Chapter Four #2
Charlie looked at me for a long moment, and then ducked his head, the pom-pom on his hat wobbling.
“What?” I asked, frowning. “Do I have something on my face?” I wiped my mouth with my napkin.
He glanced up from his plate. “Yep. You got it.”
A woman wearing a sweater and matching woolen hat festooned with elves appeared by our table holding a clipboard. “Merry Christmas, boys! Are you signed up for the Reindeer Run?”
I smiled at her. “Merry Christmas. No, we’re actually just here for the morning. Our car had a flat.”
“Well, you’re in luck! The race starts in twenty minutes. It’s all for charity. The more entrants we have, the more money goes to provide gifts for needy kids in Cheyenne. You don’t have to pay to take part—we just need your athletic prowess. What do you say?”
Charlie and I looked at each other. He shrugged. “Sure. I guess a little run won’t kill us, especially if it’s for a good cause. It’s not far, is it? We have to get back on the road as soon as we can.”
She pointed across the complex to where a red and green banner was being erected. “Just across the lot. You’ll have plenty of time. Let me get your names.” She jotted down the info on her clipboard and passed us two plastic race bibs, both with the number thirty-six.
“Oh, don’t we need different numbers?” I asked.
“Nope! You’ll be racing as a team. See you at the start line in fifteen minutes!” She bustled off.
We looked at each other and shrugged. “Sounds easy enough,” Charlie said, peering at the expanse of the parking lot where the racetrack was being set up. “That’ll be a really quick race.”
Before long, we stood at the starting line in our ridiculous hats with our race numbers on over our matching fleeces. I stared at a race organizer, a man in a Santa suit. “Wait, what? Blindfolded? Piggyback?”
Santa laughed with an actual ho-ho-ho sound. “See, you’re the reindeer and he’s the sleigh.” Santa nodded to Charlie. “He’s got to carry the bags of presents, stay balanced on your back, and give you directions. That’s the challenge.”
“But…I don’t remember Rudolph ever being blindfolded,” I protested.
Santa approached me with a wide strip of gold and red material and tied it around my head.
“Wait. I don’t think this is a good idea,” I insisted.
“Can you see anything?” Santa asked.
“No! That’s why it’s a bad idea.”
“You’re not afraid of the dark, are you? Ho-ho-ho. Good luck, boys!” He slapped me lightly on the back and presumably left.
Charlie’s voice was thick with amusement. “This is like some twisted Christmas S and M fantasy. Little America is kinky.”
“This is ridiculous.” I reached up to take off the blindfold, but someone caught my wrist. “Charlie?”
He was closer now, and I thought I could feel the heat of his body brushing close to mine.
“It’s me. Don’t worry, I won’t let Santa tie you up in his workshop with the elves.
Unless you’re into it.” His fingers were comforting and solid around my wrist. We’d taken off our mitts to eat breakfast, and without the biting wind, hadn’t needed to put them back on.
I wanted to laugh, but my heart thumped violently. He let go of me, and I reached out into open air, exposed and alone. “Charlie?”
His voice was still right there. “Hey, it’s okay. Are you freaking out?” He squeezed the back of my neck with his warm hand. “We don’t have to do this.”
I took a deep breath. “No, it’s okay. I just… This is weird, right?”
“Seriously weird. I bet this Christmas extravaganza is actually a secret sex party for people with a Yuletide fetish.” He took my arm.
“Going to the starting line now.” After about ten steps, he stopped.
“And here’s where things get even weirder.
Crouch down so I can jump on. Those kids better appreciate this. ”
I bent my knees and tipped over, and Charlie’s weight landed on my back. I staggered as I stood straight, hefting him up with my arms under his knees. Having him pressed against me sent tingles zipping all over.
“I seriously have to carry this bag?” Charlie asked someone. He dug his fingers into my right shoulder as his left hand lifted.
A woman’s voice yelled out, “On your marks, get set—go!” A blare from a bullhorn made me jump, and I started running.
“No, no, go left!” Charlie shouted, and I dutifully veered over.
“Not that far!” He bounced around on my back, and I was pretty sure we were going to end up eating concrete.
He said something else I couldn’t make out over the commands of all the other teams and the cheers I assumed were from onlookers.
“I can’t hear you!” I shouted, running as fast as I could even though it didn’t matter who won this bizarre race.
Charlie’s arm went around my neck, and he tugged up my hat, his lips brushing my ear. “More to the right. Oh shit, that guy’s going to hit us! Stop!”
My pulse thrumming, I jolted to a dead halt.
“Okay, run!” His laughter echoed in my ear, his breath hot. “Keep going! A bit to the right.”
I found myself laughing too as we zigzagged across the Little America parking lot. I only knew we’d reached the finish line when the warmth of Charlie’s weight disappeared.
But as he hopped down, our feet got caught and I tumbled to the ground—which was surprisingly bouncy. Charlie flopped on top of me, and I pulled off the blindfold to see that we’d landed on a long inflatable candy cane they were using as a crash mat.
His weight pressed me down, and I could feel him shaking with laughter. I joined in, and I could have stayed there all day giggling with Charlie on that candy cane. We were all tangled up, and as I squirmed onto my back, he grinned down at me in his silly pom-pom hat, the blue making his eyes pop.
My breath caught. He was so beautiful.
“You okay?” My hat had fallen off, and Charlie ran his hand over my head, his fingers gentle as he smoothed out my undoubtedly messy hair. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
The weight of his thigh against mine where we sprawled was wonderful and torturous. I shook my head.
There were other runners stumbling over the finish line, and we had to scoot out of the way as a team careened into the candy cane, shrieking with laughter. Charlie pulled me to my feet and held up his hand for a high five. I smacked his palm.
“We totally got beat by the elf lady.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “She clearly knows her way around a blindfold, I’m just saying. Now let’s get the hell out of here before they ask us to play any more of their reindeer games.”
Charlie
The neon of the twenty-four-hour gas station beckoned us off the interstate just before midnight. I consulted the map on my phone. “We’re close to Lincoln. Not bad.”
Gavin pulled up to one of the pumps. “Too bad it took until past noon for that new tire. I still need to call the rental company. Ugh. I hate dealing with—” He waved his hand and chuckled. “Grownup stuff. I guess I should get used to it, huh?”
I smiled. “Yeah. Good thing we both have credit cards. My limit’s a thousand bucks, so we’d better not blow any more tires.”
While Gavin pulled on his fleece and filled up the tank, I shrugged mine over my hoodie, shivering as I headed into the station to stock up our supply of Doritos, sour cream and onion chips, gummy bears, Reese’s, Red Bull, and Cokes.
I’d slept for a couple hours through the endless, snow-packed flatness of Nebraska, and it was my turn to drive.
Yawning widely, I bought the snacks and headed outside with the bathroom key, regretting not bringing my Little America mitts and hat.
I realized I was smiling to myself as I turned around the dark corner of the gas station.
After that nutso blindfolded run, things with Gavin had been…
pretty cool. Better than. We were maybe friends again and—
My feet flew out from under me, and I cartwheeled my arms uselessly on my way to slamming onto the concrete, the bathroom key and plastic bag sailing from my grasp.
I managed to keep my head up on impact, but my lungs didn’t work, frozen as the air rushed out of me.
Little pebbles dug into the back of my skull as I laid there, and the ground was freezing through my jeans.
And apparently motherfucking icy. Good to know.
It was so cold, but I couldn’t seem to make my limbs move, or my lungs expand. Everything hurt, and I managed a little gasp and whimper. Owwww.
“Charlie? Did you say something?” Gavin’s voice was distant.
I must have yelped when I fell. I tried to answer, but speech was beyond me in that moment.
He called my name again, and then I heard the thud-thud-thud of rapidly approaching footsteps.
Gavin’s face blotted out my view of the Big Dipper beyond the brick side of the gas station. “Charlie! Are you okay?”
I managed to grit out, “Fucking ice.”
His face pinched, Gavin gently ran his palm over my head, brushing the back of my skull with his fingertips and sending a shiver down my spine.
His breath puffed out over my cheeks, summery sweet in the frosty air.
“Does it hurt?” He grimaced. “I mean, of course it hurts. Can you get up? Should I call an ambulance?”
My lungs were hauling in more air now, and I shook my head gingerly as I pushed myself up. My voice was reedy. “I’m okay. Just knocked the wind out of me.”
Gavin wrapped his arm around my back. “Are you sure? You might have a concussion.” He held up a fist. “How many fingers?”
“None. Nice try.” His arm was strong and solid around me, and I leaned into him where he knelt on the concrete. I took a deep breath, and the faint scent of a woodsy cologne mixed with pure Gavin made my head spin. I wished to hell it was a concussion, but it was so much worse.
I shoved myself to my feet, and he gripped my elbow with a smile that dimpled his goddamn cheeks.
“Good thing you’ve got a hard head, right?”
I managed a smile back before shuffling to the bathroom, which of course was locked.
“Can you see the key anywhere?” It still hurt to talk, but everything was loosening up again.
Shit, I’d forgotten what it was like having the wind thumped out of you.
It had happened all the time in hockey, but I hadn’t played since Ava got sick.
Gavin pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight. “Got it.” He unlocked the door for me, which really wasn’t necessary. “Are you sure you’re okay? Um…do you need help?” He hovered beside me.
Part of me wanted to keep him at arm’s length and bite out something sarcastic about having handled my dick without him all these years. But I just quietly said, “I’m good. Thanks.”
“Okay. I can keep driving, and we’ll see how your head feels.”
“I landed on my back. Seriously, I’m fine. I’ll pop some ibuprofen.”
He twisted his lips. “Let’s just make sure. I’ll get a Red Bull. It’s all good.”
“Oh, I bought some. Shit.” I eyed the contents of the plastic bag, which were now strewn over the pavement.
“I’ll get it all.” He carefully picked his way over the icy patch while I leaned in the doorway watching, even though I should hurry up and piss already since we were losing time. Then Gavin turned back, his brow furrowed. “Sure you didn’t break anything?”
Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded, and he stooped over to pick up the snacks. It was true—my bones were intact, still knitted tightly together. But in that moment under the brittle expanse of Nebraska winter sky, I knew my heart was doomed all over again.