Page 9 of Snowbound Hearts
Ah, now I’m up to speed. She’s been talking to Sydney. “What did Sydney tell you, exactly?”
“She told me you never mentioned joining the Marines; not once. Then you go and enlist and expect her to just fall in line and follow you around the world wondering where you were and what you were doing? How could you, Mason? Sydney was the best thing that has ever happened to you, and you went and royally fucked it up by being a chickenshit asshole fucktard.”
I let my little sister rant and rave as I pull into town because she’s not wrong. Not even a little bit.
Putting the truck in park, I turn to face Emily. “I know I fucked up, Em. I knew the moment I signed those papers. Being all of eighteen, it just never occurred to me. I was too young, too cocky for my own good. I’ve known for the last ten years that I fucked up.”
She nods in agreement. “So, what are you going to do about it?”
I climb out of the truck, and she follows me into the store. “Nothing. There’s nothing to do about it. What’s done is done.”
She stops just inside the store. “Wow. You’re still a chickenshit asshole fucktard.”
Some of the other customers are staring at us, “Would you keep your voice down?” I usher her down an aisle. “No, I’m not. I’m older and wiser.”
Emily shakes her head as she walks away from me, “You may be older, but you are most certainly not wiser.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I follow my sister as she randomly selects things to put in our basket. Did Sydney say something to her?
“It means, you idiot, that you have a second chance right now; one that most people don’t get, to fix things with the love of their life. And you’re pissing it away with the hurt feelings of a teenager.” She turns and looks at me, “Talk to Sydney. Really talk to her. Apologize. Tell her how you feel because it’s writtenall over your face. You still love Sydney Winters. Hell, you probably never stopped.”
I grab as many bags as I can hold in my arms and enter the lodge and hear my name.
“…gets the first dance with Mason.”
“What am I being volunteered for?” I ask as I hobble into the room with all these bags.
“Oh. Let me help you with that.” Sydney rushes over to me as she turns to Sarah. “You start the bingo game.”
“You got it.” she says.
“Here. I’ve got these.” I let go of a few bags and our hands touch.
“Thanks. Now, what am I being nominated to do?” I ask as I lead her into the kitchen.
“You’re the prize for whomever wins the scavenger hunt. Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. Just a dance with the winner.”
“Oh. Nothing bad, you say. Have you ever danced with one of them?”
“Ah. No. Why?” She smirks at me as I put the bags down on the counter.
“They pinch!” I say and she bursts out laughing at me. Her smile is from ear to ear.
“Awww. You poor thing. I’m sure you can handle a dance with an eighty-year-old.” She’s mocking me, but those ladies pinch hard.
“Don’t be too sure about that.” I return her smile and see her eyes dancing back and forth with mine. I want to lean in to kiss her, hold her, pull her to me, but my stupid sister breaks the moment.
“A little help here.” Emily says as she’s dropping things all over the floor and both of us rush over to help her. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure I was gonna make it all the way to the counter.” Emily looks between me and Sydney and smiles. “Look. I’m going to say this once to the both of you. Talk to each other. Just talk.”
I turn to Sydney as she turns to me. Emily picks up some of the bags and starts unloading them. “Not here. I’ve got work to do for this storm. If you’re gonna talk, go someplace else.” She shoos us away.
The kitchen door opens, “Hey Sydney? There’s about to be a throwdown out here.” Sarah the bride pokes her head in with fear on her face.
Sydney turns to her, “What? Who?”
“Florence and Joan are both claiming they won the chocolate pie.” She looks terrified. “What do I do?”
“These ladies are more of a handful than a drunk bachelorette party, with an open tab in Nashville on a Friday night.” Sydney hangs her head and says more to herself than anyone else in the room then looks up to Sarah, “I’ll be right there.”
