Page 20 of North

I reach for my phone again, and as if conjured by my thoughts, it buzzes in my hand. My heart does a ridiculous little leap before I can tamp it down.

It’s North.

Of course, it’s North.

The text is simple, just a picture of his front yard blanketed in fresh snow.Do you want to build a snowman? Come out and play with me today.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it. Play? In the snow? Like we’re kids again? It’s ridiculous. Silly. Completely off-brand for me.

Has nothing to do with sex.

For a split second, I picture it—running around likea maniac, pelting North with snowballs, laughing until my sides hurt. It’s kind of appealing. But the idea twists something in me that I’m not ready to face.

That kind of carefree intimacy feels dangerous, like it could unravel everything I’ve worked so hard to keep locked down.

I shake my head and type back something safer.I can come over, but I’d rather spend it in bed.

His reply is instant.Come on over. The roads are clear.

My stomach does another annoying flip. I toss my phone aside and stare at the ceiling. What the hell am I doing? This isn’t me. I don’t play. I don’t let myself get swept up in wonder or possibility. But I can’t deny the pull to see him again. To have his hands on me, his body over mine, that sense of freedom he makes me feel.

I swing my legs out of bed, shoving my hesitation aside. A quick shower later, I’m dressed in jeans, a warm sweater, and my favorite outdoor boots. My winter parka hangs over my arm as I step into the kitchen where Rafferty and Tempe are sitting at the table, mugs of coffee steaming between them.

“Morning,” Tempe says, her face lighting up with a warm smile. She nods at my coat. “Big plans for the day?”

“Job interviews,” I lie smoothly, grabbing an apple from the counter. “Checking out a few bartending jobs, then maybe meeting some friends later.”

The corner of Rafferty’s mouth lifts. “Or you could get admissions material from some of the local colleges.”

“Or,” I drawl sarcastically, “you can mind your own business.”

Rafferty barks out a laugh, looking unrepentant. He’ll never stop pushing me to go to school. “Good luck. Let me know if you need a reference.”

“I will,” I say, smirking. “Thanks.”

Tempe’s eyes linger on me, her expression curious, but she doesn’t say anything. I throw on my coat, wave them off, and call for an Uber.

By the time my driver pulls up in front of North’s house, the sky is bright blue, and the sun is shining leaving the blanket of snow sparkling like it’s crusted with diamonds. He’s sitting on the front porch in a dark green winter jacket, a large thermos and two mugs sitting beside him and a mischievous grin already tugging at his lips.

I step out of the car, turning to thank the driver, when a snowball whizzes past my head.

I spin around and catch one right in the sternum. “Are you kidding me?” I yell, laughing despite myself.

The Uber driver pulls away and I take in North, his grin widening as he walks down the sidewalk freshly scraped of snow.

He bends over, gathers another ball of the white stuff in his gloved hands. “You better start dodging, Abrams.You’re in my domain now.”

“Oh, it’s on,” I murmur, dropping my purse to the ground and scooping up a handful of snow.

The next few minutes are chaos. We sprint around his front yard, ducking behind trees and bushes, hurling snowballs with reckless abandon. Laughter bubbles up uncontrollably, each hit and miss fueling the growing exhilaration.

North is a professional athlete and his aim is ridiculously good. Any that I manage to land, I suspect he lets it happen to make me feel good about myself.

Just as I wind up to let one loose, he barrels toward me like a charging bull. I scramble backward but he picks me up, spins me around and then we collapse back into a snowdrift, breathless and laughing.

North grins like an idiot. “You’re terrible at this game, by the way.”

“I let you win,” I lie, brushing snow off my face.

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