Chapter 8
Colin
I didn’t see much of Dakota in the week following our kiss, despite my best efforts to get home early and catch him.
We waved to each other in passing a couple of times, but I spent most of the week finishing up my lights display, perfecting and tweaking and adjusting the last few pieces.
On Friday afternoon, the day after Thanksgiving, I spotted him pulling into the driveway while I was plugging in my display.
He stopped and waved, so I gestured for him to come say hi.
“Hey there,” he said, a big grin on his face. “This looks amazing.”
I shrugged in an attempt to look casual. “Thanks. Just put the finishing touches on.”
A cold gust of wind blew, making Dakota shiver in his Henley and jeans. “Getting cold,” he said. “I thought Port Grandlin was supposed to be in the south.”
I laughed. “I think we’re south enough to be ‘the south’ and north enough to get a little snow. Oh! Speaking of snow, did you see the weather forecast? We’re supposed to get some this weekend. Starting tonight, I think.”
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows. “I don't think so.”
With a nod, I gestured toward my house. “Yeah, it could be a pretty severe storm. I have a little backup generator, so I should be covered.”
“I thought November was too early for snow,” he grumbled. “I know they get snowstorms in West Virginia this time of year, but down here?” He shrugged. “I doubt we’ll see much.”
“You’re probably right,” I agreed, “but better safe than sorry.”
“Too bad Lina is with her mom this weekend. She’s a snow fanatic. I love building snowmen with her.”
“Well, maybe you’ll get your chance later this season,” I said hopefully.
He glanced down at his watch briefly, which was lit up with a notification. “Oh, shit. I’ve got to go. I promised I’d go to trivia night with Robbie.”
Laughing, I waved him away. “Don’t want to be late.”
He hesitated, though, lingering like he couldn’t tear his gaze from me. Or maybe I was just projecting. “You wanna come with?”
Did I? Did I want to spend the evening with the guy I had a crush on and his best friend? I worried I’d end up feeling out of place, like a third wheel. “Nah, that’s okay. I have a big night of plans with Edgar and Poe. Thanks for the invite though. Next time?”
He nodded and pointed at me. “Next time.” Another notification from his watch and he sighed. “Okay, I really do have to go. See you later.”
I waved goodbye and watched as he jogged back to his house, trying to suppress the longing I felt for him. Instead of wallowing, I plugged the last extension cord in and headed inside to flip the switch and turn on my Christmas light display for the first time of the season.
I watched with childlike joy as the lights illuminated, the yard a glittering wonderland.
Each tree was wrapped, there were dozens of figurines, and the yard was edged in strands of light.
The house glowed, evident even from the inside because of the way the lights trimmed the windows.
I sighed with happiness and made my way to the living room to watch some TV and cuddle with the cats awhile before bed, where I was sure to dream of Dakota and that kiss.
I woke in the middle of the night, shivering in the dark, and immediately recognized what had happened.
“Well, I guess I was right,” I mumbled sleepily as I got up and grabbed an extra blanket for the bed.
I wondered how long the power had been out, but didn’t want to put too much effort into figuring it out and ruining my night’s sleep.
Soon enough, I was snuggling in with Edgar, Poe sleeping at my feet, and I fell back to sleep quickly.
The next morning, sun peeking through a crack in my blackout curtains, I woke up with a yawn and a stretch.
It was noticeably colder, and I lay there for a long time, enjoying the warmth of the down comforter, reluctant to get out of bed, listening to the wind howl outside my window.
I opened the curtains and pulled up the blinds so I could watch the snowstorm rage outside.
Eventually, I made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do what I needed to do, shivering as my bare feet touched the cold tile floor.
As soon as that was done, I hurried back to bed, practically diving under the covers again.
I spent most of the day like that, scrolling on my phone, listening to the storm, and giving Edgar and Poe some love.
I was super grateful that they had a battery-operated automatic feeder in the kitchen, so I didn’t have to get up and make sure they were fed.
What finally got me out of bed again, sometime mid-afternoon, was a knock on the door.
I glanced outside and saw the storm had died down enough that I could see the street—or, at least, where the street was supposed to be—and figured a neighbor had come to check on me or ask for help with their generator or something.
Reluctant to get out of my cozy nest, I pulled my favorite fluffy bathrobe on to cover my T-shirt and basketball shorts and made my way to the front door barefoot. Poe followed me, meowing for attention and probably treats.
“I know, I know, honey.” I scooped her up in my arms before opening the door. She was an escape artist and would be likely to dash outside if I didn’t.
Another knock sounded just before I opened the door, and when I swung it open, Dakota stood on the other side, a sheepish look on his face.
“Hi,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “So it looks like my skepticism was rewarded with the biggest snowstorm we’ve ever seen in this town in November.”
I laughed and nodded. “It looks like it was.” He shifted from one foot to the other and for a moment, we were silent, watching each other, before I remembered that he was standing in a literal blizzard. “You want to come in?”
With a sigh of relief, he nodded. “Yes, please.”
I stepped aside to let him in and that’s when I noticed that he had a large cooler with him, which he nudged with his toe. “Should I leave this here?”
I frowned. “What’s in it?”
“Perishables.” When I frowned again, he launched into an explanation. “Food. I’m afraid it’ll spoil if the power’s out too long, and you said you have a generator, so I thought we could cook together. Or, I can cook for you, I mean. I don’t want to give you extra work or anything.”
I laughed softly and tilted my head toward the inside. “Leave it there and we’ll get things out as needed. It’s colder outside than it is inside.”
He kicked snow off of his boots before he came in, and then slid them off and put them to the side while I shut the door behind him. “Thank you so much. I’m glad Lina’s with her mom now. I didn’t expect the power to go out.”
“It happens. That’s why so many of us have generators. The occasional winter storm, hurricane season sometimes. Hell, even a strong summer storm can knock out the power when it takes down trees.”
“Guess I’m getting a generator as soon as the road is passable.”
I laughed again and shook my head, putting Poe down.
She immediately darted away, back toward the bedroom, her usual behavior when new people were in the house.
“You don’t want to do that. The best time to buy is spring.
Prices are best then. Right now, the big box hardware store will jack up the prices, and at the locally-owned hardware store, they’ll be out of stock. ”
Dakota sighed and shrugged out of his winter coat. “Fair.”
“Here,” I said, gesturing to the couch. “Have a seat. I’ll get some blankets.”
“You don’t want to run the generator yet?”
I shook my head. “I usually only turn it on in the evenings when this happens. Conserve gas as much as possible. Then again, I’m usually alone.”
His gaze dropped to my mouth for a second before coming back up to meet my eyes. “You’re not alone now,” he murmured.
My stomach flipped and my breath caught in my throat for a second. I swallowed hard and nodded. “Blankets,” I repeated before turning and hurrying out of the room.