Page 39 of In Your Wildest Dreams
Everly looks up from the dining room table where she sits with her schoolwork laid out in front of her. “Morning. I just made coffee.”
“Thanks. I grabbed some at the hospital before I left.” I hold up the to-go cup in my right hand, then get out of my snowy coat and hat, and hang them to dry.
She nods and goes back to her schoolwork, and I head to my room. Grace is still sleeping. She’s never up as early as Everly. With my schedule, I tend to only see each of them once or twice a day. Everly is usually up and out in the kitchen in the mornings when I get home from work, and Grace and I have the same lunch break.
They’ve both been so nice and welcoming. They’re really close and spend most of their evenings together in the living room, watching TV. Sometimes Grace’s boyfriend Lane comes over and sometimes the three of them all go out. If I’m around, they always do the polite thing and ask me to join them, but I try to give them space. The three of us don’t have to be besties to live together, and I don’t expect that from them.
By the time I shower and get ready for school, I can hear both of them in the kitchen. They walk to campus together in the mornings. Their first classes are farther away than mine, so I leave a few minutes later.
I’m checking to make sure I have everything I need in my backpack when there’s a knock at the door followed by Grace’s voice. “Bridget?”
“Uhh, yeah, come in.”
She opens the door and sticks in her head. “Hi.”
“Hey.” I smile back at her.
“I know you like to walk by yourself usually, but it’s really coming down out there. Do you want to walk with us today?”
“Oh.” My brows furrow. Something about the way she said I like to walk by myself makes me pause. I guess from my actions that seems true, but really, I just don’t want to impose on their friendship just because we’re roommates now. “No. I’m okay. I still need to grab something to eat.”
“Are you sure?” Her gray eyes widen and her eyebrows disappear under her dark bangs as she waits for my response.
“Yeah. I’m okay, but thanks. I’ll see you at lunch.”
She waits another beat before nodding and then closing the door as she leaves. A few seconds later I hear the front door shut with their departure. I bundle up again and grab my backpack and phone. A blueberry muffin sits on top of a yellow napkin on the counter with my name scribbled on it. With a twinge of sadness, I smile at the considerate gesture.
I wrap it up and stick it in my bag for later and then head out. The snow falls in white flakes so thick I can barely make out my car parked along the curb.
When I get to the sidewalk, a silver truck comes to a stop next to me. I think he’s letting me cross and wave him to go ahead, but then he rolls down the passenger side window and leans over.
I met Everly’s brother one other time when he stopped by to see her, but I’m surprised to see him at this time of day.
“Did Everly already leave?” he asks.
“Yeah. About two minutes ago.”
He nods. “All right. She wasn’t answering her phone.”
“Do you need something? I could try to text her.” I pull out my phone. Snow drops onto the screen as I unlock it.
“No, I was just on my way to the arena and thought I’d swing by and see if you all wanted a ride this morning. It’s really coming down.”
“Wow, that’s so nice. I’ll let Everly know I ran into you.” I put my phone back in my pocket and brush a wet drop off my nose.
Tyler continues to stare at me through the thick blanket of snow. “Are you heading to class now? Do you want a lift?”
“Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t mind the snow.”
His mouth twists into an uncomfortable smile. “Are you sure? It’s nuts out here and I’m going that way anyway.”
I hesitate again as more snow covers my coat and hat. My feet are already icy. “A ride would be great. Thank you.”
He leans over and opens the passenger door. I try to shake off as much snow as possible so I don’t get it in his truck, but he waves me off. “You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“It still smells brand new.” I glance around, and to my chagrin, it also looks brand new.
“I just got it last week.”
