“Did you see my muscles, too?” I watch him pull his sweater back on and can’t help but laugh at him. He’s just so strange.
“Yes, I saw your muscles. Happy now?”
“Yes. I work hard to look like this. A little appreciation would be nice.”
“Storm, I have no interest in appreciating your body. Can we please talk about things a little more normal, like when the hell do you think we’re going to get out of here?”
“Hopefully, soon. I brought you something.” He tosses a black sweatshirt at me. “I figured this would be warmer and more comfortable than the blouse you’re wearing.”
“Oh. Well, thank you.” He’s right. The blouse I’m wearing is useless so a nice big cozy sweatshirt would be much more comfortable. “Turn around so I can put it on.”
“Hey, you got to see me shirtless.” He is lucky in the short time we’ve known each other, I have figured out he is pretty harmless. But obviously, a wicked, sarcastic flirt who is used to getting attention. If he were anyone else talking to me that way, I would have kicked him right in the balls. My glare is enough to get him to turn away while I quickly change. The sweatshirt is huge, like three sizes too big, but it’s really soft. There’s a big emblem across the front of it that looks like a scrolling A and E.
“What’s the logo?” I ask him.
“It’s a rock band, Ashes and Embers.”
“I’ve never heard of them. Are they one of those bands that just scream and you can’t even hear the words? I hate that crap.”
His laughter fills the truck. “Yeah, I guess they do scream. But at least the shirt is nice, right?”
“Yes, it’s very comfy. And warm. Thank you.”
I pick up all the wrappers from the food we ate and put it into the plastic bag he took it out of and put it all on the floor. I am really starting to worry about how long we’re going to be stuck in here. Having the food definitely makes me feel better, but seriously, how long can we stay here? Michael must be worried sick by now. I’m sure he must have called the hotel and realized I never showed up, so he must be looking for me. But, according to Storm, I wasn’t even near the hotel so how would he even know where to look?
“Evie, I can see your little mind going over there. Stop it.”
“I’m worried. No one knows where I am.”
“You’re fine. I think the snow should stop tonight and then tomorrow at some point the plow trucks will come by, and I’ll get us out of here, okay? Just trust me.” He pulls out his cell phone and after pressing a few buttons, music starts to play. “Hey, so no connection, but the music I have saved on it will play. Until the battery dies, anyway.”
Soft acoustic guitar music fills the truck, and I find it to be calming. Outside, the snow is coming down, but it’s slow now, as if it’s falling in slow motion. The passenger side windows are not covered yet, so the snow must be falling at an angle from the wind. All the trees and their branches are covered in white so everything looks like it’s made of crystal. I have always loved how trees look the morning after a snowstorm, like a winter wonderland. I love the quiet after a snowstorm too, as if the world went into a whisper.
“What are you thinking about?”
“I feel like we’re in a snow globe. When I was little, I had one that my mom gave me. I loved it so much I kept it next to my bed all year round. I just loved to watch the snowfall. The snow is peaceful, don’t you think?
“I do. That’s why I was coming up here to spend a few days at my cabin. I wanted to veg and watch movies while it snowed and just enjoy some friggin’ quiet time alone with Niko laying on my damn feet.”