Page 3 of Snowed in with My Pucking Ex
“No problem.” He winks and closes my door, moving to put my belongings in the back seat.
He just winked at me.Winked!Can you believe the nerve of this guy? I want to be appalled, but rather, I find myself still hazy over the entire interaction like a giant goober.
The driver’s side door opens, and he hops up into the truck with practiced ease. Although with his height, it’s probably like sliding into a car for me. The truck suits him; it fits with his overwhelming, yet understated presence. “You warm enough? I can turn the heat up?” He says it like a question, and I appreciate him making sure I’m comfortable.
I shake my head. He’d left his truck running when he came to check on me, so it’s already cozy in here. “Are you here visiting your mom for Thanksgiving, or…” I trail off, hoping he’ll fill in the rest, and put my nosiness to ease.
“Yeah, I was overdue for a visit. How about you? Looks like a lot of luggage for a quick trip.”
I may’ve overpacked a little, but a girl can never have too many clothes or shoes, in my opinion. We’re not like guys who are fine with the same three choices with a variety pack of underwear; we need options. “I’m home for a month. I was overdue, too.”
“Interesting,” he responds cryptically, but doesn’t prod any further.
In no time, his oversized pick-up truck has us over the rest of the mountain and descending into the valley. My breath catches as I take in the village and the surrounding property; it’s stunning, and I have to fight off tears from welling. I’ve missed this place since my last visit more than I realized. It’s not that I’m miserable where I live; it’s the opposite, actually, and I’ve been quite happy there. Until recently. As I’ve gotten older, I look around myself, noticing I’m missing out on the things I want to do the most. I’ve always aspired to be successful in business and work my tail off until I feel that I’ve reached a specific level. You know, burst my way through the glass ceiling and all of that jazz, but it’s no longer as appealing as it once was.
I want to be able to enjoy life, not just work my way through it, while missing out on all the good stuff. There’s so much I want to experience and also bring into my life that city living doesn’t offer. Coming back home is like looking into a snow globe filled with so many things I want, but didn’t realize until it was too late. I was in such a hurry to leave this place, I never anticipated I’d regret it and wish to be back.
As soon as I see the bars pop up on my cell again, I send a quick text to Samantha. I can’t wait to see her.
Me:Just got into town. Tell your husband to hurry up and start his vacation! I need my BFF here already.
Me:Also, I’ve got some tea to tell ya… *wink emoji*
I close out of my text message, knowing the last one will pique her curiosity.
“Do you want me to stop anywhere so you can pick up anything before we get to the farm?”
I shake my head, not willing to prolong this visit with him any longer than I have to, even for a treat from Tasty Sip. “No, thank you. I appreciate the ride so much. Truly.” I reply and barely glance at him. I keep my stare pinned on the road ahead of us or glance out the window on my side, smiling each time I see another deer. I can’t risk looking over at him, or I may get stuck staring, and I’ve already been embarrassed enough for today; I don’t want to add any more to it.
After a beat, I say, “I’ll have to send over some of those cookies your mom always raves about as a thank you. I’m sure I won’t see you before you head back, so it’s the least I can do to repay you for giving me a lift.”
He looks over at me long enough that I eventually meet his stare, ready to ask him why he’s not paying attention to the road instead. His brow hikes, a smile curling his lips as he responds, “Your mom didn’t tell you the news? About Thanksgiving?”
“Um, no?” I frown and shake my head, waiting for him to continue.
“Our moms have become even closer, basically best friends at this point. We’re eating at your place for Thanksgiving dinner, so I’ll be seeing you again day after tomorrow. Probably for most of your visit, actually, since they’re always together.”
Of course they are.
Chapter Three
Sean
Of all the people to come across stuck on the side of the road, it had to be her. I should’ve been expecting it, but at the same time, I never would’ve thought she wouldn’t be a seasoned driver by now. That she would know to avoid the snow piles. Once I got out of my truck and saw her face, the surprise hit me square in the chest of just how beautiful she’s become. I always believed she was pretty when we were younger, but time has been kind to her as she’s absolutely stunning.
I’d seen the tail end of the hunter green sedan sticking out of the piled-up snow along the side of the road as I was driving by and had immediately pulled over. Knowing it was the same car Winter drove the last time I saw her, and the‘what if it’s really her’scenario momentarily flashed through my mind. I’d waved it off, thinking she’d surely have a different vehicle by now, I mean, that was probably fifteen years ago, at least. Boy, was I wrong in assuming, and in my mistake, I’d been taken off guard the moment I saw her. She’d stared at me with those stunning hot cocoa-colored irises of hers, and the greeting I’d had on the tip of my tongue went quiet. Then she screamed, which made things awkward.
She always smelled so good, too, and having her scent lingering in my truck after I’d dropped her off stirred up even more memories we’d shared in the past. Once I’d admitted to her how I thought of her eyes as hot cocoa, she started wearing this intoxicating perfume that was a mixture of vanilla and marshmallow. You could put her next to a fire out in the cold with friends back in the day, and it was my favorite place to be. So imagine my surprise in discovering she’s still wearing it…
It can’t be because of me, right?
Having her in the seat next to me on the ride to the farm made me realize that it’s been way too long since I’ve actually seen her in person. Of course, I’ve done the random social media reconwhen one of our mutuals would tag her in a ‘visiting’ post or something, but for the most part, I’ve tried to forget about her. I had no other choice, as she’s the one who’s had my heart all along, and I knew there was no way she’d take me back.
I may’ve been the one to turn away from us as a couple all those years ago and break up with her, but at the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. I had just accepted a scholarship to a college in another state, and at the time, I had no choice. I had several offers on the board, but I had to take the one the Pines agreed to let me play hockey at, since they basically owned my future.
There was also the fact that Dad had passed away when I was younger, and I knew at some point I’d probably need to step in and help Mom so she could eventually retire. It wasn’t fair for her to be left with the debt Dad’s passing caused, along with raising me alone, and I was determined to make sure she didn’t struggle. In order to do that, I had to go to college for as long as I could, play the best hockey I’d ever played in my entire life, and work my butt off to finally get my signing bonus to the NHL. The Pines had signed me early, but I didn’t see a cent until I actually walked on to the team and showed them that I could play at the pro level.
Little did I know, but Mom went back to school during the hours she wasn’t busy working. She’d surprised me when she sent me an invitation to her graduation. She became a nurse all while still managing to consistently check on me and make me somehow feel as if I was the center of her attention at all times. I don’t know how she did it, working full-time, going to school, and being a great long-distance mom, but she did. I’d asked her why she didn’t tell me, and she had said it was because she didn’t know if she could do it in the end, and didn’t want to fail in front of me. I couldn’t believe Mom would ever doubt herself, and at the time, it made me realize she’s not the ‘super mom’ ona pedestal I’ve always believed she was. I gained so much new respect for her, showing her vulnerability and overcoming it in the process.
