Page 33 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

“Might be one you have to take.”

I pull my goggles off the top of my head, stuffing them in the bag with the helmet already in there. “Normally, I like risks. I don’t think you grow as a person unless you’re willing to take them, but everything feels right. It feels like if I go to him and open up this conversation, then we’re going to change things. And it’s a risk that I don’t know I should take right now because everything feels so perfect.”

“It’s not perfect if you’re having these feelings.”

Groaning, I zip up my bag and sling it over my shoulder. “You’re right.”

Rosie laughs and bumps her shoulder into mine. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t want to be.”

“Unfortunately, you are. And I know this is part of being an adult.”

“Still feels like there’s another ‘but’ coming.”

“But…” I say, drawing out the word. “Things are good how they are. There are no strings attached. And when the season comes to an end, we both know we’re going different ways.”

“And you’re going to take the easy way out, so you don’t have to face it right now.” Rosie stops outside the gondola building, leaning against the side of the wall. “Sooner or later, you’re going to have to deal with the fact that you either have an expiration date or you don’t.”

“Tonight, I think we’re not going to deal with that.”

Rosie’s lips twitch. “You’re right about that, actually. He told me and Ryder to get lost tonight. I can’t tell you what the surprise is going to be, but there is one.”

My heart leaps into my throat, the butterflies in my stomach going wild. “He has a surprise for me?”

“That’s all I’m going to tell you.” Rosie kicks some snow at me. “Now, go back to the cabin and have some fun with your man, and please disinfect whatever the two of you get onto.”

Laughing, I kick some snow back at her. “Sex isn’t all we do when we’re together. It’s just one of the benefits of having a winter fling.”

Rosie rolls her eyes. “I don’t think fling is the right word for it, but if you want to keep insisting that it’s all it is, then you go right ahead with that. I won’t keep fighting you on it.”

“Maybe one day you’ll get to look back and tell me that you told me so.”

“I know I will.” She nods to the next gondola pulling up to take her away. “Have a good night.”

“You too.”

It’s getting dark out as I climb the stairs to the cabin, clouds of steam rising from the heating system. I stomp up the stairs, shaking the snow from my boots. Clouds roll overhead, blocking out the stars that try to shine through the trees.

The air is only getting colder as I push the door open. Honey launches herself off the couch and over to me, her tail wagging hard.

I laugh and crouch down, rubbing behind her ears while she tries to cover every inch of my face with her kisses.

The scent of melting cheese and greasy pepperoni fills the cabin. The couch is pushed back to give enough room for the mattresses on the floor. Lights hang across the ceiling, a twinkling warm white.

Aiden stands in the middle of it all, looking unsure of himself, but there’s a small smile curving his lips. “I hope this isn’t too much, but I thought with the late shifts tomorrow, we could have a movie night tonight.”

“Do you have popcorn? And chocolate chips?”

“Yeah, popcorn is freshly popped. Didn’t want to add the chocolate chips until it cooled down a little since you said you still like the chocolate kind of intact.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Pizza’s here too.”

“Thank you.” I stride across the room and stand on my toes, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “I’m going to go get cleaned up, and then I’ll be right out so we can enjoy this.”

I hurry to get showered and changed into a pair of joggers and a camisole, scurrying out to the mattress bed in the middle of the room and crashing down against the pillows. Aiden comes over with a bowl of popcorn and a plate of pizza, dropping down beside me.

Honey curls up at our feet, snoring within a couple minutes.

I grab the remote, scrolling through the movies before settling on one. “I don’t know what you want to watch, but I’m in the mood for something bloody and gory.”

“Oh yes, what everyone wants to watch when they’re trying to be romantic.” He grins and shoves some popcorn into his mouth. “Blood and gore away.”

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