Page 62 of Snow Balled

The stolen chips formed a lump in my stomach. “Oh no. No, no, no. I think he went down to my cabin.”

“What?” Both men turned to stare at me.

“He knew I was worried that I didn’t have anything nice to wear tonight, so I think he went down to see if he could find some of my clothes.”

“I hope he took a chainsaw with him,” Tristan said, shaking his head.

Carter strode over to the door. “No, but he took the axe.” He shook his head as he pulled on his coat. “He’s either going to slip and break his neck, or chop off a few fingers. Maybe both.”

The worry on Carter’s face chilled me to the bone. I would rather attend our date in a garbage sack than have Drew do something dangerous. “This is all my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” Tristan said before turning to his best friend. “Want me to come?”

“No, I’ll be faster on my own.” He was already geared up and ready to go. “Keep Zeus here.”

He slammed the door shut behind him, and now I worried about two people’s safety.

“They’ll be okay,” Tristan said. He strode past me and looked out the front window. I joined him, and we watched Carter make his way carefully down the steep hillside until he was out of sight. Tristan put his arm around my shoulder and repeated his words again. “They’ll be okay.”

The next hour was a very long one. Tristan’s snack sat forgotten on the table. Neither one of us got much work done. Every few minutes, I glanced at the clock on my phone, even though I’d barely bothered to check the time since I’d gotten here.

Finally, Tristan straightened up, peering at something behind me. I turned just in time to see two figures trudge past the window. Tristan put his hand on the back of the couch and leaped over it, a move that would’ve been impressive if I hadn’t been so worried. “Are they okay?” I asked as he looked out the window.

“Looks like it. Carter’s got the axe, and he hasn’t used it on Drew, so that’s a good sign.”

I forced myself to take deep, calming breaths as the back door opened and Carter came in. He looked grumpy, but Drew looked like his normal, upbeat self—though a little tired.

Part of me wanted to rush over there and hug them, but I wasn’t sure my knees would support me. Besides, I’d observed over the years that guys didn’t like to be fussed or worried about—perhaps because it reminded them that they, themselves, might have been worried?

Tristan went over and relieved Drew of a large duffel bag he was carrying. Then he hung up their jackets as they peeled off layers with cold fingers. Feeling the need to do something, I went into the kitchen and prepared two cups of coffee.

The guys were on the sofa when I set the mugs down in front of them. Then I gathered every blanket I could find and piled them over them while Tristan made a fire.

“We’re okay,” Drew said.

“You could’ve been hurt,” Tristan scolded.

Carter was silent as he sipped his coffee. I had a feeling he’d chewed Drew out already.

Now it was my turn. “You shouldn’t have gone down there. Not for me.”

Drew smiled. “I wouldn’t have done it for anyone else.” Beside him, Carter rolled his eyes.

“I mean, you shouldn’t have risked your safety for me. Or Carter’s.” Carter met my eyes, and I knew we were in agreement.

“It was nothing.” Drew scoffed. “Can’t have my girl wearing a hoodie on a date.”His girl?I studied Carter and Tristan to see how they’d react to that, but they had bigger fish to fry.

“Yes, you could, especially if the alternative is doing something risky,” Tristan said. Suddenly, I envisioned him chiding an employee of his future corporation the same way.

“You don’t go that far on your own again,” Carter said flatly. “And certainly not without telling someone where you’re going.”

“Yeah, next time you pull a stunt like this, at least give us the chance to talk you out of it,” Tristan said.

“Or knock you out,” Carter muttered.

“Guys, it’s no big deal. I got there, I got back.”

“With help,” Carter pointed out.

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