Page 31 of Love Under Snowfall

“I got you.”

“How set in stone are we with the pairings?” Francesca argued.

“Like dry cement,” Johnny barked. “You’ll survive. We head out in five.”

Benajmin sidled up beside his aisle buddy as everyone paired off.

“You’d better not slow me down,” she grumbled, tugging her gloves in place and looping the trekking pole straps on her wrists.

Benjamin copied her motions, taking particular pleasure inhow it raised her hackles. “I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it,” he assured her.

“You’d better. This is the first real physical activity that I’ve been able to do since school started because of someone’s aggressive classroom expectations. If you screw it up, you’ll regret it.”

“I doubt I’ll have any trouble keeping up with you,” he purred, stepping a bit closer. Her scowl deepened.

The group left the trailhead two by two in a neat little line. Francesca lasted all of ninety seconds before she bolted out of that line and blew to the front. Benjamin bumbled his way behind her, trying frantically to get the hang of the cumbersome process.

“Hey, Frankie!” Johnny called, hands cupped around his mouth. “Eyes on your buddy. You know the rules.”

She lifted a hand in the air, thick gloves prominently displaying her middle finger, but slowed her pace ever so slightly.

Most of the group had already managed to find their stride. Todd, in all his fluffy layers, was the only other person struggling as much as Benjamin.

“Fuck. This. Fuck. This. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This,” he chanted, trying to maintain the same pace with the rest of his hiking triad. Benjamin caught his eye and gave Todd an empathetic shrug.

Soon, Benjamin figured out the mechanics and found his rhythm. He closed the gap between him and Francesca without falling. The rest of the group chattered with their partners while he and his surly companion marched onward in silence. The lack of chitchat magnified the crunch of fresh powder underfoot. Sweat collected and dripped down his back, and his lungs burned satisfyingly from the cold. He hadn’t had a chance to run since Thursday morning, and because of the constricting itinerary for the next week, he doubted he’d find the time to get any milesin before returning to Seattle. Running kept his mind clear, and missing out on the daily exercise typically left him feeling antsy, which probably explained why he was finding such joy in harassing his former student.

Benjamin had hoped agreeing to a temporary ceasefire would ease Francesca’s ire toward him. Perhaps they could even be cordial toward one another for Johnny and Lucy’s sake. He glanced at his snowshoe companion—perhapscompanionwas a little too amicable of a term . . .combatantwas more accurate. She pushed on, scanning their surroundings, overtly ignoring Benjamin.

Fine.Two can play that game.

He redirected his focus to the journey. The wintry scene of the snow-covered trail was incredible. Slowly, beams of sunlight peeked through the dense clouds, scattering glitter over the frozen landscape. Tall evergreens stood mightily, flocked in heavy white coats yet too strong to bend under the enormous weight. There was a certain silence that hung densely in the air, shrouding the voices of the rest of the group. The quiet was so big that Benajmin could feel it. It had texture. It had power.

The effect was serene, and he decided he quite liked how the combination of exertion and group seclusion made him feel—excited yet oddly at peace.

Benjamin hazarded another glance over to his partner. Francesca seemed to have genuinely forgotten all about him. Because she surveyed the trail and surrounding scenery with a sort of reverence. A calm smile formed gently on her lips, and joy glimmered in her eyes. She sighed lightly, dissolving the tension she’d been holding in her shoulders since the first day of class. The relaxation that swept over her was so palpable that Benjamin felt like a movie villain for having made the last twelve weeks so unbearable for her.

And yet hehadn’t dimmed her light.

One thing was certain regarding Francesca Miller: She was just as stubborn as he was.

Chapter seventeen

Frankie

“You’re freaking me out,Benji.”

Frankie glanced sideways, not faltering in her pace, and scowled at her trail buddy. He’d visibly startled then looked away with an exaggerated display of distraction that almost made her laugh.

Almost.

“Sorry,” he said with a self-effacing chuckle. “I was lost in thought. It’s beautiful here.”

She fought to maintain a neutral expression even as her lips pulled up at the corners. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed doing something—anything—outside until she reached the trailhead. Since climbing out of her car, she’d been greedily filling her lungs with drag after drag of the fresh, chilly air. Playful gusts toyed with the ends of her braids and caressed the frustrated warmth of her cheeks. Being out in the expanse of Stevens Pass calmed the lingering irritation from the evening before when Benjamin had tried his hardest to drive her nuts. He seemed to be searching for any excuse to jab at her sanity, and she’d be damned if she gave him any more ammunition.

“No place like it,” she said, matter-of-fact, refusing to allow him to witness the unfettered joy bursting from her chest.

“Indeed.”

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