Page 39 of Holiday Do Us Part

“Miss?”

“Yeah?” I turn frantic to the man calling for me.

“Jump on the snowmobile with Frank. He’ll take you down. We gotta hurry.”

***

It feels like a lifetime before someone comes out and escorts me back to Easton’s room. When I enter, he’s lying in bed. He has a bandage on his forehead, and his leg is in a cast. “Oh, Easton.” I burst into tears. I rush over to his bedside, and without minding his injuries, I climb in. “I’m so sorry. You must hate me.”

He cradles his arm around my waist and kisses the top of my head. “Babe, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have stormed out like that. I’m the asshole.”

I raise my head. “Are you okay?”

“Just a broken leg. Stitches and some cuts and bruises.” I burst out into another fit of sobs. “Hey, it’s okay. If it wasn’t for you. . . Callie, you saved my life.”

“I felt like something was wrong. I’m so sorry. For everything I said. I do want to get over the past. Because I can’t imagine a future without you.”

He grabs my cheeks and kisses me hard. “Me either. When I get out of here, we’re makin’ plans, okay? You and me. And none of this not trusting bullshit. No more lies.”

I nod. “No more lies.”

“Love you, Cal.”

My eyes glisten with tears. “I love you too.”

There’s a knock on the door, and I try to slide off Easton, but he holds me in place. “Not going anywhere, babe,” he whispers into my ear.

“Glad to see you’re doing good, son.” The man from earlier enters the room. “This one over here saved your life.”

“She saved my life the moment I met her. Sammy, this is Callie.”

His brows perk. “You’re the infamous Callie. Heard a lot about you.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask and glance up at Easton.

“You sure are something special. Glad to have finally met ya.” His eyes land back on Easton. “Jake’s at the house. He was getting restless. Like he knew something was wrong.”

“I swear, that damn dog has a sixth sense.”

I gaze up at Easton. “Is it sad that I want to leave you here and go see Jake?”

His smile warms my heart. “No, babe. I’m used to being second fiddle when he’s around.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “But gonna warn you. Things are gonna change. That dog does not sleep in the bed with us. No room.”

“Oh, come on. He can fit between us.”

He digs his fingers into my hips. “Not a chance. You’re on me anytime we’re in that bed.” I blush, embarrassed Sammy is hearing this conversation. I reroute the topic and look over at Sammy.

“How are the roads? Do you have any idea when the phone lines will be back up and running?”

“Phone lines?”

“Yeah. The phone lines. Seems the storm has stopped. I’m hoping the roads will open soon.”

“Honey, ain’t no phone lines down.”

My brows scrunch in confusion. “But the blizzard. Everything’s been down.”

Sammy grabs his chest as he chuckles. “Girl, that wasn’t a blizzard. We’re used to the snow up in these parts. If you really wanna see snow, you should—”

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