12. Snow Angel
12
Snow Angel
After packing up the candy canes and cleaning our station, I wiggled into my puffy coat and showed my bag to security.
Officer Holland used his pen to poke my book aside and peer into every compartment. “Be careful out there. We had quite a storm earlier.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I yawned and shuffled outside. The blanket of snow glowed from the overhead lights. Cold, fresh air soothed my lungs. I couldn’t wait to go home, have some tea, and snuggle into bed.
My boots skidded across the not-quite-plowed drive. With a little squeak, I thrust my arms out and locked my knees. Why was it so icy? Tiny steps. If I went slowly…
I slipped and flew head over heels, landing on my back. Air swooshed out of my lungs. Trying to get up, I flailed like a turtle on its shell. I couldn’t help but laugh, sending plumes of steamy breath floating towards the speckled, dark sky. What a beautiful night. My thighs and back ached from squatting at work to talk to kids. This was the first time I’d been off my feet all day. Maybe the ice would be good for me.
I starfished in the powdery blanket of snow and swished my arms and legs. The soft scraping motions eased the chill into my bones. Someone’s footsteps crunched closer. I struggled to sit up without ruining my imprint. No one else was supposed to see my little indulgence. I didn’t think anyone was parked close enough to notice.
“Hey, are you okay?” A warm voice poured into my ears.
Harvey. He stuffed his fists in a lightweight black jacket and leaned over.
“Hi.” I waved, my heart rocking against my ribs with excitement. “All good. I fell, so I decided to make a snow angel.”
“In the parking lot,” he said flatly.
“Mmhmm.”
“That’s…” Harvey sighed, his breath curling out in puffs not unlike the clouds inked on his forearm. “...adorable. But also reckless.”
Adorable. He called me adorable! I wiggled my toes with glee. “Thank you, sir.”
“Unbelievable,” he muttered, though I was pretty sure he ducked his head to hide the start of a smile. He walked over, stopping about five feet away to scan the parking lot. He bounced in place a little.
I tilted my head. “What are you doing?” Warming up for a dance?
“Standing guard in case a plow truck comes by," he said.
“Aww, you’re making sure I’m safe?” I hugged my knees. “The snow plows are pretty loud, so we’ll know they’re coming. You can make a snow angel too, if you want.”
He chuckled. “That’s sweet, but no.”
“Are you suuuuure?” I batted my eyelashes.
“Do you want me to sit by you?” He met my gaze, blanketing me in a strange, heavy calm.
I couldn’t help but be honest. “Yes.”
He smirked and rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’ll try it.”
“That’s the spirit." I grinned. Maybe he did want to hang with me outside of work in a more intimate setting.
Harvey hunkered down in the snow beside me and eased down until his back was flat.
I peered over, admiring his strong profile while trying not to smudge my angel outline. “How do you feel?”
He scooted over an inch. “It’s cold, but nice.”
“Like an ice pack for your entire body.” I nestled in and admired the chalky sky. “The stars and snowflakes remind me of giant twinkly lights.”
The sound of scraping snow drew my attention to Harvey. He sat up, staring at me, his lip twitching.
I braced myself. “What?”
“Nothing.” He furrowed his brow and puzzled at the sky. “But is this–is that your default setting?”
“Is what my default setting?” I fought to keep the defensive edge out of my voice.
He vaguely gestured to the universe. “Loving the holidays and being happy.”
“I’m not faking, if that’s what you’re asking,” I said flatly. A beat or two passed, the silence pressing down on a scribble of frustration ribboned around my heart. “I’m a real person, you know? With a whole range of feelings.”
“I know.” He rubbed his face. “Sorry, it’s still kind of weird for me. You’re not selling anything. You work the same bullshit hours as me. But you’re so nice to everybody. You problem-solve when it’s not even your responsibility.”
That almost sounded like he admired me.
“You don’t need to make art on delicious treats. But you do, because it makes you happy," I said.
“I guess we both ‘play’ at work in our own ways,” he joked.
I giggled and tapped my sheepskin boots to his combat leather. “Do you want to play with me?”
Please, please, please…
Harvey smiled, laid back, and spread his limbs. His fingers curled into the snow and brushed my angel.
Yes. Maybe.
I traced the frozen ridge between us with shaking fingers. “Our wings are almost touching.”
His gaze met mine, as dark and inviting as the night. “Are you cold?”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t think so. Heat radiated through my chest and neck.
He extended his hand. “May I?”
I nodded.
He cupped my hand with his and exhaled, rubbing his warm breath into my pink fingers.
My heart nearly launched into the air.
Harvey touched me. He cared about me. He was taking care of me, wasn’t he?
Gently rubbing his thumb in circles, he smoothed my knuckles. “Better?”
“A little.” I was going to faint. Or throw myself at him right in the parking lot.
“Let’s get you warmed up properly, then.” Harvey helped me to my feet.
I stood with the grace of a baby deer, my limbs sliding and sprawling. “Sorry. My boots don’t exactly have the greatest grip.”
He held my hand and guided me down the aisle. “Where are your bell shoes?”
“I remembered to take them off before the end of the shift today.” I grinned, gripping him tightly.
“Shame. I kind of miss them.” Rolling his lip ring between his teeth, Harvey adjusted his cap, his dark brown locks falling into his face. It took every ounce of self control I had not to touch his hair and find out if it was as soft as it looked.
We walked in relative quiet towards my car. Our hand-holding was less romantic and more of a death grip because of my near-wipeouts, but Harvey would just whisper, “Easy, easy,” and flex his fingers, laughing. After the third slip, he asked, “Do you want me to carry you to your car?”
My lips parted. Would he do that for me?
Pink slapped across his cheeks. He looked back at the untracked snow. “Sorry if that was weird, I just offered because it’s so icy. I can shut up. Or you can use my hand. Or I can go to my car and you can call out if you have trouble or–”
“Harvey,” I pulled on his arm. “I’d love that.”
“Yeah?” He tugged his cap down over reddening ears.
Filled with confidence, I swung our linked hands. “On one condition: can I ride piggyback?”