Page 76 of Home Field Advantage
He doesn’t wait for any response from me as he turns on his heels and walks back to his house in the snow. I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out. I’m stuck where I stand, still in shock that this man doesn’t think I’m crazy for needing to get this done in the middle of the biggest winter storm Bluestone Lakes has gotten in years.
When he skips up his front porch steps and disappears into his house, that’s when I finally head into mine and do as he asked and grab myself a thicker jacket.
But when I close the door behind me, every emotion I fought to keep stuffed down breaks free. My back rests against the door, and I slide down, bringing my knees to my chest. I cry, and I cryhard, which seems so silly. This is just a damn snowstorm. It’s only a trip to the grocery store.
I have some stuff in the pantry, right?
I can make do for another twenty-four hours, right?
I groan because it’s moments like this that are beyond embarrassing.
I feel so stupid.
I feel like I wasn’t thinking it through and only thinking about how Ineededto get to the store as part of my routine. I could have—should have—let it go. I knew this storm was coming; I could have gone yesterday before it hit. I could have had more control over this situation, but I didn’t.
Now, Dallas will be back any minute to drive me through this mess to get a few things.
Reluctantly, I stand up and grab my jacket from the coat closet next to my front door. The knock at my door sounds almost as soon as I slip it on. I stand there, zipping it up, not ready to face him yet. I know my eyes are puffy and glassy now. I know he’s going to see right through me.
He’s going to ask questions that I’m not prepared to answer.
Swinging the door open, Dallas looks from the ground to me. His face contorts in confusion as if he can read every emotion written all over my face.
Damn him for being so observant.
He opens his mouth to say something, but it falls short when the soft humming sound of my heater running cuts off. I snap my head to my living room to see that my table lamp next to my couch has also turned off.
“Is that…”
“The power went out,” Dallas groans, cutting me off. “Dammit.”
My head falls back, my eyes flutter closed, and I go back to hating myself for these emotions coursing through me.
Why can’t I stop crying?
“I’m actually okay with not going anymore,” I say throughnervous laughter. “I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea.”
“Do you have any firewood for the fireplace?”
“I do, but you really don’t need to do that. I can take care of it. I have a solid thirty minutes before the frost sets in.”
He laughs, and it forces a smile on my face while easing the tension inside me.
Something I didn’t know I needed from the most unexpected man to enter my life.
“Can I ask you a question, Poppy?”
The tone of his voice is unnerving. I feel my body tense, but nod in response.
“Have you ever allowed anyone to take care of you?”
That…isn’t what I’m expecting. I tilt my head in response, confused by why he’s asking me this.
“I only ask because I’m free right now. Sage is with her mom, and when I offered to take you to the General Store, I sensed the hesitation in your voice. And now I want to help you get your fire started, and you don’t seem like you want help with that either.”
“I’m not?—”
“Poppy, let me do this,” he says quickly. “Iwantto do this.”
