Page 32 of Married to Her Yeti
Nima glanced down at the rings as he considered Tseten’s suggestion. But the fear of rejection loomed large. “I’m afraid that if I tell her I still love her, she’ll tell me she doesn’t feel the same. Or worse, won’t even want to be friends anymore. It might ruin the fragile connection we’ve rebuilt. What if she won’t want me in her life at all?”
“That’s a risk. But I’m guessing that not talking, not trusting each other, is what got you into this situation.”
Nima blinked and leaned heavily on the counter as he digested Tseten’s words. How had he so quickly broken his pledge to be honest, open, and to trust Mari and himself? He thought about how they’d kept silent after Burning Man, never sharing their feelings with anyone, resulting in what seemed to be a sad and lonely ten years for them both. “You’re right, Tset. I need to talk to her.”
Before he lost his nerve, Nima scooped up his phone and swiped to his texting app. “I’m going to message her now.”
Nima: Are you free the day after Christmas? I’d like to talk to you.
He quickly hit send, then fought the urge to jump in his truck and return to her house tonight. He ached to see her, to touch her, and to speak from his heart. But it was nearly ten p.m. on Christmas Eve. Kat was there, and Mari needed rest and sleep to heal. He’d waited ten years to talk with her. He could wait another day. Then he’d risk his heart and live with the consequences, whatever they might be.
An overwhelming senseof urgency swept through Mari as she filled her sister in on the details of her and Nima’s breakup and recent reconnection while her soup turned cold. “Kat, I need to go to Nima. I need to tell him... I’m not even sure what to say. I just...” She closed her eyes as she released a shuddering breath, and tears threatened. “I just need him.”
“Okay,” Kat said slowly, as if trying to calm Mari. “Send a text and ask him to come over. You said he’s with Tseten. He can be here before you know it.”
Mari vehemently shook her head. Her sister wasn’t getting it. “No. After Nevada, I gave up on him, on us. This time I’m going to show up.Ineed to go tohim.” She paused, then added, “Right now,” because her sister didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.
Kat glanced at her phone. “It’s nearly ten p.m. on Christmas Eve. Plus...” she cocked her head and gestured to Mari’s injured ankle, “you can’t drive with that air cast on.”
Mari’s patience was unraveling. “I don’t care what the fuck time it is. I need to see Nima.Youare going to drive me to Tseten’s house, Kat. You're my caregiver, and this is part of my essential care.” Was her sister being purposefully obtuse? “Did you miss the part where I blocked his number. Me. The one person he should have been able to count on.” Tears spilled from her eyes, and a shiver of fear ran up her spine as she thought about the potential dangers he’d faced in the Lower Forty-Eight when he was scared and alone.
“That’s horrible and all,” Kat admitted. “But he’s not blameless. He didn’t talk to you for ten long years, Mar. You’re just going to forgive him?”
“I already have. And remember, I made it nearly impossible for him to talk to me. Nima had a lot of reasons not to forgiveme, but he did. Plus, he’s taken care of me for the last two days.”
Mari carefully placed her air-casted-foot on the ground and nudged her sister. “Start your car, Kat. We’re going now.” Then she grabbed her phone and tapped a quick message to Nima.
Mari: Can we talk? I’m coming over.
Kat lifted her purse from next to the couch and pulled out her keys, aiming the fob over her shoulder toward her parked car. She smiled knowingly as the remote start button beeped and said, “In your sappy Christmas movies, this is where the rancher/baker/prince?—”
“Captain of the gingerbread army,” Mari added.
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” Mari said without hesitation. Shewouldfinish that movie with Nima’s arms wrapped around her.
“Okay... Where the rancher/baker/prince/captain of the gingerbread army, etcetera, fights for the love of his heroine.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely. I need to talk to Nima now,before he leaves Tseten’s.” He could be planning to drive to his mother’s house first thing in the morning. The possibility made Mari break into a sweat. But she would follow him there too, if she had to. Though first she’d have to prepare for harsh winter conditions on hundreds of miles of remote highway and convince her sister to drive her.
Kat stood and helped Mari to her feet. “Okay, let’s go get your yeti.”
They donned their winter gear and were soon on the road to Tseten’s house. “Did you message Nima?” Kat asked, stopping her phone's heavy-metal playlist. She switched to Christmas music for Mari’s benefit, then groaned. “Fuck, I’ve been Whammed.”
Mari snickered as Wham!’s “Last Christmas” sounded over the car’s speakers. “Yes, I sent him a text, but I didn’t hear back.” She shot off another quick message.
Mari: Kat’s driving me to Tseten’s. We’re on the road.
Several miles later, Mari’s phone buzzed with an incoming message.
Nima: Are you free the day after Christmas? I’d like to talk to you.
Mari blinked down at the text, confused.
Mari: Did you get my other messages? I want to talk now... I hope that’s okay. Kat’s driving me to Tseten’s. We’re almost there.
Three dots appeared, then disappeared, and Mari’s stomach knotted. Sheachedfor Nima. But what if Nima didn’t feel the same for her?
