Chapter 34
Scarlett
Me: The power is back on. Going home.
Kenzie: Yay!
Mia: Wait, how was it at the hot neighbors?
Me: I never said he was hot.
Lydia: Oh yes you did.
Andee: You’re deflecting.
Me: Listen, snow came, neighbor let me stay warm, power is back on, life goes on. Just wanted to let you all know that I’m safe and going home.
I drop my phone back down on the bed. It bounces once and then lands upside down on the green quilt covered in pine trees.
Absentmindedly I rub my hand over the quilt, feeling the soft warmth underneath my hand.
What is wrong with me? Why does it feel like I’m losing something right now?
I’m just simply going back to my own home.
It was very nice of them to help me out and let me stay here but this was never a permanent situation.
I have got to get my act together and remember why I moved out here.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to pack up my things. Just a few pieces of clothing really. Once I’m all packed, I throw on all my layers because it’s in the teens outside again.
“Are you sure you can’t stay?” Cami asks as I zip up my coat. All these layers are stifling inside the nice warm cabin.
“Yeah, I’ve got to go check on my place and make sure everything is all good over there.”
“You could always stay one more night.” Jake suggests. “Head back in the morning once the sun is up?” He’s throwing on his coat and his eyes are focused on the floor.
“Nah, I’m sure you’d like to get back to your bed.
” I say, trying to make my voice come out more upbeat.
“Cami, here’s my number. Text or call me anytime you want.
” I hand her a little scrap piece of paper where I’ve written my number down.
I’ve decided that leaving Cami is what’s making me feel awful.
She’s a sweet kid and I really have had a great time with her this weekend.
“Alright, well I’ll walk you over since it’s dark.” Jake says holding a large flashlight in one hand.
“Oh you don’t have to do that.” I say, too proud to just accept the help.
“I insist.” He says. I analyze his expression. Am I imagining a hint of sadness in his voice? I’m sure I am. I’m sure he’s excited to get rid of me. Get his bed back, get his life back. Get rid of his weird neighbor that called him stupid nicknames and get back to normal.
“Alright then, well I’m roasting in here so I’ll see you later Cami.” I wave a little goodbye and then grip my bag with both hands and walk out the door.
The frigid air is a relief to the stuffy warmth of the cabin.
Snow crunches beneath my feet and I look up at the sky.
It isn’t that late at night but the sky is pitch black.
The farther we get from Jake’s front porchlight, the more the stars show off.
When I exhale my breath comes out in a puffy white cloud.
I feel Jake’s presence beside me and when I turn to look at him, his face is somber. Back to being his grumpy self I see.
“Thanks for letting me stay with you guys, sorry for crashing the party,” I say while switching the bag from my right to my left hand.
“It was the right thing to do,” Jake says. His tone is clipped and I feel taken aback by his shift in mood. In the house he was fun, maybe even a little flirtatious. I wonder for a moment what’s changed.
“You know, you probably don’t have to walk me all the way over if you don’t want to.” I’m trying to let him off the hook. If he’s ready to get rid of me, then I don’t need his flashlight, I can almost see the edge of my porch. I’m sure I can survive.
“We’re almost there,” he huffs out.
“Yes, I’m aware,” I say, feeling an edginess wash over me that wasn’t there before.
We walk the last few feet in silence. Me giving in to his stubborn need to do the right thing.
And him feeling no need to make conversation.
I feel a sense of relief when we reach the porch, it’s only been about forty-eight hours away but I realize now how much I missed it.
Even though I did enjoy my time with Jake and Cami.
I step onto the second porch step and turn around.
“Well, thanks again,” I say because I don’t know what to say.
He takes a few steps forward and before I know it our faces are just a few inches apart.
“It was really no problem,” he says. It’s odd, being eye level with him.
Even though his voice is giving off I can’t wait to be done and go home signals, his eyes and body language are giving off something entirely different.
It is so hard to get a read on this man.
Something is telling me to end this, tell him good-bye and go inside my house.
My beautiful, little, probably still frozen cottage that I love.
But my feet remain frozen to the porch step, my focus bouncing back and forth between his eyes, an emotion in them that I just can’t put my finger on.
The light on my porch is dim, darkening his eyes with more flecks of forest green.
They’re holding me hostage, waiting on… waiting on what? What am I waiting for?
He takes a miniscule step forward and our noses are practically touching.
His proximity feels like a dare and an invitation all at once.
A shockwave of shivers runs through me from my toes to the top of my head, but it isn’t from the cold.
Suddenly, I want nothing more than to feel his touch.
To know what those callused hands would feel like on the curve of my waist. What his lips would feel like on mine.
Would he be a good kisser? His lips are soft, beautifully red, plump, full, and oh my God I’ve been staring at them.
As if I’ve mentally spoken it into existence, Jake takes whatever little space we had left between us and gently grabs each side of my midsection with his hands and pulls me closer.
It’s exactly where I was thinking about wanting to feel his hands but damn it, there’s too much fabric coating both my body and his hands.
Before I can form a solid thought his lips eliminate the distance and land on mine.
They are as soft as they look as he tenderly places them on me.
The kiss is slow, hesitant, almost as if he’s asking permission to go on without words.
He spreads his lips apart, coaxing mine open with his warm tongue.
He tastes like cinnamon and a groan escapes my lips as I part them, giving him the go ahead.
His hands move from around my waist to my shoulder blades, pressing our bodies together and oh, how I wish there was nothing between us.
Without warning our faces break apart and I sway with the sudden lack of support.
“Goodnight,” he says and before I can regain my balance, or open my mouth to say anything Jake walks off into the darkness, back to his cabin.
I am left stunned, watching him walk away until I feel the pinch of the cold wind on my skin and I head inside.
The cottage isn’t as cold as I expected.
Since the heat was running on full blast before the power went off, it kicked on when the power came back.
By the feel in here, I’d say the power has been on for longer than we realized.
A quick sweep of the house and thankfully no pipes have frozen, no damage done.
After removing my outer layers and hanging them to dry by the door, I walk into the bedroom to change into my comfy pajamas.
I find my fingers creeping up to touch my slightly swollen lips, the skin around them still feeling the scrape of his beard.
I don’t know what that was, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.