Page 14 of Say It Isn't Snow
Trevon sent me a text around when I stopped for gas, before it started snowing hard. He says the snowstorm will delay the meetings he’s working on by a few days. I also have a couple of missed texts from my sister a few hours apart.
Layla
I heard you’re going to stay at the cabin. Me and Holly have a girls’ weekend planned, so I’m warning you now to be chill. And we get dibs on the hot tub.
Layla
Weekend plans update…I won’t be making it. But Holly left way earlier than me. Last time she checked in with me, she was almost there. Be nice to my bestie!
My head jolts with a snort. Yeah, be nice to her.
No problem. I’ll play nice. Always have.
Layla never caught me sneaking around with Holly the summer she was mine. We didn’t last long enough to ever tell her. As far as she’s concerned, she’s the only connection between us. She’s never noticed that any time she’s mentioned Holly, Ihang on every word, tucking away every scrap of information she shares in passing.
I sprawl on the bed and listen for sounds of my sister’s best friend downstairs. It’ll be just the two of us for however long the snowstorm keeps us here.
There’s only one issue: I want to beso niceto Holly that she lets me untie all her little bows and remind her I know exactly how to make her unravel.
CHAPTER 6
HOLLY
In the morning,I have to face the reality of the situation. I stand at the window of the bigger bedroom—thank you, Caleb, for being a gentleman—taking in the heaps of snowfall the blizzard dumped on us overnight. And it’s still going without any sign of letting up.
We’re snowed in.
There’s no denying it when I can’t even see the stone fire pit on the sloping hill behind the cabin anymore.
And we’re going to be stuck here for longer than my planned weekend.Together.
I don’t think Caleb is awake yet. It’s pretty early. I’ve been up for an hour watching the sky get lighter after pulling Mrs. Adler’s favorite sitting chair over to the window, snuggling under the blanket draped over it. I’ve always been a morning person and I’m used to my schedule for the bakery.
This time of day is usually my serene bubble.
I wind the blanket tassels around my fingers as I stare at the weather I’m powerless to change. I hate sitting still when I want to take action somehow. The lack of control is tying my stomach in knots.
I wanted a break. What do I get? Trapped with my best friend’s brother. Actually, worse, since he’s my ex.
Worries keep plaguing me about what this means for the bakery. I’m not sure when it can open unless I trust my brother and Leta to continue running things without me. A new cinch pulls tight in my stomach.
Biting my lip, I check my phone again. At least the power hasn’t gone out. Caleb mentioned last night before we went to bed that the cabin has a back up generator with plenty of solar charge to keep the cabin running for days if we lose power.
Still no cell signal.
Sighing, I draft a message to Leo and Leta explaining that my weekend might be extended because I’m stranded in the mountains. Plus a rundown of everything I do to open and close the bakery for the day. Both are ready to send it the moment I connect to enough bars.
Thank god I brought some supplies with me. I was caught up on orders before impulsively taking the trip, but if we’re here more than a few days I’ll need to make sure I don’t fall behind.
It’s close to 8 a.m. and I still haven’t heard a peep of movement from Caleb’s room next door. If I strain my ears, I can make out the soft reverberation of his snores. Pulling a face, I climb out of my blanket cocoon. I need coffee before I drive myself up the wall, and if he’s not waking up I’m not making any for him.
I slip my feet into the fuzzy cream pair of slippers I packed, sparing a fleeting smile for the embroidered red bows. Braving the invisible boundary line of the bedroom door, I quietly step into the hall.
Pausing at Caleb’s door, I sigh. I’m not a total bitch. I’m not going to deprive him of coffee after he showed me how to light the fire properly.
“Caleb?” I knock, softly at first, then a bit harder when there’s no answer. Rolling my eyes, I try again and mutter, “Are you going to sleep the day away, heartbreaker?”
A thump sounds inside, followed by a groan of pain. My eyes widen when it seems as if he staggers to the door before wrenching it open.
