Page 39 of Where We Belong

Chapter 14

Lexie

Iwakeupfeelinglike an ice block, my covers up to my chin.

My teeth chatter as I get out of bed and shuffle to the heating control with my duvet in tow, but even when I turn it up a couple notches, everything remains the same. No sound of systems turning on, no gush of warm air, nothing.

I try to look around for something that might be disconnected or for a button that might have been turned off, but I’m no electrician and nothing seems amiss.

Shit.

My fingers can barely move as I get dressed, dropping a curse or two as I put on jeans over leggings, and then another two layers for a top. How did it get so cold overnight? It might be December, but there’s barely been any snow yet.

Except when I look out the window, everything is covered in white. My entire body goes lax as I stare at the dreamy setting, and for a moment, I forget about the freezing air, only focusing on the awe-inducing winter wonderland outside. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I’ve never seen snow before. The sight makes me feel like that summer when I was a kid and Arizona was plunged in the deepest drought, until one day, it started pouring and everyone cheered and stood under the rain, laughing and shouting. I just want to run outside and open my mouth to catch snowflakes with my tongue and make snow angels on the ground, feeling like a kid again. The entire forest outside my cabin looks ethereal, the tall trees capped with heavy snow, their branches bending under the weight.

The only thing that gets me to stop smiling excitedly is remembering the issue at hand. The snowstorm overnight must’ve been intense enough that something in the heater broke. While I’d like to say I’m an adult and can handle the issue myself, there’s literally nothing I could do about it.

I quickly build a fire in the fireplace to try and warm the place a little, but when I see this won’t be enough to keep me warm throughout the coming nights, I reluctantly grab my phone. I think of calling Aaron, the guy who I initially contacted to rent the cabin, but I don’t think Finn would appreciate that. Plus, if I have to bother someone, I’d rather it be the guy I’ve come to know is a great person.

I select the number under the name Finnick Olsen—one he force-fed into my phone a few weeks ago—then press dial.

“Hello…?”

I find his tone strange, until I realize I never gavehimmy contact.

“Hi, it’s Lexie. Um, Tuffin.” When there’s a moment of silence, I add, “The girl renting—”

“I know who you are, Crabby. What’s up?” I can hear the smile in his voice.

Yeah, maybe that was stupid.

“I’m sorry to bother you, it’s just that I woke up really cold, and I think something’s up with the heater.”

“You’re not bothering. And all right, I was already on my way so I’ll be there in five.”

“Thanks.”

“No worries. See ya soon.”

We hang up, and I realize he’s coming here and I just got out of bed, which means I probably look like hell. It doesn’t really matter, but I still run to the bathroom to comb my hair and brush my teeth. It’s the polite thing to do.

Just as I finish tying my hair in two low buns, a knock comes from the door. I rush to it.

“Hey, thanks for coming so fast.”

“Lex, stop thanking me,” he says with a shake of his head, and without hesitation, he steps inside. He removes his work boots on the welcome mat, then heads to the heater control.

While he’s not looking, I take a moment to scan him while trying to ignore the way it felt to hear him call meLex—something I don’t remember anyone except Josie ever doing. He’s wearing a long-sleeved thermal turtleneck that hugs his sculpted arms and his typical work jeans, roughened up but fitting him to a T.

He messes with a few buttons on the control panel, then stands before it with his hands on his hips and stares.

I step to his side. “You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?”

Without looking away from the control panel, he says, “Not a fucking clue.”

Before I can control it, I burst out laughing, the sound so loud and clear it almost startles me.

Finn turns to me with the biggest grin on his lips. “Lucky for you, though, I have the number of someone who does know what they’re doing, so just give me a minute.” He points at my closet. “Pack your clothes in the meantime.”

---