Page 4 of Mountain Man Crush
I climb back behind the wheel and make the slow drive back down the mountain, only this time, it’s much slower than normal with the heavy snowfall and covered roads. I find his truck right where it was before. I climb out of the car and knock on his window again.
“Why are you here?” he asks the moment he rolls it down.
“Because I can’t leave you out here to freeze to death. Get in my car and I’ll take you home.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t like asking people for things or having to depend on anyone, but myself.”
I roll my eyes. I’m growing impatient and being cold and covered in snow doesn’t help. “By the time you walk into town, the garage will be closed. And the weather isn’t going to slow down for days. That’s why it’s called a winterstorm.”
“I’ll be fine just the same. Get on home where it’s warm.” He rolls up the window again, but I’m not going away so easy this time.
With a huff, I walk around the truck and pull open the passenger side door, climbing inside.
He sits up stiff. “What in the hell are you doing?”
I slam the door shut and pull my coat around me tighter. “If you’re going to insist on sitting here and freezing to death, then so am I.”
He scoffs and shakes his head. “Why can’t you just drive away?”
“Because I don’t want you to die.”
“I won’t die,” he argues.
“No, then what’s going to happen? It’s freezing in here. I bet your toes are already turning blue. It’s going to be hard to chop all that firewood without toes for balance. I guess if you don’t want me to give you a ride home, maybe you’ll let me chop your wood for you,” I say, sarcastically.
He laughs, but it sounds bitter. “I’ll be fine. I’m not like you. I’ve survived worse.”
“Yeah, because survival is based on how hard-headed you are.”
“I’m hard-headed?” He points at his chest. “You’re the one who refuses to just go.”
“Yep, guess we’re both too stubborn for our own good, aren’t we?”
He takes a deep breath. “Fine. If it means I can stop having this conversation with you, I’ll take a ride from the crazy lady.”
I smile. “You haven’t seen crazy yet. Let’s go. I’m freezing.” I reach for the handle, but I wait to open the door until he’s moving too. I wasn’t born yesterday. I know the minute I’m out of this truck, he’ll just lock the doors and stay put.
I look back at him. “Have you changed your mind already?”
He mutters and growls and complains under his breath, but he opens the door and climbs out. I do the same, meeting him around the truck.
“I have some gas cans in the back I need to take with me.”
“That’s fine. I’ll pop the trunk,” I say, heading over to my car and reaching inside for the trunk button.
He carries over two gas cans, puts them into the trunk, and goes back for two more. I finally hear the trunk slam shut and he climbs into the passenger seat. I pull on my seatbelt and shift into drive. I make a big U-turn and start back up the mountain.
The car is warm, and my frozen body is sucking up the heat. He pulls off his gloves and stuffs them into his pockets before rubbing his hands together to warm them.
“So, what’s your name anyway?”
“It’s Jack.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Jack. I’m Bethany, your neighbor.”
“I know who you are,” he says, looking out the passenger window.
My mouth snaps shut, and my teeth grind together. Well, isn’t that nice.
