but he kept walking with me all the way to my door.

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