Chapter 4
ELI
I glare daggers at Nathan. If I could stab him right now, I would.
He ignores me and speaks to the fifth towing company he’s called, and by the way his shoulders slump, there isn’t much hope of this one coming to our rescue either. As predicted, he hangs up, turns towards me, and shakes his head.
I know it isn’t his fault that his tire blew, nor the fact that his car doesn’t come with a spare one. It could have happened to anyone, but being angry at Nathan is a whole lot easier than focusing on the panic that was slowly rising.
His uncle can’t even come to pick us up because, apparently, he’s vacationing somewhere overseas. I want to scream and ask what the whole point of going to the cabin was if nobody was going to be there, but he looks stressed enough as it is. I hug my pillow and look out the window instead.
Mom texts me for an update, and I text her we’re out of luck.
All the towing companies in the area have been bombarded with requests, and there isn’t a single person available to save us until who knows when.
Apparently, a popped tire on the side of a rural road isn’t enough for us to be moved up the list when there are cars trapped in the middle of the highway.
Mom’s texting bubbles bounce before disappearing, then Nathan’s phone rings with a call.
“Hey, Dad,” he answers, sounding tired.
It raises just enough sympathy for me to stop shooting daggers at him, but I’m still angry. We wouldn’t be in this mess if we’d stayed on the highway instead of driving down this unmaintained country road.
I can only hear half of the conversation. He’s telling his dad we’re near his uncle’s cabin and that we’re both fine.
I snort out a huff. He may be fine, but I’m not. Being stuck somewhere with Nathan is basically my worst nightmare come true.
“No, you don’t need to come get us. I don’t want you driving in this weather,” he tells his dad in a hurry.
At least that’s one thing we can agree on. As much as it kills me to be here with Nathan, the last thing I want is for Mom and Gerald to get into an accident on their way to get us.
I quickly shoot Mom a text telling her not to go out in this weather and that we’re fine.
“We’ll go to Uncle Anthony’s cabin and keep trying the towing companies,” he continues. He peeks at me, and I glare back.
If he thinks I’m leaving the car in this weather, he has another thing coming to him.
He and his dad speak for a few more seconds before ending the call. He turns to me, and I cross my arms tightly over my pillow.
“I’m not leaving this car,” I say and he gives me a helpless expression.
I know I’m being bratty, but I don’t care. If he didn’t want to deal with my attitude, he shouldn’t have taken a detour. Or better yet, he should have refused to drive me to the cabin altogether!
His being stranded here by himself is just what he deserves, but I would be freaking out if I were alone in this situation, so I don’t say anything. I might hate the man, but I’m not evil.
“The cabin is about a mile down the road,” he reasons. His tone is soft, like he’s trying to soothe a kid throwing a tantrum, and that ruffles my feathers even more.
“With how high we have the heat cranked up, the car’s gonna run out of gas before we can get someone out here.”
“You couldn’t have filled up at the handful of gas stations we passed earlier?” I snap back.
He shrugs and turns to grab his coat and backpack from the back seat. He shifts awkwardly in his seat to dress in his layers. Beanie, scarf, long jacket. He looks like he walked straight out of a winter fashion magazine.
Nathan turns off the car’s engine, and the chill immediately sets in.
A gust of wind has me shivering when he opens his door.
The snow is coming down thick, and even though it’s still a while before sunset, it’s dark and gray.
It’s the perfect weather to be snuggled up under and blanket and drinking hot chocolate.
Instead, I’m stranded on the side of the road with the person I like least in this world.
“C’mon,” he throws over his shoulder before exiting the car and leaving me alone.
I don’t move. I’m still processing the situation I’m in as I angrily watch him walk away. I wonder if he’s going to leave me behind. I wouldn’t put it past him.
To my surprise, he stops a couple feet ahead of the car and turns back. Our eyes meet through the car’s icy windshield. He doesn’t look impatient despite probably freezing his balls off out there.
He just…waits.
I contemplate being stubborn and staying put. Maybe he’ll leave. Maybe he’ll turn into an ice cube.
I don’t know which one I’d prefer.
When he doesn’t budge from his spot and blows warm steam on his reddening hands, I let out a loud groan. It echoes in the car for a second before I’m tugging on my winter coat and opening my door. I sling my backpack over my shoulders.
My pillow comes with me, too. It’s now my emotional support item. Plus, it’s an extra layer against the cold, ’cause boy, is it fucking freezing out here. My balls are retreating back inside my body, and my teeth are clattering.
I zip my coat up as high as it can go, but it doesn’t help much.
It’s snowing so hard that snow is accumulating in my hair.
Of course my coat doesn’t have a hood on it, and I didn’t bring a hat.
I have a hoodie, but it’s shoved somewhere inside my large suitcase, and trying to take everything out to get it is not happening.
I wasn’t expecting to actually be out in the elements. The plan was to go from car to cabin, then live in warm pajamas for the next week. Which is also why I’m wearing sneakers that do nothing to keep me warm or help keep me upright, for that matter.
I take a step forward and almost slide on the icy road. I’m like a doe, wobbly on unsteady feet and flailing my free arm in the air. The other one still clutches my pillow.
I manage to steady myself before falling, but not before making a fool of myself in front of Nathan.
“You okay?” he asks, confirming that he witnessed the entire thing.
He’s right in front of me now, but I can’t force myself to look at his probably smug expression. I stare at his feet instead. He’s wearing winter boots. Of course he is. God forbid I catch the man unprepared.
“Fine,” I mutter, my face burning. “Let’s just go.”
I try to go around him, but he catches my arm.
“What?” I ask, not turning back to look at him.
He doesn’t answer, and he doesn’t let go of my arm either. Instead, he dusts off the thin layer of snow that’s already settled in my hair.
That fucking enrages me. I may be a year younger than him, but what right does he have to treat me like some kid? Does he think that I’m such a mess that I can’t take care of myself?
I’m about to turn around and curse him out, then something warm lands over my head. I’m so stunned by his actions that I’m frozen as he wraps his scarf around my neck, too. His body heat still lingers on the soft fabric, and being wrapped up in his scarf feels like I’m being caressed by his warmth.
It’s only when he tucks my ears under his beanie that I’m shocked back into action. I flinch away from him, which of course causes me to lose balance and almost fall again. Nathan is close enough this time to catch me. I fall backwards onto his solid chest.
“Careful,” he rumbles, and his warm breath heats my skin. His arm is firm against my lower belly as he holds me against him.
My heartbeat kicks up, and the blood rushes in my ears. I’ve never been this close to him before. It’s always been my motto to stay as far away from him as possible, and that’s the only reason my body is reacting this way.
“I’m fine,” I grit out and push myself out of his arms. I turn around and sneer up at him. “And I don’t need your pity. I can take care of myself.”
Tugging his beanie off my head, I shove it towards him. He doesn’t take it and shrugs. He pulls up the hoodie of his jacket and shoves his hands into the pockets.
“C’mon, it’s freezing out here,” he says and takes a step around me. He stops to throw over his shoulder, “I’d tell you to hold on to me so you don’t fall, but I have a feeling you’d throw a fit. So at least walk beside me so I can catch you before you slip on the ice and break your neck.”
He turns around before I can reply. I’m so stunned my mouth is hanging open.
“I don’t throw fits!” I shout as I catch up with him. “And I don’t need your help.”
He peers out of the corner of his eye at me. “Okay,” is all he says in reply. But his steps are noticeably slower than I’m used to seeing from him. I catch him peeking at me every so often, like he’s making sure I’m still upright.
It’s like he’s actually concerned about me…and I don’t know how to feel about that.