Page 75 of The Jellybean Dilemma

I wasn’t brave enough to release my death grip on the handles, so I settled for leaning harder against him, a sort of no hands hug. The rest of the ride passed in radio silence. I was ready for a break from the engine noise and a change in position when we pulled into what passed for a town in these parts. It had a blinking yellow light with a gas station on a corner. A blazing metropolis.

Greg pulled into a parking spot near the door, then waited for me to dismount. He pulled off his helmet and smiled. “We made it.”

I smiled back, thrilled to stand upright and stretch my cramped muscles. Hopefully this place has a bathroom. Greg held the door open, plastered with a big sign saying, “Snowmobilers welcome!” I guess we came to the right place.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Helmet tucked under my arm, I stepped into the warm air and immediately started sweating. I removed my coat, then unzipped the top of my snow pants.

“Hey Zeke,” Greg greeted the man behind the counter.

“Greg! I didn’t know you were up. How are you, man?” The red-haired guy clasped forearms with my boyfriend, grinning a wide, toothy grin.

With a shake of his head, Greg chuckled. “Long story. But we’re just lucky we were able to make it to the cabin. Can we borrow the phone? And the bathroom? We’ll want a couple subs, too, if you’ve got the stuff.”

A sandwich had never sounded so good, and I lit up when Zeke nodded. Greg directed me to the bathroom, after taking my helmet and coat. It was tiny, even worse with my extra clothes, but I managed to do my business without freaking out too badly.

When I opened the door, Greg leaned against the wall right outside, a sheepish smile on his face. At my crinkling forehead, he shrugged. “I know it’s a small bathroom. Just wanted to be here if you needed anything.”

His thoughtfulness caught me off guard. How long had it been since I knew someone was watching out for me? “Thank you.” I kissed his cheek, noticing he’d also shed his jacket and helmet.

“I put our stuff on a table over there.” He pointed to the back corner where three rickety tables sat surrounded by mismatched wooden chairs. “Zeke is making my sandwich. Why don’t you let him know what you want? I’ll finish up here, make a few calls, then we can have lunch.”

I wandered to the counter to see about sub options. I settled on a club and chatted with Zeke while he put it together. Then I made sure to pay. It was the least I could do. Greg’s voice caught my ear, and I couldn’t help smiling when he kept talking since it meant he’d gotten a hold of someone. Good.

I took our sandwiches to the table Greg had claimed, picking the sturdiest looking chair to sit on. The store seemed to have a little of everything, which made sense as it was the only option for miles. From alcohol to plates to butter, there was even a small section of toys and several packs of birthday candles next to boxed cake mix. Despite the warped floors and the peeling paint, the shelves were organized and dust free. I was happy to support Zeke.

Greg made his way over, with a grin on his face. “My friend, Joe, will drop a car off tomorrow, mid-morning.” He took a quick bite of his sandwich, then winked before heading back to the phone.

I watched him curiously, wondering who else he needed to call.

He grinned at me as he waited for someone to pick up. “Yes, I’d like to make a reservation for two.”

What?

“The third Friday in June.” He winked at me. “Special request? The table with the best view of the sunset. And make sure it’s a good one, will ya?”

Completely overwhelmed, I put down my sandwich. He’s really done it. He’s even remembered the random date I threw out. I couldn’t believe it, and I gaped as he strode back over to the table, sitting in the chair next to me.

His smile was on the tentative side. “You’re still free, right?”

A huge grin split my face as I stared at him, joy flooding me. How could I have gotten so lucky? “But it’s so far away. Are you sure—?”

He tsked, shaking his head at me. “You told me it was only me. Too late for take-backs now.”

I laughed, then threw my arms around his neck. With a loud kiss on his cheek, I squeezed him tightly. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Now eat up. I’m anxious to get back to the cabin. We’ve got lots to do before Joe comes.” The heat underlining his words stoked the ever-present fire within me.

Suddenly, I couldn’t wait either.

* * * *

A loud, rumbling engine broke the normal stillness the next morning, promptly at ten. “That must be Joe.” Greg hurried over to peer out of the window.

I quickly joined him, surprised to see an SUV as well as a tow truck in front of the cabin. I glanced at Greg for answers.

“Joe runs a towing business. Figured he could get the Town Car out, plus drop off a vehicle for us to drive home in. Two birds and all that.” He shrugged.

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