Juniper holds his hand but looks at me, her expression still utterly perplexed. “I wasn’t about to get lost going to my own van!” She chuckles, but surely she knows that’s not what we meant.
She takes my hand too and gives it a reassuring squeeze. “I came down here for this.” She drops both our hands and picks up a … gas bottle thing? She holds it aloft and grins at me. “It’s a camping stove.”
“Oh.” I sit back. She was … fetching supplies?
“I was gonna make you porridge,” Juniper explains, and I absolutely melt.
“You were?” I ask, my heart soaring.
“Yes.” She laughs, rolling her eyes at me. “But now you’ve kinda ruined the surprise.”
My cheeks heat, and her gaze snags on mine. Then we both look to Ethan.
“We saw nothing,” he says with an impish smile. “Now, I don’t know about you guys, but it’s a lil’ cramped in here for us long-legged folk.”
We laugh and look out the front windows, where the snow has gotten lighter, the morning sun appearing to slow its fall.
Juniper’s expression is playful. “You wanna hitch a ride on the Juniper express?”
I gape at her, and Ethan’s eyes grow wide.
“Wait!” She throws up her hands as her cheeks turn crimson. “I meant in the campervan.”
We all fall apart laughing. When we stop, she eyes us both. “But maybe when we get back …?”
I lean forwards to kiss her, and she kisses me right back. “Is that a promise?” I beg.
She nods, sliding out from my grasp. Then she jumps into the front seat. The engine bursts to life, and she grins back at us. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
My stomach rumbles louder than the van’s engine.
When we get back, Juniper rushes ahead with her camping stove, and we follow her up the steps and walk through the sunlit living room. Even without the fire going, the warmth of the cabin greets us more urgently than ever.
I pause to unfurl the blanket before I follow Ethan and Juniper into the kitchen, laying it out on the floor as it has been most of the time we’ve been here. There. That’s better. I don’t want to dwell on Juniper using it as a blanket as she slept on the sofa last night, alone. This isourspace. This is how it should be.
In the kitchen, Juniper has already stationed the portable stove next to the not-so-portable one and is pouring oats into a pot.
“Can you grab the milk?” she asks, glancing over her shoulder. “It should still be fine,” she adds, and I nod, crossing to the fridge.
As I open the door, the artificial light bursts out at me, unexpectedly bright. My eyes widen in surprise, but Ethanquickly puts a finger to his lips, his gaze darting to Juniper and back.
I grab the milk, swiftly closing the fridge door. “Still cold!” I chirp.
Juniper slaves over the travel stove, making me the most delicious-looking porridge I’ve ever seen—or maybe I’m just really, really hungry. Then, we sit together on the living room floor, the blanket soft beneath us, and I instruct Ethan on how to build and light the fire, which he does only slightly slower and less efficiently than I would have done.
I polish off the last of my porridge, set the bowl aside, and sit back with a contented sigh. “That was awesome,” I tell Juniper, and she positively beams with pride.
Ethan leans forwards, grabs the remote, and flicks on the T.V.
Juniper gasps as the screen lights up. “Wait. When did …?” She gapes at him then turns her attention to me.
I shrug, trying my best to look innocent, but a persistent giggle escapes.
“You sly bastards!” she exclaims, and I cover my mouth as a fit of laughter takes over me. “That’s the last time I make you porridge!” she calls, dramatically crossing her arms.
“Aww.” I give her my best “sorry” face. “You were just so excited to use your little stove,” I tease.
Her eyes light up with mischief. “Right then!” She grabs the remote, switches off the T.V., then lunges at me, tickling my sides until I squeal.
