Page 39 of Merry on the Mountain
“Yes, you did.”
“Not out loud.”
Izzy sets her tube of icing down and looks at him. “A swear is a swear.” Then she looks over at me and shakes her head. “Boys.”
“Girl, yes.” I hold out my fist for her to bump. “They’re the worst. That’s why even my dog is a girl.” Maya lifts her head on cue. “What do you want for dinner?” I ask.
“Mac and cheese with brussels sprouts.”
“Coming right up.” Drew stands and kisses the top of her head.
I follow him into the kitchen. “What kind of magic did you work for her to like vegetables like that?”
“None. I don’t know if Crystal was good about offering a lot of different types of food or if Izzy just got used to eating the things my chef would prepare for me back in Chicago. Either way, I’m not complaining because I love veggies, too.”
“I completely agree. I’m not vegetarian, but most of what I make for myself in the van is plant based. It’s just easiest to make, especially in the winter when I don’t want to sit outside and grill.”
“I never even thought of that.” He sets a pot of water on the stove to heat. “The limitations that must come with your lifestyle.”
“Yeah. I’m not going to lie, staying next door has me starting to think about how nice it’d be to have an actual place to call home. You know, with walls and a full kitchen and space to move.”
“Really?” He looks up at me. “You’re thinking about giving up van life?”
“Considering it, especially when I start my company. I don’t see how I could run it from my van. I’ll need space to keep all my supplies and an office.” I shake my head, the thoughts feeling suddenly so real. “If I even end up going for it.”
“You should. I’ve heard you talk about it with such passion. And if no one is really out there doing it, planning trips for women by women like this, it’s a great service.”
I nod slowly. “I have a little more time before I need to let my boss know if I’m not coming back to guide for them.”
“You can stay next door as long as you want. I wanted to talk to you about th?—”
“Can I have a snack?” Izzy asks, walking into the kitchen as if we’re not five minutes out from having dinner ready.
“No, dinner’s almost ready.” Drew sighs and shakes his head.
“But the cookies are already ready.”
I roll my lips inward to keep from laughing. “She’s got a point.”
He gives me an unimpressed look. “Really?”
“One cookie won’t hurt. It’s a party after all.”
“You better eat all your vegetables.”
Izzy nods and picks the biggest cookie available. “I will.”
The rest of the night goes by in a blur of giggles and popcorn, with the scent of the fire burning in the wood stove surrounding us. I mean to continue our conversation after we each read Izzy a bedtime story and tuck her in for the night. But Drew takes that opportunity to quietly pull me into his bedroom and give me the hottest, quietest, hardest fuck of my life. When he finishes with me, my legs are shaking and my mind is jello. If only there was time for me to recover and return the favor with the same voracity, but I have an early morning on the slopes tomorrow. I reluctantly say goodnight with more kissing and stumble into my cold, empty, bed.
CHAPTER 15
DREW
I checkmy phone for the millionth time while snow falls in white sheets outside. Willa should have been home an hour ago before the blizzard warning was enacted. The lights flicker, and I stop in my tracks, glancing up at the ceiling as wind batters the windows. Just as I release my breath in relief that we didn’t lose power, everything goes dark except for the flames in the wood stove.
I have a generator for our side of the duplex, so we’ll be fine. I’ll just have to go outside and get it started. Izzy’s completely unfazed by the loss of power, sitting with a blanket tucked around her while she watches a cartoon on her iPad.
“Bug.” I kneel down in front of her and hit pause on her show. “I’m going to go out and turn on our generator, so we have lights and power, okay?”
