Page 106 of Snowballed

Now that I’m full and dry, it’s time to go. I have a big phone call to make.

“Gentlemen, thank you for your courage in conquering Lake Champlain today. Except you cowards that turned me down.”

I drive back to my apartment. I’m enjoying having my own space. And I like the way my relationship with Zoe is developing naturally. Maybe I’m slow, but I’m also steady. Zoe has continued to see her counselor. It’s not easy to lose your father so early, and she wants to make sure that she keeps channeling her grief in the right ways. Still, she feels free to poke fun at my touchy-feely California ideas.

As soon as I get home, I get undressed and ready for my pre-game nap. Once I’m in bed, I call Zoe. As soon as I see her smiling face, I feel happier.

“Are you naked?” is her first question.

“Could be,” I reply. “Isn’t it nap time for you too?”

“Yes. But I keep my clothes on. Rocky wouldn’t approve.” I can hear talking in the background. “Rocky wants to know if you and Paul sleep naked when you room together.”

“I’m just going to leave that up to your imaginations. Wags wouldn’t appreciate me giving away all his secrets.”

“Why? It’s not like both of us haven’t seen both of you naked.” Zoe lies down on her bed too. Nice, now it feels like we’re lying down together. If Zoe was my road roommate, we would definitely sleep naked together.

“You’re having sexy thoughts, aren’t you? I can tell by the expression on your face,” Zoe asks.

I laugh. “Please tell me you’re coming over when you get back from Maine.”

“Well, when you use the word coming, how can I refuse?” she says.

“Good, good. Hey, I’m sending you a video,” I say.

“Okay. I’ll watch it on my laptop.”

“Perfect, because I want to watch you watch it.”

Zoe props up her phone so I can see her reaction. Rocky comes over to watch as well. I can see their eyes widen and their mouths open in surprise.

“Oh my God! You did the Penguin Plunge!” Zoe shrieks. “How cold was it?”

“Are you crazy?” Rocky asks at the same time. “And where was Paul?”

“He shot the video. Yes, we were crazy, and it was cold. Colder than sitting bare-assed on the ice in an empty arena.”

Rocky shakes her head. “We’re women, we don’t have stupid hazing rituals like that.”

Zoe picks her phone back up and snuggles under the covers.

“I can’t believe you did that,” she says.

“I wanted to prove something to you.”

“What? That you’re crazy? I never even considered doing the Plunge.”

“It’s a hardcore Vermont thing, right?”

“For sure,” she says.

“Well, then that makes me an honorary Vermonter.”

At her mystified expression, I continue, “You worry that if we travel and have adventures, I’ll never want to come back here. So, I wanted to show you that I’m committed too. In fact, I think I have Lake Champlain water in my blood now.”

Zoe stares at me, then smiles. Her smile is so wide that if I weren’t already under a duvet I would be warmed by her sunny expression.

“You’re the most amazing, creative guy, Noah. And I love you so much.”

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