Page 63 of Snowed In for Christmas

And then together, they left the darkness of the basement, emerging into the safety and warmth above.

CHAPTER23

Grace

Grace and Tommysat against the basement door, the sounds of the storm oddly more comforting than it should've been. But it was a good reminder that life was going on, and would go on, at least for her... and thanks to Tommy. Grace nestled deeper into Tommy's arms, still shaking from the ordeal and wishing with all her might that it would stop soon.

"Grace, go upstairs and get some rest," Tommy insisted for the tenth time since they'd sat down, his voice gentle but firm.

And he wasn't the only one. Everyone who loved them had tried to comfort and console Grace, tried to get her to come away from the door and let them take care of her. But she'd sent each of them away.

She only wanted him.

"I won't move from this spot until the storm clears and back-up arrives," he said, as if that would make a difference.

Grace shook her head. "I'm not leaving you," she whispered, her eyes meeting his.

He nodded, and they fell into silence, simply holding each other, drawing comfort in each other's arms.

The storm outside seemed to echo the turmoil inside her heart, and Grace knew she couldn't keep her feelings hidden any longer. The future was never guaranteed—as she'd learned tonight. The hard way.

So, she broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tommy, I love you. And I think I've loved you all along but I just didn't recognize it," she admitted, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from them both as he rested her cheek on his solid chest.

Tommy's breathing stilled beneath her, then he let out one long, shaky exhalation. "What does this mean, though? You know... for the future. You have your dreams and they don't involve staying in this town with me... I don't wanna hold you back."

Grace could feel the weight of both of their words as they hung in the air around them, filled with vulnerability and truth on both sides. Grace reveled in the feeling of his embrace tightening around her, feeling a lot like an anchor, right when she needed it most.

"You wouldn't be holding me back," she said.

"No?"

"No. Tommy, what happened with Ethan made me realize how much of myself I've put out there for the world to see," she confessed, finally lifting her head to look at him, her voice tinged with weariness and newfound clarity. "I think I need to take a break from the constant exposure."

"So... maybe you could channel your experiences into writing books, Grace? Travel memoirs, or something?"

Grace considered his suggestion, then blinked at him. "What if I wrote cozy mysteries?" she asked, excitement filling her voice, as if his mere presence allowed some light into a very dark night. "I could use my experiences traveling and meeting people as a basis for the characters and settings. The main character could be an amateur sleuth who also happens to be a travel blogger.

"Sounds interesting," Tommy said with a smile, trying to lift the mood. "Although, I'm not sure your recent foray into this basement qualifies you for writing mysteries."

Grace laughed, the sound echoing in the quiet basement, and she playfully poked him in the ribs. "Hey, it's a start! And besides, every good mystery writer needs a little hands-on experience, right? That's what they say, anyway."

"Hmm. Getting trapped in a stormy basement by an internet stalker might not be what they had in mind."

"Maybe not, but it makes for a great story," Grace retorted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Bring me on more ride-alongs, then."

"I don't know... You kinda seem like trouble. You brought this trouble to town, didn't you?" he teased, gesturing to the door behind them.

Grace gasped, swatting his chest.

"What? Too soon?" he asked, laughing.

"Yes! Way too soon!"

A playful tickling match ensued, as if they were trying to chase away the lingering tension with levity. Their laughter filled the small space, providing a brief respite from the events that had unfolded earlier.

Amidst their playful scuffle, their faces drew closer, and their eyes locked. It felt like an eternity since Tommy had confessed his love for Grace, so much had happened since then. Now, with their hearts pounding and their breaths mingling, Grace needed something more than words to express the depth of her feelings. And something told her he felt the same way.

As if drawn together by an invisible force, their lips met in a tender, passionate kiss. It was a moment filled with relief and a deep connection, and Grace was so close to crying as she moved her lips over his that she had to pull away for a second to gather herself before diving back in.

---