Page 27 of Snow Much Trouble
"Faith's has bourbon in it."
Lauren's jaw drops. "That's genius. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because you're a marshmallow girl, not a bourbon girl."
My phone buzzes with a text. I glance at it and see it's from Ian.
Storm hit us too. How's the cabin?
I text back.
Lost power overnight but it's back on. Stocked with wood just in case.
Ian's response is immediate.
Good. Malcolm says roads won't be clear until Sunday at earliest. You got enough food?
Yeah, I'm fine.
There's a pause, then he texts again.
You sound different. What's going on?
Damn twin telepathy.
Nothing. Just enjoying the peace and quiet. And how the fuck could I sound different in a text?
Three dots appear, then disappear, then appear again.
Bullshit. But okay. Stay warm.
I set my phone down to find Lauren watching me.
"One of your brothers?"
"My twin. He's annoyingly perceptive."
"Identical twin, you said? That must be wild. Do you do that thing where you finish each other's sentences?"
"Sometimes. It's more like we just know when something's up with the other one. He can tell when I'm stressed even if I don't say anything."
"And he can tell you're stressed right now?"
“I’m not stressed at all.” I meet her eyes across the table. "He can tell I'm in a good mood. Which is suspicious because I'm supposed to be here alone, decompressing from a stressful year."
“And instead?”
“I’m having fun. I like you, Lauren Louise."
She fidgets with her fork. "I like you too, Dylan James."
The way she says my middle name makes my chest tight. There's something intimate about it.
"So," I say, breaking the moment. "Since we're stuck here another day at least, what's the plan? Do you need to write?"
"I should," she admits. "But I feel like if I force it, nothing good will come out. Sometimes the best thing I can do is just not think about it for a while. Let my brain work on it in the background."
"What do you want to do instead?" I have about a half dozen different ideas, all of them involving touching her.
