And just like that, the lightness is gone.
“No, really, I promise," she says, pacing a short line between island and window. “Yeah, we really still have enough food.”
She listens, jaw ticking. “…Okay. So you think the roads will be practicable?”
She drags a hand through her hair. “Right. So probably the day after tomorrow if nothing else comes in. Got it.” A pause. “Yeah. I’ll be ready. Thanks, Mia.”
She ends the call and just… looks at the black screen, thumb rubbing absently over the edge.
“Good news?” Felix asks, careful.
Naomi turns. “That was Mia,” she says. “She thinks rescue should be able to get up here sometime in the next day or two if the weather behaves.”
So that’s it, then.
She’s leaving.
The “problem” gets airlifted or driven out, and everything goes back to how it was.
Exactly what I said I wanted.
My stomach doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo. It dips like I just took a hit into the boards.
It’s fine. It’s relief. I must feel relieved.
“Oh,” Felix says, and he can’t keep the drop out of his voice. “Wow. That’s… that’s great. Good news.”
“Yeah,” Liam adds, closing his book without actually looking at it. “That’s… good.”
Naomi’s gaze moves over the three of us, quick and assessing. “Well,” she says finally. “Whatever happens, whenever rescue gets here, I'd like to thank you for the hospitality. It's been… really nice."
She turns toward the hallway. The silence stretches, no one quite sure what to say.
“Maybe we should get out now.”
It’s out before I’ve thought it through.
She stops and turns back. Three pairs of eyes land on me, questioning.
I clear my throat. “I mean, we’ve been trapped inside for three days,” I say. “The weather’s finally safe. We could go outside.”
She looks at the window to the knee-deep drifts, her brow hitching. “Outside to do what, exactly? Your driveway currently looks like Narnia.”
“Yeah man, I'm not really following," Felix starts then perks up, "unless you're finally ready to build that snowman?!”
I let a small smirk slip. “I’ve got something better in mind. Something more… thrilling.”
Liam straightens on his stool, that spark lighting his eyes. “You’re thinking what I think you’re thinking?”
“Yep.”
“Oh.” Felix breathes, understanding dawning on his face. “Oh! Hell yes, I’ve been waiting for this.”
Naomi looks between the three of us. “What are you three plotting?” she asks.
“You’ll see,” I say. “But you’ll want layers. Gloves. Hat. Extra socks."
She studies my face for a long second. I keep my expression steady, try to let her see I’m not winding her up.
