Page 4 of Every Hidden Truth

Once I’d finished with my perfunctory shower, I dressed for my job at the library and packed a duffel bag with what I’d need for sledding later that afternoon. Ben sent me a good morning text on his way to swim practice, and I sent him one back as I climbed into my second-hand Ford Ranger and headed to work.

I sat at the front desk, checking out people’s library books all morning. I much preferred returning books to their spots on the shelves over interacting with people, but it was only for a few hours.

At one o’clock, I kissed work goodbye and raced to my truck. I blasted the heat as I gunned the engine. Poor Mabel groaned under the stress I put on her cold engine, but I patted her dash consolingly.

“You’ve got this, girl.”

She responded with a shudder as her gears ground. She always got stuck in second gear during the winter, and I jiggled the gear stick, trying to loosen her up a bit.

Once I made it to the park and climbed out of my truck, I typed out a text to my dad as a reminder to set a maintenance check-up. I hated the thought of Mabel’s transmission taking a dive, but I worried, at this rate, she wouldn’t last the winter. It was only the beginning of December, and Indiana still had several long months left of perma-cloud and snow. I didn’t like the possibility of getting stranded in a blizzard.

Standing beside the passenger side of my truck, I dug out a pair of sweatpants and pulled them over my jeans. I slipped Ben’s California hoodie over my long-sleeved shirt, shrugged on my winter coat, then laced up my snow boots.

Plopping my rainbow hat on my head, I ensured my wallet and keys were safe in my jean’s pocket before shoving my duffel into my truck and shutting the door.

I shot a text to Ben and Kim, letting them know I was here. When I didn’t receive an immediate reply, I wandered towardthe sound of children screaming. My memory was hazy over the exact location of the hills, but as laughter and shrieks grew in volume, I figured I was headed in the right direction.

As I came upon the top of the hill, I grimaced at the sheer amount of people. Small children screamed shrilly as parents shouted at one another over the noise.

“Silas!” Someone called behind me a second before a snowball hit my shoulder. I turned, brushing the powder off my coat as my friends waved.

Kim wore her hair in an afro puff, ears covered by leopard print earmuffs. Beside her, Jordan was wiping the fog off his hipster glasses while Caroline straightened a floppy, knitted hat over her blonde hair. Harris wore a bright yellow coat that practically blinded me, but I only had eyes for Ben.

Ben, who was crouched down collecting snow to make another snowball. Ben, who was giggling like a little kid as he shot me mischievous looks. Ben, who looked really hot, even with his snow-chapped cheeks, damp clothing, and a weird, fuzzy hat that resembled a Russian ushanka.

Seeing as he was fitting together another snowball, I assumed he’d sent the first one. “Are you sure you want to declare war on me, Adams?”

He stood, snowball at the ready. “Maybe.”

I arched an eyebrow.

He bit his bottom lip, practically vibrating with childlike giddiness.

“I’m gonna kick your ass,” I warned, and he giggled again.

Then he chucked the snowball right at me. I dodged it, but only barely. And thus began the snow war of the century. It was every man for himself, and my side ached from laughing as I hid behind a tree to escape Ben and Kim’s joint effort to pummel me with snowballs.

As Ben ran away, I threw one at his back, hitting him right in the ass. He cried out, cupping his butt cheek as he fled. By the time we were too exhausted to keep fighting, I’d exacted my revenge, and Ben was covered in snow.

He didn’t seem bothered, plopping onto the ground beside me with a contented sigh. “That was fun.”

Brushing snow off his fuzzy hat, I said, “Told you I’d kick your ass.”

“Whatever, I got you just as much as you got me.”

“Puh-lease, I grew up here. Snow is in my blood.” I leaned in, dropping my voice low and gravelly. “You think snow is your ally. But you merely adopted the snow; I was born in it, molded by it.”

Ben snickered at the altered quote. “Your Bane impression is terrible.”

“Hey, I’m hungry!” Kim interrupted us, pointing to a small food stand near the gazebo. “Let’s eat.”

Jumping to his feet, Ben wiped his hands clean of snow before offering one down to me. I took it, his fingers icy beneath my palm. He hoisted me to standing, and I reached up with my free hand to straighten his hat.

He grinned, giving my hand a squeeze. I could do nothing but smile back.

As a group, we headed toward the food cart, and Ben fell into step beside me, looking adorable in his fuzzy hat and slush-covered jeans. His apple-red cheeks and bright eyes made him appear younger than his eighteen years. Or maybe it was the childlike happiness bouncing in each step as we made our way to the line of people already waiting to be served.

Warmth from the heater inside the tiny shack poured through the window as the guy manning it leaned over to take our order.

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