He knows my name. Why does he know my name? That’s a question for another time. When I’m not standing out here with freezing hands and snow falling all over me.
"Apparently," I reply, trying to sound cheerful and not like my toes are slowly turning to ice. "My car's got a flat. And I have no signal to get ahold of roadside assistance. So… I'm a little stuck."
He studies me for a long moment, snow catching on his lashes. "You live down the mountain?"
"Yep."
"The roads are closing."
"Yep."
As if on cue, both our phones start screeching. He pulls it out of his pocket as I look down at mine. The pass is closed. Closed. Impassable. Just like that. How very on cue for Colorado. Sometimes, we go through every single season in one afternoon. Sixty and sunny in the morning and two feet of snow in the afternoon. Do not get me started on the hail storms that pass through leaving six inches of flooded, icy water on the roads.
He exhales, long and controlled. "Come on. We can wait out the storm in the admin lodge. It's heated and stocked."
I blink. "You're inviting me to your secret lair?"
His mouth twitches with what can be described as almost a smile. "It's hardly a lair. Just a small lodge."
"I don't know," I tease. "I've seen your spreadsheets. Having that many tabs open is villain behavior." The man didn’t just make a schedule for us; he made entire spreadsheets. When, where and how we were supposed to act in each section of the park. “And everyone knows super villains all have their own lairs.”
His eyes glint. "Do you always talk this much?"
"Only when I'm nervous."
"Good to know."
Something shifts in the air between us. His voice drops half a degree, lands somewhere I feel in my stomach. Maybe it’s not as cold out here as it might seem.
The admin lodge sits behind the main park, tucked between pine trees and candy-cane fencing. Inside, it's blessedly warm and smells faintly of pine and cinnamon.
I stomp the snow from my boots, trying not to drip on the floor. "So, this is where the magic happens, huh?"
He gives me a dry look. "If by magic you mean budget spreadsheets and maintenance reports, then yes."
I grin, shrugging out of my elf jacket. "Don't knock it. Santa runs a tight ship."
He hangs his coat neatly on the rack, gestures to the fireplace. "There's plenty of firewood to keep us through the night. Warm yourself."
The storm howls outside, rattling the windows. I shiver, even near the flames. "Guess we're really snowed in."
"Looks that way." He glances at his phone. “Service is down but for now the internet is up. We should be able to get messages in and out, maybe use internet calling. Text whoever you need to let them know you are here and safe. I’m going to try and contact the county and see if they have an estimate about the pass.”
I shoot off a quick text to my parents to let them know I’m safe. I might have graduated college in May, and live on my own, but I have an amazing relationship with my mom. If she doesn’t hear from me at least once a day, she worries.
“Good chance the road crew won't make it up until morning, at best. The snow is falling pretty hard, and wind gusts have downed some trees. My guess is we’re going to be here until sometime Sunday, maybe even Monday morning."
"So… you, me, and a weekend full of Christmas spirit?"
One brow lifts. "Something like that."
His tone is dry, but I catch the faintest flicker behind it. Not amusement exactly. Something sharper.
An hour later, we're sitting across from each other at the lodge's little kitchen table. He’s drinking black coffee that matches his personality, and I’m adding marshmallows to my cocoa that’s already overloaded with whipped cream.
It's awkward. And quiet.
I fill the silence by chattering about the park's holiday photo ops, the Santa House upgrades, and how the reindeer in the large petting zoo actually respond to their names. I spend my breaks often wandering around the park. It’s pointless to drive down the mountain, I’d only have about fifteen minutes before I’d have to be right back up here. Instead, I’ve gotten to know my coworkers and the ins and outs of the amusement park. It’s unlike any amusement park I’ve ever been to. Sure, there’s rides spread all throughout the park and the normal carnival type games, all Christmas themed, of course, but there’s something magical about this place.
