Page 17 of The Naughty List

“You sure Sawyer will be okay here while we go?” I ask Meri as Brighton excuses himself to go out to his favorite recliner, something I’ve noticed he does after dinner. Meri brings him a bowl of ice cream each night, too, I’ve been told. “You know I don’t want to impose on—”

“Nonsense, Tillie Girl,” Brighton calls as he walks to the living room. “I still need my rematch from earlier!” I laugh as Sawyer runs out to the living room to give him just that.

Not even fifteen minutes later, with over-filled stomachs and a strapped suitcase stuffed to the brim with snacks, pajamas, and toiletries, Elliott and I hop onto the back of the ATV and head toward the guest cabin. The wind whips at my face and I snuggle down into Elliott’s back, nestling my head against him to bypass the sting of the cold snow against my skin. I can’t help but think back to our walk to the caribou field and how awkward that was, now look at us. Still slightly awkward but much less hateful and much moresomething… I’m just not sure yet what that something is.

The high-pitched whistling howl of the wind grates at my ears as we coast through the quickly deepening snow. I’ve lived my whole life in the north. I was born in New York City and have lived in Vermont since I was thirteen. I’ve seen plenty of snow in my lifetime, but never like this. I’ve never been in the middle of a blizzard, with little to no visibility. It’s thrilling. And terrifying. And that’s my excuse for why my grip on Elliott only tightens the farther we get away from the comfort of Meri and Brighton’s house.

There are lights in the distance, and I’m glad because it seems like this ATV is having a bit of a struggle getting through the thick snow. The rides become more and more choppy as we go. We’ve been riding close to ten minutes, I figure, when all of a sudden we come to a quick halt and the engine dies.

“Fuck,” Elliott grits out, and I can barely hear him over the wind. I squint to try and see how close we are from the lights up ahead but the wind immediately makes my eyes water and I close them on instinct. “That’s really fucking great,” Elliott says, swinging his leg over the ATV and standing.

“Is it dead, dead?” I ask, although I’m afraid of the answer.

“Very dead,” he says, turning toward me and hoisting me off the ATV. “Get on my back.”

“What?” I ask as he sets me back down and I sink into the snow. “Shit!” I screech as he turns away from me and squats down. I hop onto his back without any further protests, my socks damp and a chill rolling through my body.

“I’ll come back for your stuff, let’s just get you inside first.”

One of us must have done something to earn good karma because we’ve only walked a couple hundred feet when the lights become brighter and more visible. Less than five minutes later, Elliott is unlocking the door and we’re enveloped in the warmth of the cabin.

“I have good news and bad news,” Elliott starts. “What do you want first?”

“Uh, the bad news?”

“We’re stuck here tonight.” Elliott sighs. “Even if I had the tools, there’s no way I could work on the ATV tonight. There’s no way I can ask my parents to drive out in that. I don’t think anyone realized how bad it really was.”

My stomach drops at his words. I pull my phone out of my front pocket, sighing when I have zero bars of service.

“And the good news?”

“My mom is going to spoil the shit out of Sawyer.”

Elliott unzips his jacket pocket, retrieving his cell phone. “I have a bar. I’ll call my mom and let her know what’s going on and then I’ll get the fire going?”

“Sure.” I nod. “Sounds great.”

While I certainly can’t control the weather, I feel a tinge of guilt and worry leaving Sawyer for the night. I know Meri and Brighton are capable of taking care of him. Elliott and Bennett turned out okay, but he’s my responsibility.

As Elliott explains everything to his mom, I just stand there, not sure what to do with myself. The call is short, but ends in a “love you,” and I can only hope Sawyer and I have that one day.

“Mom told me to assure you Sawyer will be more than fine there until the morning.” Elliott rubs his hands together as he heads for the fireplace. “Alright. Let’s get some heat up in this bitch. I’m freezing.”

“You’re telling me,” I agree. “Thanks for the ride by the way,” I say, but then quickly think to correct myself. “Well,rides.”

Elliott glances over to me from where he’s placing logs into the fireplace, and I swear a look of mischief crosses his face.

“No problem at all, Firecracker.” He stokes a flame to life and looks at me again. “It’s my pleasure. You just let me know when you need a ride and I’ve got you covered.”

“Oh my god!” I laugh. “I knew your mind immediately went to the gutter. I knew it! I could tell by the look on your face. Has anyone told you what an easy read you are?” I ask as I take in the cabin that’s quite a bit bigger than I expected. I love the exposed logs. The smell of the birch and the fire, the homey feeling of the old leather furniture, the plaid blankets draped on the couch. The place is absolutely perfect.

Elliott stands and faces me after closing the fireplace guard, shoving his hands into the pocket of his jeans. I take him in and notice the way my heart picks up pace in my chest. These small involuntary reactions I’ve been having to him are getting more and more frequent. It’s been so long since a man has made me feel…giddy. God, I feel silly even thinking it.

“Has anyone ever told you how easy it is to fluster you?” he asks, stepping closer to me as the flames and his shadow light up the wall behind him. I shake my head and bring my hand up to my necklace. “See?” he says, continuing to close the distance. “That right there. The way you start to finger your necklace. The flush that I know is creeping up on your chest. Your tells are small but I’ve noticed every single one of them.”

I stare at him in disbelief, yanking my hand down from my necklace.

He isn’t wrong, but the fact that he’s noticed minute details about me like that takes me aback.

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