Chapter 6
KEZ
“Why are you calling me so late?” Paige angrily whispers on the other line, voice thick with sleep.
“What are you? Seven years old? It’s only midnight,” I say through shivers I can’t control. This thin blanket is useless.
I sent Paige ten text messages about today’s chain of events and received zilch in return. Of course, I called. What if my Butch Bestie had an emergency? Plus, my fingers are too cold to type.
She mumbles words in Spanish that I don’t understand but can only imagine. “More like forty-seven. With a perfectly reasonable bedtime.”
“I can’t sleep,” I confess, whining as if I’m the child here.
Another gust of cool air sneaks underneath the blanket and attacks me.
I groan through my chattering teeth. “Charlotte stole the bed. The vents don’t work right in the living room.
It’s freezing out here. I haven’t had time to cut firewood. ”
“Aren’t there three bedrooms?” Paige asks in an exasperated voice.
“Four,” I correct her. “There’s only one bed. Trust me, I checked.”
“Go push her out of it, then,” Paige shoots back. Arrest her for bed theft, Officer.”
I huff. “No wonder you’re single. You’re so grumpy on a school night.”
“Because it’s past midnight,” she barks. “I’m turning into a pumpkin!”
Okay, damn. I think for a moment, replaying the clause in my head. “How do I get Charlotte to leave the property? She wants to turn my home into a business for fuck’s sake.”
Paige lets out an exasperated sigh. “Geez, I don’t know. Apologize for being an ass, maybe? I say this with love, Kez. But you probably already said something stupid.”
“I—,” I pause, then shrug as if Paige could see me. She’s not wrong. I pull the blanket tighter and stare at the ceiling. “I might have put my foot in my mouth.”
“Mierda. What did you say?”
I swallow. Only insulted her business. Insulted her.
“Nothing big.” I change the subject. “How’d that date end up going?”
There’s a beat of silence. Followed by more. Thankfully she doesn’t resist the topic change.
“It didn’t. I left my wallet at home and embarrassed myself at the restaurant by asking her to pay for my meals. Plural.” She sighs. “I really liked her too.”
“Sorry.” I wince. That explains why she’s so grumpy. Based on her tone, this woman will stick with my friend for a while.
Paige would see through BS encouragement right now, so I don’t even try.
I glance toward the fireplace. Ember is lying on her back, half her body hanging off the ungodly expensive, fuzzy pink, crown-shaped dog bed I panic purchased at the travel center on the way here.
They only had three options and the other two were out of stock.
I pray I didn’t lose the receipt while putting the groceries away.
“At least Ember’s getting a good night’s rest. A tornado siren could be going off right now and she’d be still asleep,” I muse.
“Is she in a nice warm bed?” Paige asks with a yawn.
“You’re not helping.” I mirror her yawn.
“I read your text messages,” she tells me. “You can’t have both. Do you want Charlotte or the cabin?”
My stomach knots, halting my shivering.
“Yeah, I said it. You’ve heard of elf on a shelf? Well. Don’t be fool on a stool. Goodnight,” Paige says firmly.
Why is she speaking in riddles? “What does that even—?”
“I said goodnight,” she barks.
Dead air. I stare at my phone before resting it on my chest.
Charlotte didn’t choose me the first time and I don’t blame her.
I sigh in exasperation. This is my cabin. I get to sleep in my own bedroom.
When I drag myself from the couch, my phone hits the floor with a thud. I glance at Ember. She hasn’t so much as cracked an eyelid open. Useless. My eyes roll and I scoop the device from underneath the couch.
“A thunderstorm could alert half the animals on Mistletoe Mountain, but not you, Ember.” I ball up the blanket and shove two pillows underneath my arms. “No, you’re over there dreaming about bacon.”
I grumble to myself more as I pass Ember enroute to the bedroom. The first thing I’m doing when Charlotte’s gone is fixing those damn vents.
My footsteps are soft and slippery against the teak wood flooring as I make my way down the hall to the bedroom. I reach for the doorknob and pause. Paige’s words circle my mind.
Do you want Charlotte or the cabin?
Neither. I want Charlotte off my property. She can take Ember with her. It doesn’t matter how adorable they both are.
I refocus on the plan. Wake Charlotte up. Tell her to move over or better yet, she can freeze her ass off in the living room. I don’t care. Simple enough.
Somehow, I finagle the door and slowly push it open. I halt my footsteps.
Charlotte’s peacefully sandwiched to one side of the bed, completely untouched by the chaos she caused in my life today.
She’s beautiful. Now, I feel stupid for even thinking about waking her, especially after the day she’s had.
I’m happy I was able to help, even with that ridiculous cabin clause hanging over us.
Perhaps she’ll accept breakfast as an apology for my words earlier.
I catch the moonlight illuminating the side of her face.
The tension in my shoulders eases in resignation.
Against my better judgement, I drop the pile of bedding and drag myself to the floor, careful not to wake her.
The hard wood mocks me while the stars peeking through the skylight stare back.
Above me, the lull of Charlotte’s breathing soothes my mind, an effect that apparently never wore off.
I slide my hand under my pillow. I used to do the same with hers. She’d plant a gentle kiss on my fingers before falling asleep in my arms. My palm tingles at the memory. She was never a cure—no one is—but she quieted the noise. And back then, her love was its own kind of relief.
Much cozier than before, I wiggle my now-warm toes. Satisfied, my lips curl into a half smile. I thumb the K-9 pendant around my neck. My dad always said I had a spine of steel and I believe I do.
Turns out steel bends for Charlotte Harrington.