skin. She’d opted to follow his advice, but instead of leaving her own mittens at the cabin, she tucked them in her back pocket. When he’d finally herded her to the cabin, she discovered they’d fallen out.
She cried.
Over pink mittens.
If he hadn’t already known, that moment would’ve confirmed no future existed between them. He leapt at the chance to retrieve the stupid mittens. Anything to escape the small cabin and get away from his meddling parents.
Now, he raced around as the snow storm set in, with no real intent to find any pink accessories, and enjoyed a few moments of freedom without the incessant nagging of his mom, or bragging of his father. As the conditions worsened, however, he cursed his own stupidity along with his parents.
He shouldn’t have taken the route to pass the Jones’ cabin. Of course, Brenna wouldn’t be there. Although her parents and brother visited the vacation cabin often, Brenna hadn’t returned since the summer after high school graduation.
Brenna Jones.
An image of dark elfin eyes framed with brown-black hair flashed across his mind.
Ten years later and he still thought about her. He’d been such a jerk. All through school, he’d liked her, but unlike the cheerleaders and debutants, he had no idea how to act around smart and intelligent Brenna Jones.
Apparently, his default mode was douchebag.
He’d behaved like a boy with a crush—not the love-sick puppy kind, but the kick-her-shins type. He had no delusions of what Brenna thought of him. She hated him, and told him so the summer before she left for university.
The summer he’d had his chance to make things right.
The summer he’d ruined his chances forever.
More snow drifts moved across his path and blurred his vision. He slowed the snowmobile. Night approached, and the storm showed no signs of letting up. Almost full white-out.
Maybe he should turn around and stay at the Jones’ cabin. He might not make it back to his parents’ place.
Too far. He’d come too far.
A strong gust of wind parted the curtain of white and cleared a path ahead. Something red flickered through the drifts of snow.
What the hell was that?
Eric leaned forward, hovering over the handles. A red light winked at him.
A taillight?
The wind blew hard again, forcing another break in the whiteness, and revealing the tailgate of an old pickup truck—the kind his parents used to drive before tin and plastic replaced steel.
Eric cursed and punched the gas.
****
Brenna’s head pounded as her vision cleared. Blood trickled from her forehead and mouth. Her tongue ached from when she’d bitten down, and her gums hurt as if her teeth still rattled. The smell of coffee permeated the truck. Her travel mug lay open on the seat beside her, and the remains of glorious caffeine trickled down the inside of the windshield and onto the dash. The heart-shaped candies she’d been munching on lay scattered across the cab.
The wind outside muffled any potential sound except the buzzing of her head. Snow covered the cracked windows, and the heat had long since leeched out, leaving Brenna shivering in the cold. The air whistled through the glass and around the truck, but looking around provided little information.
Snow, snow and more snow.
So much snow, it blanketed her vision to the outside world. She didn’t dare open her door or window. As chilled as her bones were now, outside would be colder.
She wiggled her toes. Yup, still working. Fingers? Fine. Body? Needed a long soak in a bathtub, but everything seemed okay. She reached over and plucked a candy heart from the passenger seat. It read, CHILL OUT. How fitting. She popped the sweet candy in her mouth and paused to let the flavour coat her mouth as her racing heart slowed down. With shaking hands, she leaned forward and turned the key to the ignition. The engine chugged before choking out. She tried again.
“Come on!” she pleaded.
Nothing.
She tried again.
“Come on, baby.” The
She cried.
Over pink mittens.
If he hadn’t already known, that moment would’ve confirmed no future existed between them. He leapt at the chance to retrieve the stupid mittens. Anything to escape the small cabin and get away from his meddling parents.
Now, he raced around as the snow storm set in, with no real intent to find any pink accessories, and enjoyed a few moments of freedom without the incessant nagging of his mom, or bragging of his father. As the conditions worsened, however, he cursed his own stupidity along with his parents.
He shouldn’t have taken the route to pass the Jones’ cabin. Of course, Brenna wouldn’t be there. Although her parents and brother visited the vacation cabin often, Brenna hadn’t returned since the summer after high school graduation.
Brenna Jones.
An image of dark elfin eyes framed with brown-black hair flashed across his mind.
Ten years later and he still thought about her. He’d been such a jerk. All through school, he’d liked her, but unlike the cheerleaders and debutants, he had no idea how to act around smart and intelligent Brenna Jones.
Apparently, his default mode was douchebag.
He’d behaved like a boy with a crush—not the love-sick puppy kind, but the kick-her-shins type. He had no delusions of what Brenna thought of him. She hated him, and told him so the summer before she left for university.
The summer he’d had his chance to make things right.
The summer he’d ruined his chances forever.
More snow drifts moved across his path and blurred his vision. He slowed the snowmobile. Night approached, and the storm showed no signs of letting up. Almost full white-out.
Maybe he should turn around and stay at the Jones’ cabin. He might not make it back to his parents’ place.
Too far. He’d come too far.
A strong gust of wind parted the curtain of white and cleared a path ahead. Something red flickered through the drifts of snow.
What the hell was that?
Eric leaned forward, hovering over the handles. A red light winked at him.
A taillight?
The wind blew hard again, forcing another break in the whiteness, and revealing the tailgate of an old pickup truck—the kind his parents used to drive before tin and plastic replaced steel.
Eric cursed and punched the gas.
****
Brenna’s head pounded as her vision cleared. Blood trickled from her forehead and mouth. Her tongue ached from when she’d bitten down, and her gums hurt as if her teeth still rattled. The smell of coffee permeated the truck. Her travel mug lay open on the seat beside her, and the remains of glorious caffeine trickled down the inside of the windshield and onto the dash. The heart-shaped candies she’d been munching on lay scattered across the cab.
The wind outside muffled any potential sound except the buzzing of her head. Snow covered the cracked windows, and the heat had long since leeched out, leaving Brenna shivering in the cold. The air whistled through the glass and around the truck, but looking around provided little information.
Snow, snow and more snow.
So much snow, it blanketed her vision to the outside world. She didn’t dare open her door or window. As chilled as her bones were now, outside would be colder.
She wiggled her toes. Yup, still working. Fingers? Fine. Body? Needed a long soak in a bathtub, but everything seemed okay. She reached over and plucked a candy heart from the passenger seat. It read, CHILL OUT. How fitting. She popped the sweet candy in her mouth and paused to let the flavour coat her mouth as her racing heart slowed down. With shaking hands, she leaned forward and turned the key to the ignition. The engine chugged before choking out. She tried again.
“Come on!” she pleaded.
Nothing.
She tried again.
“Come on, baby.” The
Similar Books
