Chapter 5
EMMARIE
H er phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting her awake for the third day in a row. Emmarie groaned, reaching for it, her fingers brushing the screen to find a line of missed calls from her dad. She blinked against the soft morning light filtering through her blinds, glancing out the window at the world beyond. The blizzard had finally settled, leaving the campus blanketed in fresh snow. Sunlight glinted off the icy rooftops and covered sidewalks, a peaceful silence stretching across the landscape.
She typed a quick message to her mom, I’m fine, but could Dad give me some space? Almost immediately, her mom tried to call. Emmarie bit her lip, hesitated, then let the call ring through, texting back instead: Love you, I’ll call later. She placed the phone down with a sigh, the cold seeping in through the window and clearing her mind.She loved her parents, but her father seemed unwilling to understand why she was upset about her ex and his family being invited, and her mother never went against her dad. ‘You know how he is,’ was a common excuse; one Emmarie was tired of having to accept.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. When she opened it, Miles was there, leaning against the frame, his cheeks flushed pink from the cold, a grin lighting up his face. Snowflakes dotted his sandy hair, and his brown eyes sparkled with warmth. He was tall, built like the football player he was, and the easy way he looked at her made the tension she’d been holding onto slip away.
“Come on,” he said, nodding toward the hallway. “Get dressed. Time to enjoy the snow.”
She tilted her head with a smile, crossing her arms. “Why?”
“Because it’s the first big snow of the year, and that’s not something you just stay inside for,” he replied, flashing his dimples.
“You’re crazy you know that?”
He shrugged, his grin widening. “Just get dressed”
She laughed, closing the door to get ready. She pulled on her fleece-lined leggings, a long-sleeved shirt, her coziest sweater, puffer jacket, gloves, and her favorite beanie. When she opened the door, he was still waiting, giving her a once-over and grinning in approval. “Prepare for the best snow day of your life,” he teased.
Outside, the air was crisp, each breath a puff of white in the cold morning air. She took in the sight of the campus, a wide, undisturbed field of snow stretching in every direction. Before she could take a step, Miles suddenly dropped backward, arms and legs flailing out to create a giant snow angel. She laughed, watching him carve out the shape in the untouched snow, his broad frame leaving a big, slightly uneven angel behind.
“Seriously?” she said, giggling as he struggled to stand without ruining his creation.
“Gotta appreciate the classics,” he said, brushing the snow off and nodding toward her with a grin. “Your turn.”
With a laugh, Emmarie dropped back into the snow, her smaller figure creating a much daintier angel beside his. She flapped her arms and legs, feeling the cold seep through her coat but not caring, too caught up in the moment. When she sat up, they both surveyed their work: two angels side by side, one large and one small, leaning slightly toward each other.
Miles scooped up a handful of snow, eyes glinting with mischief. Before she could react, he lobbed it at her, the snow hitting her jacket with a soft thud.
“Oh, it’s on!” she cried, grabbing her own handful and sending it flying his way. He dodged easily, and she sent another snowball, watching as it barely missed him. He laughed, ducking and running as she tried to keep up, her heart racing as they fell into a snowball fight. She managed to land a few hits, though she couldn’t shake the feeling he was letting her win—no way she could keep up with an athlete like him otherwise.
After a few minutes, they were breathless, cheeks flushed and laughter spilling into the cold air. Miles stood a few steps away, dusting snow from his shoulders, his hair windswept and cheeks pink. Emmarie looked at him, something warm settling in her chest as she took in the sight of him.
The memory of the night before slipped into her mind, his voice soft and sure as he told her, You matter to me, Emmarie. The words had been a comfort, lingering in her heart as they laughed and talked late into the evening. Standing there now, watching him smile at her, those words felt even more real, grounding her in a way that made the world feel a little less cold.
Miles met her gaze, his smile fading into something softer. He took a step closer, his brown eyes searching hers as if waiting for some signal. Her heart pounded, her breath catching as she watched him move toward her, the space between them disappearing until they were close enough to see each other’s breath mingling in the cold air.
He lifted a hand to brush a stray snowflake from her cheek, his fingers warm even through the chill. Her gaze dropped to his mouth, then flicked back up to his eyes, her pulse quickening. His hand lingered at her cheek, a gentle, steadying presence that filled her with warmth.
Without another thought, she tilted her face up, closing the last inch between them as her lips met his. The kiss was soft at first, gentle and warm, his lips soft against hers, his hand cradling her cheek. She felt the world fade around them, her heart pounding as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, his other arm wrapping around her waist. She melted into him, feeling the strength in his embrace, his warmth seeping through her coat, her heart racing in the cold winter air.