Page 51 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
“Then we’re definitely open,” Micah says. “Everyone, come in! The fire is nice and warm.”
I grab her hand right as she takes a step toward the group. “What are you doing?”
She blinks at me. “I’m going to get them all settled in.”
“The lodge is barely functional.”
“Do you expect me to send them back out into the snow?” She pops a hand on her hip that inspires more amusement than intimidation.
I fold my arms to show her what actual intimidation looks like. “Of course not. But we’re not equipped to check them all into a room.”
“That’s what you think.” Now that I’ve let go of her, Micah hurries over to the nearest family and takes the baby out of the woman’s arms. “How many do you have with you?” she asks.
I know better than to think there’s any stopping her, so I turn to Kenny, who raises his eyebrows at me. “You’d better go claim your room before she gives it away,” I tell him. I should probably think about my own room and plush bed, but with how many people just walked through that door, I know there’s no chance of me getting a good night’s sleep tonight. Let’s hope Micah is up for driving back tomorrow, assuming the storm even lets up by then.
Leaving Micah to organize the frazzled travelers, I head back to the kitchen to see if there’s anything we can offer. We’ve already eaten a good portion of what was here, but there might be enough supplies to make something semi-edible. I can’t claim to be much of a cook, but the internet was built for—
The lodge goes dark.
Several people—mostly kids—scream in the lobby, and I grit my teeth. This is not what we need right now, especially because the fireplaces in the lobby are all gas-powered and connected to the power grid. I’m not sure we can get them back on without electricity. Suddenly I understand the appeal of wood-burning fireplaces, though I’m not a huge fan of the smoky smell that comes with them.
Flipping on the flashlight on my phone, I head back to the lobby and run smack into a person. Based on the floral smell, it’s Micah, and I hold her for a second to give me the strength to keep pushing forward.
“The power went out,” she whispers, nestling into my chest in a way that makes me slightly dizzy. I like holding her a lot more than I should, and this is asking for trouble.
“I noticed.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Whatever we can. Beyond that, we’ll just have to hope the storm doesn’t last long.”
She shivers, her fingers curling around my shirt. “Okay. Okay, we can do this. I’m going to gather everyone together in the lobby and we’ll make a plan.”
I never thought I would be the type to be attracted to someone taking charge with confidence, but as Micah stands up straighter, barely visible in the light from my phone, she’s possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. The temptation to grab her and kiss her like there’s no tomorrow washes over me, and it’s Kenny who keeps me from making that mistake.
“Do you know if there are any lanterns or flashlights anywhere?” he asks from somewhere in the darkness. “I might have something in the car, but I’m not eager to go out into that storm now that it’s dark.”
I clear my throat, pulling away from Micah before I completely lose my mind. “If there is, it will be in the storage room at the end of the hall.”
Another phone light turns on, and Kenny wanders away, weaving through the people huddled together. Then everyone turns to face us, waiting to be told what to do.
If I’d been here on my own, I would jump into leader mode, but something holds me back. Micah holds me back. She’s probably so much more capable of handling this nightmare than I am, especially because I am quickly losing any bit of energy I have left. This has been an incredibly long day, and it’s far from over.
“Tell us what to do,” I tell Micah, fumbling for her hand in the darkness. “You’re in charge.”
She winces but stands up straighter, her eyes growing bright with determination. “Okay, here’s the plan.”
Ten minutes later, I’m ready to punch someone. “No, she said the families with kids get the rooms first,” I growl at the man who is currently in my face, as if talking close enough that I can smell his breath will make me want to listen to him more.
“But I need a bed or my neck will hurt.”
“I’m already dealing with a pain in my neck,” I mutter. “Sir, if you can just be patient—”
“Who is your manager? Is this how you treat your guests?”
I glance at Micah, who is across the lobby directing a pair of elderly women to their room with a smile. I would rather deal with this idiot myself, but I have a feeling she would be a lot more effective. “You’re not a paying guest,” I tell him. “None of you are. The lodge isn’t even open.”
The man doesn’t like that response, narrowing his eyes at me. The lantern Kenny found only provides so much light, but it’s enough to see his expensive haircut and Patek glittering on his wrist. Why a guy who can afford a watch like that would be taking a Greyhound, I have no idea, but he’s really starting to make me mad.
