Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,102
the window lately?”
“Uh, no,” I said, going to do that. I pushed the curtain aside and twisted the blinds open. “Wow,” I breathed, looking at the amount of snow coming down.
The snow we’d gotten days before had all but disappeared, but the new snow already looked about an inch deep. Greenville wasn’t equipped to handle that much snow. We were close to the beach and it was rare to get a lot. Three inches was about the most snow we ever got and it looked like that was going to happen tonight.
“Just wait at your place. I’ll come pick you up. I don’t want you driving that sports car in this weather,” his voice was stern.
“Jared, I’ve done it before. I can drive myself,” I paced the short length of the living room.
“No, you stay right there. My car is more durable in this weather than yours is. Besides, after what happened with the deer, I’m terrified of something else happening to you.”
I groaned. “Jared.”
“I’m already on my way,” he said, a steely edge to his voice that I rarely heard. “Wait there. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Fine,” I plopped on the couch.
“And wait in your condo, I’ll come up to get your stuff.”
I sighed. There was no arguing with Jared when he got like this. “I’ll call down and tell them to let you in.”
“Thanks,” he said and hung up.
I tossed my phone to the other side of the couch and let out a groan. Jared was always so worried about me. He needed to chill. I wasn’t as breakable as he believed.
I called down and let the front desk know that Jared would be coming and to let him up.
That was one of the perks of living in a condo, they didn’t let random strangers just walk in.
I wasn’t one to just sit around and wait, so I grabbed a dust rag and began cleaning.
I wasn’t aware of how much time had passed, so when Jared knocked on the door, I jumped.
I tossed the dirty rag into the washing machine and opened the door.
“It’s cold out there, you better bundle up,” Jared said, coming inside and closing the door behind him.
I laughed. “I kind of figured that, what with the snow.”
“Is this everything?” he asked, motioning to the pile beside the door.
“Yeah,” smiled, buttoning up my coat. I wrapped a scarf around my neck, stuck a hat on my head and pulled on my gloves. “I can get my suitcase if you get the bag of gifts.”
“Sure thing,” he said, and bent to kiss me. “Mmm,” he murmured, pulling away. His tongue flicked out, licking his lips. “Strawberry lip gloss?”
I laughed, “Yeah, it’s new.”
“I like it,” he grinned, opening the door and motioning me out first.
I locked up and we headed to the elevator and out the building.
I was amazed by the size of the snowflakes coming down. Maybe, Jared hadn’t been overreacting.
When we got to the slippery sidewalk that led to the parking lot, he reached for my hand.
“I don’t want you to fall,” he said.
“It’s not like I’d have that far too fall, I’m so short,” I laughed.
He chuckled, “That may be true, but I still don’t want you getting hurt.”
“You worry too much,” I told him. “You’re going to get premature gray hair.”
“That’s what hair color is for,” he looked down at me and winked.
He put my suitcase in the trunk of his Toyota and took the bag of gifts from me, putting it in there as well.
Driving towards his house, Jared said, “Just a heads up, Karlie really gets into Christmas.”
“Most people do,” I shrugged.
“No,” he shook his head. “Karlie goes above and beyond most people. She gets a little… crazy.”
“It’s Christmas, Jared,” I said. “Don’t tell me, you’re a scrooge.”
“I’m definitely not a scrooge, I like Christmas, but Karlie…” He chuckled. “If I have to hear her sing another Christmas song, tonight, I might lose my mind. She’s been singing them since this morning.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” I told him, itching to reach over and wipe the frown line away from his brow.
“It would be fine if she could actually sing, instead, she shrieks,” he winced at the thought.
I laughed, “She can’t be that bad.”
“She’s dying cow, bad… or maybe, she sounds more like a moose. I’m sure she’ll still be going at it when we get there and you can decide for yourself,” he chuckled.
He pulled into the driveway and before getting out of the car, he said, “Brace yourself.”