Chapter FifteenFischer
Chapter Fifteen
Fischer
Things are going well? Yes, that’s a question.
I’m honestly on the verge of panicking because the last few hours have been some of my best in a long time.
Maybe in my life. I’ve moved from scared to touch Micah to practically holding her in my arms, and she seems to like being there.
At least, she hasn’t moved since our conversation about her book, so I have to assume she’s content if nothing else.
When my phone stopped being interesting, I started reading her book along with her even though she reads a lot faster than I do.
I catch enough to get the basic idea. And though I still think parts of it are ridiculous, I love the way Micah dives headfirst into the story.
Honestly, she’s more entertaining than the book is, and every sigh and laugh and barely concealed squeal make me wonder what I’m missing.
Regardless, I can’t think of a better way to spend a snowy evening than cuddled up with Micah while she escapes into a world that makes her happy.
I can almost imagine a future like this, and that’s dangerous.
“Excuse me?”
Micah yelps at the same time I grab her to protect her from whoever just snuck up behind us. I crane my neck over my shoulder while I crush her to my chest, glaring at the man standing halfway across the lobby.
“Who are you?” I growl. “How did you get in here?”
Frowning, he points behind him. “The door was unlocked? Are you not open?”
“Do we look like we’re open?”
Micah wiggles herself free from my hold and scrambles to her feet, putting on her winning smile. “We can be open if we need to be. How did you get here?”
He points again, only this time the door behind him opens, and a couple dozen people start filing into the lodge in a flurry of snow.
“The bus got stuck in the snow down the road, and someone saw lights. This place was an answer to a lot of prayers. We thought we were gonna freeze to death out there.”
I curse under my breath as I take in the families huddled together. One lady carries a baby. None of them look dressed for the weather, and all of them look terrified.
“Then we’re definitely open,” Micah says. “Everyone, come in! The fire is nice and warm.”
I grab her hand right as she takes a step toward the group. “What are you doing?”
She blinks at me. “I’m going to get them all settled in.”
“The lodge is barely functional.”
“Do you expect me to send them back out into the snow?” She pops a hand on her hip that inspires more amusement than intimidation.
I fold my arms to show her what actual intimidation looks like. “Of course not. But we’re not equipped to check them all into a room.”
“That’s what you think.” Now that I’ve let go of her, Micah hurries over to the nearest family and takes the baby out of the woman’s arms. “How many do you have with you?” she asks.
I know better than to think there’s any stopping her, so I turn to Kenny, who raises his eyebrows at me.
“You’d better go claim your room before she gives it away,” I tell him.
I should probably think about my own room and plush bed, but with how many people just walked through that door, I know there’s no chance of me getting a good night’s sleep tonight.
Let’s hope Micah is up for driving back tomorrow, assuming the storm even lets up by then.
Leaving Micah to organize the frazzled travelers, I head back to the kitchen to see if there’s anything we can offer.
We’ve already eaten a good portion of what was here, but there might be enough supplies to make something semi-edible.
I can’t claim to be much of a cook, but the internet was built for—
The lodge goes dark.
Several people—mostly kids—scream in the lobby, and I grit my teeth.
This is not what we need right now, especially because the fireplaces in the lobby are all gas-powered and connected to the power grid.
I’m not sure we can get them back on without electricity.
Suddenly I understand the appeal of wood-burning fireplaces, though I’m not a huge fan of the smoky smell that comes with them.
Flipping on the flashlight on my phone, I head back to the lobby and run smack into a person. Based on the floral smell, it’s Micah, and I hold her for a second to give me the strength to keep pushing forward.
“The power went out,” she whispers, nestling into my chest in a way that makes me slightly dizzy. I like holding her a lot more than I should, and this is asking for trouble.
“I noticed.”
“What are we going to do?”
“Whatever we can. Beyond that, we’ll just have to hope the storm doesn’t last long.”
She shivers, her fingers curling around my shirt. “Okay. Okay, we can do this. I’m going to gather everyone together in the lobby and we’ll make a plan.”
I never thought I would be the type to be attracted to someone taking charge with confidence, but as Micah stands up straighter, barely visible in the light from my phone, she’s possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.
The temptation to grab her and kiss her like there’s no tomorrow washes over me, and it’s Kenny who keeps me from making that mistake.
“Do you know if there are any lanterns or flashlights anywhere?” he asks from somewhere in the darkness. “I might have something in the car, but I’m not eager to go out into that storm now that it’s dark.”
I clear my throat, pulling away from Micah before I completely lose my mind. “If there is, it will be in the storage room at the end of the hall.”
Another phone light turns on, and Kenny wanders away, weaving through the people huddled together. Then everyone turns to face us, waiting to be told what to do.
If I’d been here on my own, I would jump into leader mode, but something holds me back.
Micah holds me back. She’s probably so much more capable of handling this nightmare than I am, especially because I am quickly losing any bit of energy I have left.
This has been an incredibly long day, and it’s far from over.
“Tell us what to do,” I tell Micah, fumbling for her hand in the darkness. “You’re in charge.”
She winces but stands up straighter, her eyes growing bright with determination. “Okay, here’s the plan.”
Ten minutes later, I’m ready to punch someone. “No, she said the families with kids get the rooms first,” I growl at the man who is currently in my face, as if talking close enough that I can smell his breath will make me want to listen to him more.
“But I need a bed or my neck will hurt.”
“I’m already dealing with a pain in my neck,” I mutter. “Sir, if you can just be patient—”
“Who is your manager? Is this how you treat your guests?”
I glance at Micah, who is across the lobby directing a pair of elderly women to their room with a smile. I would rather deal with this idiot myself, but I have a feeling she would be a lot more effective. “You’re not a paying guest,” I tell him. “None of you are. The lodge isn’t even open.”
The man doesn’t like that response, narrowing his eyes at me.
The lantern Kenny found only provides so much light, but it’s enough to see his expensive haircut and Patek glittering on his wrist. Why a guy who can afford a watch like that would be taking a Greyhound, I have no idea, but he’s really starting to make me mad.
“You’re telling me you’re going to throw me out into the storm because I haven’t paid you?” he snarls.
“I’m telling you I don’t work here and you’re lucky your bus got stuck where it did or you would be freezing to death right now. If you don’t want a couch to sleep on tonight, that’s fine by me, but your other option is the floor. It’s your choice.”
“You’ll be lucky if you ever work here again,” he tells me, waving his phone in my face.
“Oh no. What will I do.”
“Fischer?” Micah comes up to my side, her eyebrows pulled low. “What seems to be the problem?”
Immediately, the man’s expression softens as he takes her in. “Your colleague seems confused about the sleeping arrangements,” he says without a trace of the animosity he was giving me.
Though she glances at me, Micah keeps most of her focus on my new friend.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Is there a different couch that would suit you better?
They’re all quite comfortable, and I would imagine anything is better than sleeping on a bus, right?
Where were you heading before the storm sent you to us? ”
He splutters, probably overwhelmed by her sweetness. “Uh, California. San Jose, for my mother’s eightieth birthday.”
“Oh no, you’re not going to miss it, are you? I wish we could do more than offer you some warmth while you’re stuck here. She must be so worried about you!”
He turns slightly red. “Uh, no, I have a couple of days before…” Then he turns and heads for his assigned couch, frowning at his feet.
I touch Micah’s arm. “Thanks. He was being…” My words fade away when she wanders off without looking at me. Did I do something wrong? I guess I could have been nicer. “Micah?”
I only make it two steps before a young woman steps in my path, her smile hesitant beneath her doe eyes. “Hey,” she says as she tucks some of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Thanks for all of this. I know you guys aren’t actually open, but we would have been dead if we stayed in the bus.”
“No problem.” Except it is a problem because every time I try to shift so I can keep an eye on Micah, who is now talking to a couple of men who look like they’re in their twenties and absolutely into her, the woman moves in my way.
I’m too tired and too frazzled to deal with this right now. “Did you need something?”
Her smile changes into something flirtier, which immediately puts me even more on edge. “Oh, my friend and I just wanted to see if we could do anything to help. You look pretty stressed. I’m Alice, by the way.” She reaches out and runs her fingers down my forearm.