Page 20 of Snowbody

I did get the master key from her, though, and checked his cabin.

It was empty. Most of the dresser drawers looked like they’d been picked through, clothes packed.

Had he left?

What had happened?

I kept calling, too, trying to get him on the phone.

He never answered.

I started leaving voicemails—some frantic, some angry, some begging him to just call and tell me he was alive.

But there was no response.

Jacob Reed had just… walked out of our lives.

Maybe Dad had said something. Maybe Jacob had realized that he’d made a mistake, getting with me.

Maybe he was just a dirtbag.

Even if that was the case, I still wanted to know that he was alive. I just wanted him to be okay.

But he never replied.

And I was left worrying on the top of the mountain.

Chapter Eleven

Jacob

Maybe disappearing wasn’t the best move, but it was what I needed to do. I had to sort some shit out and get everything in order before I could come back to the lodge.

And when I did, I needed to find Maddy first.

I kept my hood up as I walked across the parking lot and let myself inside. Thankfully, she was standing at the foot of the stairs.

But Melody was with her.

They were talking, possibly arguing about something.

I hoped it wasn’t me.

I approached slowly, only lowering my hood when I was close to the two women. I cleared my throat.

They both looked at me.

Maddy gasped. “Jacob!”

Melody turned to face me, pointing an accusing finger at my chest. “Do you have any idea what you cost this place?! How dare you just leave like that?!”

“Melody, I—”

“Shut up, Jacob! Dad was right about you! You’re just an arrogant prick who thinks he can do whatever he wants! If it was up to me, I’d fire your ass right now and make you pay back the cost of every lesson we had to refund because of you!”

“Melody.”

“If our dad hadn’t hired you after you tore your knee up, you’d have nothing. You know that, right? You should be on your knees begging our forgiveness, do you understand?”

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