Page 6 of Catch Yourself a Snowmance
“We had a downgrade,” I tell her. “Didn’t you hear?”
“I was in a good part of my book, sorry.” She glances outside again. “Wow.”
“You can say that again,” I quip.
“It’s going to be great!” Noelle says from up front. “Oh! And there’s Carson’s truck. The guys just got here!”
We open our doors and pile out into the cold evening air. Small drifts of week-old snow line the edge of the driveway and scatter around the property against the roots of trees and out on the open ground. It’s supposed to snow againthroughout the week. At least we’ll have a good base for skiing.
“Hey!” Liam shouts over to us as he walks toward Noelle and pulls her into a hug.
“Sorry about the change in cabins,” she says softly into his chest.
“No worries. We’ll be fine. Let’s go check this place out.” Liam’s warm smile down at Noelle almost makes me forget the fact that our accommodations look more like a Halloween special than a Christmas dreamland.
My breath puffs out in tiny clouds. I wrap my arms around myself to brace against the chill evening air. A warm cup of something by the fireplace will be just what the doctor ordered.
Carson, one of Liam’s friends, walks over to Noelle and Liam. “The place looks like it’s seen better days—maybe a decade ago.”
Liam smiles a placating smile at Noelle and then tells Carson, “It’ll be fine. It’s better than a lot of places we’ve stayed over the years.”
I study our home for the week. The paint is peeling, the porch might even have a slight sag, but maybe that’s just the way the shadows are hitting it as the sun sets.
“Seriously, Noelle?” Stephanie says. And then she smiles a super-energetic smile to make up for her obvious opinion. “This … well, I’m sure it will be great.”
“I’m so sorry!” Noelle says, looking around at the whole group.
“Totally not your fault,” I say. “You planned for the Hallmark mansion next door. Not the Night Before Christmas.” I laugh, hoping it takes the tension out of the air. “And anyway, it may be way better on the inside. It’s got good bones. Right, Liam?”
“Looks like it,” Liam says with less confidence than I’d hoped for.
Just then, a soft rustling sound comes from near the porch. I squint into the fading light and freeze. "Uh … guys? I think we have company."
Everyone turns to follow my line of vision. A small, black-and-white creature saunters out from behind a stump near the porch steps.
"Oh no," Noelle whispers, her eyes wide. "A skunk!"
The skunk doesn’t seem to know we’re here yet. He just ambles around sniffing the crawl space under the porch like he owns the place. Maybe he does.
I’ve always been the type to laugh at the worst of moments. I don’t mean anything by it. Amusement rises up in me and I can’t help but crack up. I bite back my laughter, but it comes out in my whisper. “Anyone know …” I nearly choke on my stifled laughter. “… how to handle a skunk?”
Carson’s eyebrows shoot up. “You think this is funny?” He glances at me, but there’s a twinkle in his eye. And then he lets out a controlled chuckle.
“Kind of,” I admit in the quietest voice I can muster. “I mean, it’s on brand for the cabin.”
Carson shakes his head, still grinning. He’s got a nice smile. The absence of Dorito dust helps accentuate his actually attractive features. Not that I’m in the market for a boyfriend—especially not my best friend’s fiance's friend. That would be beyond cliche and also troublesome. Date outside your friend group. That’s a rule I’ve always lived by. That way, when things implode—as they invariably do, the carnage isn’t widespread around the relationships that matter most.
As if on cue, the skunk pauses its foraging and lifts its tail. We collectively hold our breath. I feel a giggle bubbling up—this is just too ridiculous. Beside me, Carson tenses up.
“Just don’t make any sudden movements,” Carson advises, his voice low but tinged with amusement.
I nod. Our friends all exchange wary glances. When I look back at Carson, his eyes sparkle with mischief. “And maybe avoid breathing too hard,” he adds, obviously stifling another chuckle under a soft clearing of his throat.
“He’s kind of cute,” Noelle coos softly, mostly to Liam.
Liam smiles down at her.
We all stand still for a long moment, waiting for something. Will the skunk leave? Spray us? Climb the porch and stage a sit-in where he refuses to move, effectively blocking us from entering the cabin?
