Page 14 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

“Oh, the last chance, is it? Why? You about to go running back to the city with your tail between your legs like the vapid little party girl you are?”

It’s a low blow. One that capitalizes on the horrible thoughts going through my head, the ones I know aren’t true after watching her work over the last week.

“Excuse me?” She shoots to her feet, getting closer to me. Except this time, it doesn’t feel like she’s about to kiss me. No, this time,it feels like I’ve stepped into a steaming pile of crap that I don’t know how to walk out of.

I always did know how to put my foot in my mouth.

“You heard what I said.” My chest nearly brushes against hers as I loom over her. Looks like it’s time to double down, even though this is only going to hurt more. “You’re so busy trying to fill the void that’s inside of you by convincing people to like you that you’re treating all of this like a joke. You think that I’m the one with the problem, but unlike you, I’m here to do a job.”

Her eyes shine like she’s fighting back tears, her cheeks red and splotchy. “I don’t know where this new attitude just came from, but I thought we were having fun.”

“We weren’t.”

“Well, then, I hope you have a good rest of your night.” She stares up at me, one tear slipping down her cheek. She angrily brushes it away. “Maybe before you judge me, you should actually get to know me. You might think that I’m a shallow party girl who just knows how to laugh and have a good time, but you don’t know the first thing about me if that’s what you believe.”

She weaves through the bodies, gyrating to the music, heading to a room. The door shuts with a heavy thud and I’m left standing in the middle of a party I didn’t want, wondering where the hell I went wrong.

Actually, that’s a lie. I know exactly where I went wrong. I thought it was possible for us to get along.

But as I head back to my room, there is no shaking the feeling that maybe she’s right. Maybe I don’t know how to have fun.Maybe somewhere along the way, that got lost, and now who I am isn’t who I’ve ever wanted to be.

With a sigh I turn, heading to Mia’s room instead of my own and knocking on the door. Not a sound comes from inside, and she doesn’t get up to open it either. I don’t push her, not tonight.

I’ll try to fix this in the morning.

CHAPTER 7

MIA

Iget up in the morning feeling like it’s the end of the world. There’s a tightness to my chest that I can’t seem to shake, and each time I draw in a breath, it only gets tighter.

Sitting up in bed, I glance out the window. The sun is just starting to creep over the horizon.

It’s the same feeling that’s been following me around for the last few months. The one that says I’m never going to know what to do with my life. I don’t know what to do now that I’ve actually graduated from college with my degree.

Mom, I wish you were here right now. I could really use someone to talk to about all of this.

Her picture sits on the dresser at the foot of the bed, facing me. Most mornings when I wake up and the sense of dread hits me, seeing her smiling face in the picture is enough to help.

Not today, though.

It’s probably because today is the first day in a week that I have time to think. There’s nowhere I need to be this morning. Noclasses to teach. No plans with Rosie or June. Ryder is going to spend most of the day working in the kitchen while I sit here and lose myself in my thoughts.

I have to get out of here.

The thought plays on repeat as I toss back the covers and get out of bed, my feet hitting the cold wood floor. The heater in the corner of the room rattles to life.

Rosie isn’t in her bed. It’s still perfectly made, the sheets pulled tight. I don’t know who she went home with last night, but at least one of us had a good time.

Shuffling around the room, I pull out a pair of fleece-lined leggings, hoping that it’s going to be warm enough as I check the weather app. There’s supposed to be some snow later in the day, but for the most part, it should be warm enough for a hike.

After wiggling into the leggings, I pull on a thermal shirt and haul on a hoodie over it. I slip my jacket on before stuffing a small backpack with bottles of water, my first aid kit, and the few supplies I might need if I get lost in the woods.

Not that it’s likely to happen. I used to go on hikes with Mom all the time on her days off.

But I still grab the map and stuff it into the backpack, along with a compass, just in case my phone dies.

A hike is all I need to clear my mind.

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