Page 8 of Snowed In With the Snow Queen
I try one more time, hitting each number as hard as possible. Pound. Off. Nothing.
A headache builds in my temples and behind my eyes. Maybe it’s a power issue. I take my phone and head out the back door, moving away from the building and into the Wild Hare parking lot to call the 24-hour emergency line. There is no wind, not yet, but the air is so cold it’s like a punch to the gut. I suck in a deep breath of sharp freezing air and zip up my coat all the way.
The lights are still off at the vape shop, but Matt, the mechanic, must have been quick–his shop lights are already on. Zach Lamar pulls up in his giant truck just as I get someone on the line for the power company. I’m put on hold immediately, of course.
“You okay, Soojin?” he calls out.
“Calling the power company!” I yell back. “I can’t get the alarm to go off.”
He gives me a thumbs up in acknowledgment and heads inside. The wind blows and I instantly regret not bundling up more before I stepped outside. I pull the hood up on my jacket, but even that does very little against the frigid air. I’ve got the wail of the alarms in one ear and a cat version of All I Want For Christmas Is You in the other when the front lights of the Wild Hare pop on. They flash and cycle through–lighting each letter up along the sign before flashing again and cycling back through again. The sudden, unexpected light is blinding in the dark.
I blink hard and turn away as Eddie pulls up in his truck. He steps out into the cold in just a t-shirt and jeans, completely unphased by the cold. He heads to the door, but then sees me standing in the parking lot between the buildings and starts walking my way.
“Is that the sheriff’s office?”
I shake my head. “The power company. I can’t get the alarm to go off. I was going to see if they’ve had any–”
The lady chooses that exact moment to come on the line and Eddie says, “Let me know what they say,” as he leaves me to it.
I explain the problem to the woman, who puts me on hold once again, this time to Rocking Around the Christmas Tree in Spanish. My teeth begin to chatter. I need to be in boots out here. I’m tempted to just go inside and try to have this conversation in the warmth. Eddie and Zach step out of the Wild Hare, shouting at each other over the noise.
“I’m texting the boss,” I hear Eddie tell Zach and sigh.
“Naw, man, we can’t keep bugging him,” Zach counters.
“But look, even Soojin needs help. You know he’ll come out here for her.”
Do they even see me out here? Do they know I’m here? Does it even matter? After all, I could use the help, even if it will be day two of seeing Randy.
I’m tempted to run inside and get dressed or at least brush my hair, but then Eddie spots me. “Soojin, want to sit in my truck?”
My chattering teeth decide the matter for me. “I’d appreciate it.”
Chapter Seven
Randy
There is a small crowd of people gathered outside the Wild Hare when I pull up. It’s too damn cold to be outside in this weather, but there’s an entire group of them–Matt, the Gobelin mechanic whose shop is at the far end of the parking lot; Hunter and Austin, the human vape guys whose shop is close to Matt’s; Zach and Eddie; and, in pajamas and a jacket, Soojin.
As I put my truck in park, the neon lights of the Wild Hare flicker on and off in the predawn light–lighting up each letter in the sign for the Wild Hare individually in sequence. My heart feels like it’s gone off track, it speeds up as I step out of the truck and head toward them. Thankfully, between the mix of people and the cold air, Soojin’s scent is muted, but it’s still there, teasing me ever so slightly. I try to play it cool, but Zach’s knowing eyes follow me, no doubt picking up my erratic heart beat.
“What the hell is going on?” I holler over the noise.
“There was a power outage and when it came back on, everyone’s alarm started going crazy, and then the sign…” Zach gestures at the sign as it flashes faster and faster.
“Have you called the electric company?”
“Yeah,” Soojin says, “there’s nothing wrong on their end.”
I can feel Soojin’s eyes on me as I turn to look at them. Instead of hiding or hanging back, she steps closer to me, but doesn’t say a word. Does she know how being this close, even with all the layers of clothes on between us, drives me insane? “Let me try to get this alarm off and then I’ll see if I can do anything about everyone else’s.”
I step into the Wild Hare and go straight to the keypad. It takes four hits of my fist this time, but I get that alarm stopped. The lights, though, are still going crazy outside. “Do you mind looking at mine next?” Matt asks, as I step outside. “Lori’s already at work and I’ve got the kids in the truck.”
I look around at the group. If I start at Matt’s shop, I might as well go to the vape shop next. Soojin’s restaurant is on the opposite end of the parking lot. It will have to be the last. “Zach, can you try Soojin’s alarm again? I’m going to Matt’s first.”
“I don’t think–” he starts. I know what he’s doing, but if Soojin’s not interested, being alone with her will just make things more awkward for both of us.
“I’ll come over there if it’s still going off when I finish with the other two.Just try.”
