Page 35 of Light Up
“I’ll have to be careful not to slip in case I break my hip.”
Corey sniggered and Tal’s heart pinged.
“I know it seems crazy to go back into the snow after what we went through last night, but we’ll be dressed for it this time. And not far away, there’ll be a fire we can warm up next to, that’s not a burning car, along with a hot drink. I’m going to shock you now when I tell you I don’t like hot chocolate.”
“Me neither.”
Corey gaped at him. “Can I hug you?”
“No.”
“You’re the only person I’ve ever met who doesn’t like hot chocolate. Do you like peanut butter?”
“Yes.”
“Phew. I should also warn you, I am very competitive. I play to win. Which is why you’re going to do most of the work because I figure you’re arty.”
Corey grabbed his bunny hat from his bag, pulled it onto his head, shot Tal another bright smile and they headed downstairs. Tal’s heart thumped hard at the sight of Corey in that hat. Since when did he like cute?
“What are we going to make?”
“I think we should work separately but on things that go together,” Corey said. “It will stop you being disappointed in me when I mess up. Which I will. You make the big thing, I’ll do the small. Polar bear and a snowball. The Titanic and an iceberg. A dragon and a cave. A cityscape where we each make a building. You can do the Shard, I’ll do a Starbucks. A whale and krill. That sort of thing. What do you think?”
“Krill?” Tal laughed.
“I could make a lot. No one knows what they look like.”
“They’re a bit like shrimp.”
Corey groaned. “Of course you’d know.”
“Well, if it’s not the right sort of snow we’re not going to be able to mould it at all.”
“Thank you, Mr Cheerful. Assume the snow is fine. Anyway, can’t we wet it if it’s too dry?”
“We could. What would you like to make?”
“I love polar bears. Apex predators. Did you know their skin is actually black, which helps them absorb heat from the sun? And their hair is hollow and transparent but reflects light so it looks white.”
“The same reason we think snow is white, but it’s actually translucent. Light reflects off the many tiny ice crystals that make up snow, the crystals scatter the entire spectrum of visible light, so all we see is white. Depending on the conditions, snow can look pink or purple or blue.”
“Or yellow.” Corey grinned.
Tal rolled his eyes. “We’ll both make polar bears. No yellow snow.”
“I’ll go to the kitchen and get olives for the eyes and noses. Should be brown but black will work.”
“Good idea.”
“Thank you. Can I hug you now?”
“No.”
Instead of being annoyed, Corey laughed. He moved closer and whispered, “I’m going to make you ask me to hug you.”
And a long-lost sensation swamped Tal’s heart and sent shivers racing through his body.
While Corey went to get olives, Tal headed for reception. He ought to call his insurance company but the line was down again.
