Page 134 of Snowed In
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. I guess I never really thought too much about it because it’s been just a step to me, but I like my team. I think I even like the work. Plus, there’s room for growth, so I can—”
“Room for growth?”
“What?”
“You’re not doing a job interview,” she says, amused. “You don’t have to grow. Not if you don’t want to. This job doesn’t have to be another rung on the ladder. It can just be a job. A job you go to and enjoy. It’s more than a lot of people have.” At my silence, her voice goes flat. “Please tell me you know this.”
I shrug, uncomfortable. “Settling wasn’t really a done thing with the people I hung around with.”
“It’s not settling, Christian. It’s realizing what you actually want instead of what you think everyone else wants. Slow down, take stock, and focus on what fills that gap right there.” She taps my chest, looking serious. “I give you permission.”
“Permission, huh?”
“People who look like you shouldn’t have to try so hard, anyway,” she says, and I burst out laughing before rolling us, so I’m hovering over her.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
“For what?”
“Listening.” I sit back, reaching for the hem of the sweater. “Caring.” I pull it off her, laying it to the side as she stretches out beneath me, shivering slightly when her bare skin meets the air. “You cold?”
“A little,” she says, and I glance at the fire, wondering if I should build it up before we—
“Hello, hello!” A voice calls from outside. “Rescue team is here.”
Our heads whip toward the door, but before either of us can do anything, it swings open, and Andrew steps inside. “Are you alive or are you— Oh.”
Megan shrieks, gathering up the blankets to cover herself as Molly enters and slaps a hand over my brother’s face.
“Sorry,” he calls, as Megan scrambles up the stairs, her bare calves flashing with each step. “I thought it was locked.”
“But you tried it anyway?” I ask, exasperated.
“We did call,” Molly says. “And text. But looks like you two were too busy to check your— Christian!” She covers her own eyes as I get up, accidentally flashing her before I can remember my own lack of clothing.
“Put some clothes on,” Molly complains. “I don’t want to see you naked.”
“Words I’ve never heard before.”
“Christian,” Andrew warns, and I shrug my jeans on.
“I’m decent.”
“Glad to see you’re feeling better,” Andrew says, as I grab a T-shirt. “You giant liar.”
“Ask Megan if you don’t believe me. I was bedridden for a day.”
“Bedridden, you say.”
Molly sighs. “Okay.”
“More like sheet-fort ridden.”
“I’m going to help Megan,” Molly says pointedly. “Your mother is worried enough as it is that we won’t make it back for dinner, and we already got lost twice coming up here.” She heads up the stairs, calling Megan’s name, and I plug my phone in to charge to see I do indeed have several messages from them.
“You guys didn’t have to come up,” I say.
“And spend Christmas without you?” Andrew claps me on the back. “I want a refund, by the way.”
