Page 26 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
“I’ve had a good day,” I tell Gage. But I’m really telling Carson—in case he wonders.
Mitch helps Carson to his feet and the three of us follow him as he cautiously navigates his way down the hill.
That night Carson and I are curled up on the couch in front of the fire, eating the chili and cornbread Noelle and Liam made. We’re not curled up together, of course. I’m on one cushion, and Carson is on another. We keep exchanging glances.
Our friends talk about their day on the slopes. We’re all wiped out. It’s a certain type of exhaustion that comes from spending a day skiing or snowboarding. I’m sedate, bone-tired, and content all at once. The fire only adds to my drowsiness.
One by one, our friends start to turn in for the night. As sleepy as I am, I’m forcing myself to stay awake until it’s just the two of us. I’m not questioning myself. Nothing seems to exist outside this little bubble of time and place.
Carson stretches and then flinches with a sharp intake of breath.
“Are you okay?” I ask, stretching and yawning.
“Yeah. Yeah. Just a little sore.”
“I bet,” I smile over at him. “You fell a lot.”
“Thanks for that reminder.” He winks at me.
“It’s not a criticism.”
“No?”
His eyes are drowsy and soft. His face has a little stubble on it. I know what it’s like to have his lips on my hand and his arms around me. He makes me laugh. But most of all, he makes me feel safe, and that’s something I didn’t even know I was missing until these past few days.
There are certain people in the world who just put you at ease. Maybe they don’t put everyone at ease. They probably don’t. But there’s some sort of chemical reaction between their personality and yours. You can do or say anything around them. They’ll sweep up the mess, sort through what you said or did, keep what makes sense and let go of the rest. Carson does that for me. And we can be still together or talk for hours.
I could imagine more with him. As crazy as it sounds, I could. I wasn’t looking for him, but here he is. I don’t know how he feels. He definitely likes me. Does he want more? I guess time will tell.
“Did you solve them?” he asks me.
“Huh? Solve what?”
“All the world’s problems? You looked so deep in thought.”
His eyes are locked on mine, amused, soft, inviting.
“No. I was just thinking about how comfortable you make me.”
There. That’s honest.
“I’m glad.” He shifts his weight and groans for the briefest moment. “I wish someone could make me comfortable right now. I’m paying the price for sure.”
“I can give you a back rub.”
Whaaaaa?
I am good at massage. Offering to rub his back is crossing a line, right? Or is it?
“You could?Would you?”
He looks so hopeful, and not in a romantic way. He just wants to relieve his pain.
“I don’t want to impose,” he adds.
“I offered. Here, lie on the couch. I’ll just kneel to the side.”
“You sure?”
