Page 25 of Holiday Do Us Part

“Get your jacket and snow pants on. I wanna show you something.”

“This isn’t where you take me into the woods and kill me because of my horrible paint job, is it?”

“No, that’ll be later. Come on.” We head outside to the snowmobile. “Did you want to rock paper scissors for who straddles who?”

“Did you want to know how having my fist in your mouth feels?”

He laughs and climbs on. Taking my hand, he guides me to the sitting position in front of him. Just like before, he tucks me up against his chest. “Hang on,” he says, zipping through the forest. After a bit, I relax and enjoy the scenery. Easton squeezes my waist, getting my attention, and points into the distance.

I jerk against him. “Oh, hell no!” I yell, staring at a mother bear and her cubs.

“Don’t worry. We have other plans.” Easton follows some trails through a ravine until we come to a stop. “Where are we?” I ask.

“Wait and see. Climb off.” He helps me off the snowmobile, and we take a few steps until my mouth parts, releasing a soft gasp.

“Easton, wow. It’s. . . beautiful.” I stare out at the scenery. We’re surrounded by snow-covered trees that teeter off a cliff, offering a view of a white landscape for miles.

“It sure is.”

“How’d you find this place?”

“Not really sure how I fell upon it, but it’s pretty damn gorgeous.”

“Do you come up here often?”

“Yeah. I do a lot of thinking up here.”

I look up at him. “What do you think about?”

“Not sure you want to go there, Baker.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I agree, staring off into the ravine.

“Places like this make me glad I left the city. Makes you appreciate the little things and see life through a clearer lens.”

I want to ask him so bad what he means, but he’s right. Once I open that can of worms, there’s no shutting it. “Hmmm. . .” is all I say and return my eyes back to the stunning view. “Well, I can see why you come here. It’s very peaceful.”

“I thought you’d like it.”

And I do. The feeling of peace reminds me of times when my life wasn’t so hectic. When there weren’t a million voices in my head. When I wasn’t drowning in sadness and self-doubt, when once upon a time—Shit!

I yelp as a frozen ball of snow smacks against my face. I whip around to Easton. “What the hell!”

“I’m getting real sick of seeing you with that lip tucked between your teeth, Baker.”

Oh, that fucker. “Oh yeah? I’m getting sick,” I bend down, scooping a ball of snow into a weapon, and I stand, “of your stupid mouth!” I aim and fire, smacking him in the chest.

“Is that all you got?” he says, taunting me.

“Oh, there’s more where that came from.” I bend to scoop another snowball when Easton tackles me and we both fall into the snow.

“What you gonna do now, Cal?” He looks down at me, waiting. “What’s your next move?”

“Probably knee you in the balls.”

My eyes fall to his mouth, and his lips form into the mischievous smile I’m a sucker for.

“Sounds like a good time. But right now, I’m gonna kiss you.” He says it like he’s warning me. Giving me an out. When I don’t speak, he lowers his lips to mine. They’re cold yet soft, and he kisses me gently as if he’s worried I’ll break. The thing is, there’s a chance I will.

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