Page 75 of Let It Snow
Whatever happened between Snow and this omega has nothing to do with me, not directly, yet it cuts me all the same.
I bolt from the basement, slamming the door behind me.
Part of me hopes he’ll come after me. That amiraclewill happen, that he’ll say something to fix this, to make it all make sense. But the door stays shut, and my despair only deepens.
I don’t know what to do with myself. I run toward the lake, then along the edge of the property, until I find myself heading to the only place I’ve never been.
Bay’s house.
It’s a so-called ‘tiny house’, modern, simple, but clearly a comfortable mobile model. Though this one is built permanently into the ground. I circle it once. The front door is locked, but the lights are on, so someone must be inside.
I try the handle again and… use my power to pry the lock, and the door gives way. I step in, but the place looks empty.
Somewhere, just at the edge of hearing, a faint chirp goes off, like opening the door tripped a hidden alarm.
A moment later, a hatch in the floor creaks open.
Bay emerges from beneath the floor.
His forehead drips with sweat, his black athletic shirt clinging to his body. The fabric is moisture-wicking, long-sleeved, paired with black track pants. His hair, damp with sweat, is tied back in a ponytail. He steps up from below and shuts the hatch, every movement calm and assured.
Strange. How could a tiny house even have a basement? And what the hell does he do down there, training or something?
I stare at him in stunned silence, and for a moment he stares back at me. He must be surprised too, since we’ve never exchanged a single word before.
Bay Nolan intimidates me, no question about it. After all, he’s a public figure. Since moving into the Nolans’ house, I’ve watched a few of his YouTube videos just to get a sense of who he is. He really is a talented musician.
"Evening, Summer. What are you doing here on such a lovely night?" he asks, flashing a wide grin. The smile doesn’t strike me as genuine, though. Not that I know him well enough to interpret or read too much into his behavior.
He gestures toward a slim, elegant couch upholstered in white leather, positioned neatly against the wall.
I sink onto it with a sigh.
Bay lifts his brows, shrugs, and disappears into what must be a tiny bathroom. When he comes back, he’s wiping his face witha towel. He crosses to the fridge, opens it, and pulls out a bottle of something, probably an energy or electrolyte drink.
After a moment he turns back to me and says, "Well, since I’ve got such an unexpected guest, I might as well play the host. You want something to drink?"
I shake my head.
He walks toward the couch with the bottle still in his hand and drops onto the opposite side. I try to catch a scent of his Allure, but there’s nothing. Another Nolan on suppressants?
Bay takes a few small sips before speaking again.
"So… what brings you here, Summer? I’ll admit, I’m surprised. You never seemed interested in checking out my little place." He waves a hand in the air, indicating the room around us.
And…
"Snow kissed me! And then asked me to be his boyfriend."
The words spill out, though a needle of pain slices through my chest. The block that makes speaking so hard is still firmly in place. No Snow’s touch to help.
Bay raises his brows slightly, but he doesn’t look intrigued or even surprised. I might as well have told him the sun rose this morning.
"Is that good or bad?"
I shrug. Again I have to force the words past the ache, but I want to get them out. I need to.
"He’s with Theo right now. The guy says he’s pregnant with Snow’s child."
