Chapter 2
TWO
SEBASTIAN
I’m an idiot.
Not only am I an idiot for falling for my best friend’s younger sister years ago, but now I think I’ve entered the realm of stupidity for what I’m willing to do for her.
When Walker called me and told me what was going on, I knew exactly what I was going to do before I even hung up.
Now, standing here with snow coming down behind me, a brisk wind in the air as I hold my jacket closed and knock, I’m wondering if my mother dropped me on my head as a child. That must be the only reason for my behaviour.
I wait anxiously, trying to hear noise on the other side of the door, but nothing.
I knock again, this time harder.
When the wind dies down for a second, I hear a squeak. I knock again.
I smile to myself as I hear Annalise talking to herself about her stupid brother. She eventually pulls open the door, a look of frustration on her face when her jaw drops, and then she promptly slams the door in my face.
Not the reaction I was expecting or hoping for. I knew she wasn’t going to run into my arms and say she was glad to see me, but slamming the door in my face when it’s negative temperatures and snowing seems a little harsh.
I knock again, and she calls through the door, “Go away!”
“No can do, Lise.”
“Tell my brother I’m fine. He didn’t need to send you out here to check on me.”
I’m not about to tell her Walker didn’t send me.
In fact, the man has no idea I packed a bag last night as soon as I got off the phone with him, had a quick four-hour nap, and then was in my car on my way to Whispering Pines.
If Walker knew half the shit I’ve done in the last month, he’d cut my balls off and feed them to me before making my death slow and painful.
I knock again, and this time Annalise pulls the door open so forcefully I’m surprised she doesn’t let it go and make a dent in the damn wall.
“So nice to see you, too, Lise. It’s kind of cold out here. Want to maybe let me in so we can have this conversation somewhere warm?”
She looks me up and down as I exaggerate my teeth chattering and bounce on my toes. She rolls her eyes in a way that looks painful before stepping back and allowing me just enough room to slide past her and step into the living room.
I take in the space; it hasn’t changed much since I was here last time years ago. It still has that homey feeling, the couch facing the fireplace with a TV mounted above it. Blankets lie on almost every sitting surface in the room. A small dining table sits off to the side beside the kitchen.
A bedroom is off the dining area where Annalise and Walker used to sleep, and the stairs lead up to the master bedroom.
The place could use some airing out, seeing as it’s been so long since someone was here.
It’s not a lot warmer inside, I notice, as Annalise wraps her sweater around her tighter.
We’re protected from the wind, but I see there’s no wood beside the fireplace, and the chimney likely hasn’t been cleaned in some time.
Annalise pops a hip and sighs in frustration as she stares at me. Her nose does this cute little twitch it’s always done when she’s frustrated, and it takes everything in me not to bop her on the nose.
“Okay, you got yourself inside. Talk.”
I bite my lip to hold back my smile at her sass and attitude. “I’m here to make sure you’re okay. Roads are bad, figure you could use some help getting the chimney cleaned and some wood chopped.”
She gnaws on her lips, and I know it’s to fight off the thought that I’m right. As much as I know she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself, she’d probably choose to bundle up in excess clothing and blankets rather than try to clean the fireplace.
“I’m fine,” she says. “I can take care of myself.”
I nod and shove my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels. “So, you’re not worried about what little woodland creatures could have made a home inside the chimney in all the years since you’ve been here?”
Her eyes widen, and she moves her head to go look at the fireplace before stopping herself and looking back at me. “I don’t plan to deprive them of their home,” she says, voice tight with discomfort.
Based on the reception I received when I first got here, I know the only way I can get her to let me stay is by pushing this.
“So, you’re not worried about them venturing out in the middle of the night while you’re sleeping? I’m sure that whatever decided to make a home in there is probably nocturnal.”
I watch the shiver travel through her and know I just need to push a little more.
“If you’d like to wake up to some uninvited guests of the more fury variety, I guess that’s up to you.”
My stomach tightens as I turn and take a step towards the front door. When Annalise’s delicate fingers wrap around my wrist, stopping me, relief floods me. The feel of her skin on mine is like a zap to my system. I want her hands in more places than just my wrist.
I shake my head slightly before turning to face Annalise again, cocking my head but making no attempt to remove my wrist from her grip.
She sighs, and my lips twitch, but I hold back my smile.
“Fine. Can you please help clean the fireplace?”
“Why yes, Annalise, I’d love to.”
She glares at me, and I find myself taking a step closer, watching as her head tips back to keep looking at me. I fight the urge to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear or run the backs of my fingers down her cheek. Instead, I say, “I’m much better company than whatever may be in there.”
She rolls her eyes and takes a step back, dropping my wrist. I immediately miss her touch.
Hooking a thumb over her shoulder, she says, “I’m going to head upstairs. Let me know if you need anything.”
I watch her hurry up the stairs before getting to work on cleaning the fireplace.