Chapter 23 Melody #2
Finn gasps dramatically and staggers backward, one hand clutching his chest where my snowballs hit. His other hand flies to his forehead in a theatrical gesture.
“I am hit!” he cries in an exaggerated British accent. “The light! I see the light coming for me!”
He drops to his knees, his face a mask of theatrical agony. Oxford steps back, clearly confused by this turn of events.
“Tell Gabe,” Finn continues, voice wavering as he reaches toward me with trembling fingers, “tell him that my last thoughts were of his magnificent cock.”
I’m laughing so hard I can barely stand up straight.
“I die, Horatio,” he gasps, switching characters entirely. “The potent poison quite o’er-crows my spirit!” He collapses face-first into the snow, then immediately rolls onto his back.
“The rest,” he whispers, extending his arms like a snow angel, “is silence.”
With that, he goes completely limp, tongue lolling out of his mouth comically.
Oxford approaches cautiously, sniffing at Finn’s apparently lifeless form. When Finn doesn’t move, the llama nudges him with his nose.
“He’s dead, Oxford,” I say solemnly, playing along. “The great Finn has fallen in battle.”
Oxford makes a soft humming noise that sounds suspiciously like skepticism.
Suddenly, Finn’s eyes pop open. “Actually, I’ve changed my mind. I’m Beth from Little Women now.” He coughs delicately into his hand. “I’m not afraid to die. I can be brave like you, Jo.” His voice has gone soft and sweet, his expression angelic. “Don’t cry, dear Jo. Don’t cry. I’m so happy.”
He gives one last gentle sigh, then closes his eyes again, his face a picture of peaceful acceptance.
I’m wheezing with laughter now, tears forming in the corners of my eyes. “That was… that was…”
“Oscar-worthy?” Finn supplies without opening his eyes.
“Fabulous,” I manage between giggles.
“Thank you, I’ll be here all week,” he murmurs, still playing dead. “Actually, I’m contractually obligated to stay here until New Year’s.”
A snowball whizzes past my ear, reminding me that we’re still in the middle of a battle. I dive behind Oxford just as another snowball flies by.
“Incoming!” I yell, grabbing my remaining ammunition.
The next few minutes are a blur of flying snow, tactical maneuvers, and Oxford looking positively cheerful, blocking snowballs, and charging at Gabe, who doesn’t even flinch.
Eventually, Gabe takes me out, and it comes down to him against Everett.
“Surrender?” Everett calls.
“Never,” Gabe responds.
They both launch snowballs simultaneously, but Everett is a fraction faster, hitting Gabe’s snowball out of the air with a quick follow-up to the chest.
“We did it!” I shout, jumping up and down in victory. “We are the snow champions!”
“Look at Oxford,” Finn calls out. “He looks like he’s doing the bunny hop!”
Oxford vaults forward and upward on all fours, ears flopping and eyes bright, looking like he’s having the time of his life. I’ve never seen him this playful before; his usual dignified demeanor is completely gone as he jumps around.
“Go Oxford,” I yell as I join him in the excitement and attempt a twerking victory dance, but misjudge my footing on the slippery slope. One second, I’m upright, the next I’m falling backward, arms pinwheeling uselessly.
“Melody!” Everett lunges toward me, somehow maneuvering himself beneath me as I fall.
I land on top of him with an “oof,” knocking the breath out of both of us. With neither of our boots on the ground, Everett’s slick snowsuit provides no grip, and we begin sliding down the hillside.
“Hold on!” he yells, wrapping his arms around me as the slope gets steeper and we pick up speed.
I’m using my alpha as a sled!
I’m screaming and laughing, my face buried against Everett’s chest as the world spins around us.
We slow down at the bottom of the hill and are showered in a layer of glittering snow as we bump into a small bush. Everett’s warmth radiates from beneath me, and I brush the snow from his cheeks. We are both breathless with laughter.
I’m exhilarated. Happy. Alive. I’ve never felt so present in a moment, so completely myself.
His face is inches from mine, cheeks flushed from cold and laughter, snowflakes clinging to his eyelashes. Without overthinking it, I close the distance between us and press my lips to his.
He responds with enthusiasm, one hand coming up to cup the back of my neck. His lips are surprisingly warm against mine, gentle but insistent, tasting faintly of peppermint.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard.
From the top of the hill, I hear Finn call down, “Get a room… and don’t forget to invite us, but preferably somewhere warm. My internal organs are turning into popsicles!”
I laugh, “Hot chocolate for the fallen warrior?” I stand up, brushing myself off, and Everett jumps up beside me, grabbing my hand and eagerly leading me back to the others.
“With marshmallows. Many, many marshmallows. And possibly whipped cream. And caramel. Basically, I need a cup of diabetes.”
Oxford hums in agreement.
“Even the llama thinks I deserve compensation for my trauma,” Finn declares.
“Oxford just recognizes a kindred dramatic spirit,” I tell him, as we make our way towards the grand cabin.
Oxford trots ahead of us up the porch steps, waiting by the door.
“Your Majesty,” I say with an exaggerated bow as I swing the door wide. Oxford inclines his head regally before entering and immediately makes his way to his plush bed, turning in a circle before settling down with a contented sigh.
“I’ll start the hot chocolate,” I offer, unwinding my scarf and hanging it on the hook by the door.
“I’ll help,” Everett says quickly, following me to the kitchen.
“We’ll just… supervise from here,” Finn calls, already sprawled on the couch with Gabe beside him. “My legs have officially gone on strike.”
The kitchen feels like a sanctuary as Everett and I move around each other, gathering mugs and ingredients. I’m hyperaware of every time we brush against each other, every shared glance, every small smile.
“So,” he says finally, voice low enough that the others can’t hear. “That happened.”
“It did,” I confirm, focusing very intently on measuring cocoa powder. “Any regrets?”
“Only that it took a near-death sledding experience to make it happen.”
I look up, finding his eyes warm and sincere. “For the record, I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you.”
Everett steps closer, his voice dropping even lower. “About what’s happening here, with all of us, I mean.”
Heat rushes to my face.
“Are you okay with everything? With this… arrangement we’re exploring? Gabe told me about this morning.” It’s his turn to blush now.
“I’m more than okay with it. It’s fast and unexpected, sure. But it also feels… right somehow. Like I was supposed to end up here without my family and find you all.”
The smile that breaks across his face is breathtaking.
“Good. That’s really good.” He grabs me by the waist and pulls me in for another kiss.
This one is slow and lingering; my arms wrap up around his neck, and my body is pressed firmly against his.
I get lost in his kiss, feeling it all the way down to my toes.
His hands explore my body, making me absolutely melt.
I would keep kissing him forever, but Finn calling from the living room makes us jump apart like we’d been caught doing something naughty.
“Hey!” Finn’s voice carries from the living room. “Did you have to grow the cocoa beans yourselves? What’s taking so long?”
“Patience is a virtue, Finnigan!” I call back, making Everett chuckle beside me while I blush furiously.
We carry the hot chocolate to the living room, where Finn makes grabby hands toward the largest mug.
“Bless you,” he says fervently after his first sip. “I might live after all.”
I settle on the couch between Everett and Gabe, and marvel at how natural it feels to be nestled between them. Finn sits on the floor by Gabe’s legs, leaning back against the couch, and my hand finds its way to the back of his neck, making gentle, massaging circles on his skin.
“What’s next on your Christmas activities list?” Everett asks, his thumb tracing soft circles on my hand.
“Hmm,” I pretend to think. “I believe ‘survive Snow War and kiss an alpha’ was actually today’s goal, so I’m ahead of schedule.”
“Overachiever,” Finn teases.
I smile.
Three men and a llama who somehow feels like the final piece of our strange, perfect puzzle.