Page 36 of My Rival for Christmas

Paige: Anyway. If you can keep an eye on my little dot on your phone and if anything happens make sure you tell the papers it was all Nate’s fault, I’d really appreciate it

Austin: Nate? Nate who?

Austin: Nate Ford?! Wtf is he doing there?

Paige: Did I forget to mention he was also here? And I might’ve infiltrated his hometown and now he won’t leave me alone?

Austin: YES

Paige: Oh. Well he is and he is currently taking me somewhere with spotty phone service. So if you can’t reach me it’s either because of that or we ran off the mountain.

Austin: Call me.

Paige: Or Nate’s secretly a murderer who plans to kill me.

Austin: Call me right the fuck now.

Austin: Paige?

Austin: PAIGE!

Austin’s Call Failed

CHAPTER SEVEN

paige

I severely regret agreeingto today. Not only do I still feel queasy from Nate’s asinine, adrenaline junkie-fueled driving, the sugar plum cheese danish he had waiting for me now sits heavy in my stomach, but I can’t shake this weighted, dread-filled feeling that something bad is about to happen.

Now, that could just be because I’m in the middle of the woods, almost at the very top of a monstrous mountain, with only Nate, a quaint cabin, and a densely frozen lake around to hear my screams.

I’ve listened to too many true crime podcasts to not be thinking about this. I even accused Nate of wanting to murder me on the drive up here, almost causing us to crash when he looked at me with a twisted, disbelieving expression, asking if I was crazy.

I told him no then.

But I’m rethinking my answer now.

“Are you sure it’s okay we do this?” I glance up at the sky. The graying clouds darken more and more with what feels like each passing minute. Or I’m going crazy. The answer is a toss-up, really.

Nate looks over from where he’s tying his skates. His intensely blue eyes pop against not only his gray long sleeve and black joggers outfit, but the snow-covered tree branches and powdery backdrop behind him.

Searing me where I stand at the edge of the lake.

He looks so strong and commanding, even on his knees, and yet as relaxed as the breeze.

“We’re fine.” His eyes flit to the sky briefly before returning to me. “The storm isn’t supposed to be here until later tonight. We have plenty of time.”

He says storm like he doesn’t think it’s going to be much of anything. And maybe it’s not. Maybe I’m just worrying about this so I don’t focus on my actual problems, but I’d still like to be back at the resort before the snow starts to fall.

We already had to watch the roads for ice on the way up here. Having a compromised view with Nate’s insane driving doesn’t sound fun for me at all. It sounds more like a death wish.

But I remain in place. Blades stamping the ice as I shift from one foot to the next, unsure.

Nate watches my movements with a hyperfocus I don’t like, stretching up to his full height. “Do you really want to go back down the mountain so soon?”

“No.” The mere thought has me holding my rolling stomach. I need time to recover before doing that again.

I hate that he sees so much of me. That he knows me so well still.

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