“You like what?”
“Taking care of you, I’d do it forever if you let me.”
And I would. I don’t know if snowmen have mates, and I don’t think I’ll ever get the chance to ask another one of my kind. But I do know that I’m falling for Daphne, and I want nothing more than to keep her. I only hope that she’ll let me.
I take her to my cabin after grabbing a much too small coat from the lost and found of the front lobby. I can’t bear to see her take the brunt of the weather. When I relax my arms down to my sides in the too-small down jacket, the shoulder seams split open, releasing a puff of white goose feathers over my shoulders.
Daphne’s mouth drops open.
“You look like an angel,” she coos.
Sure, a big fur-covered angel with cum stains on his sweatpants. Checks out.
“Well, consider me your guardian angel and let’s get you somewhere warm.” She turns to the elevator, but I stop her. “If it’s alright with you, I think it might be a good idea if you crash at my cabin. I don’t feel good about leaving you alone after the wine.”
“I think I’m okay!” She swats a hand in front of her face, which causes her to lose balance and stumble backwards.
My hand darts out, catching the small of her back, and stops her head from smacking against the hard tile floor.
“Maybe you’re right,” she gulps, eyes wide.
I, of course, know I’m right, seeing as how I’m the only sober party here. We exit out the back of the main building and takethe path to my cabin. But this time, I break the wind for her. She grabs onto the back of my jacket, and braces her face against me, nuzzling her nose in. I can’t tell if it’s for warmth, or if drunk Daphne just likes the sensitization of the slippery synthetic fabric against her skin.
We make it inside before too long, and I crank up the thermostat before setting her in my oversized leather easy chair next to the fireplace.
“Stay there,” I tell her as I run to the bathroom and quickly replace the pants with my usual uniform. When I come back, she is craning her neck behind her.
As Daphne looks around my one-room home, I’m suddenly aware of every pair of jorts on the floor, every cup in the sink, and how I really should have thought about picking up my pigsty before asking a woman over.
“It’s not normally this messy,” I explain as I grab a log and start a fire. “I’ve just been really busy this season, and—”
“Hey it’s okay, who am I to judge someone’s home when I don’t even have one?” she laughs.
“That room is yours as long as you need it.”
I look over at her after I finally get the wood going, and her eyes are wet and shining in the firelight.
“Why are you so nice to me?”
I lean back, palms flat against the cool wood floor, and for once, I don’t try to hide behind jokes or half-truths. I look into the fire, not brave enough to meet her eyes.
“I’m nice to you because I think you’re wonderful.” My voice warbles. “You’ve been through hell with Gerald, and I don’t ever want to see someone take advantage of you again. You’re too pure of heart.”
When I look back at her, I can tell she’s taken aback, despite still feeling the effects of the fairy wine. She looks like she’s about to thank me again, but I want the whole truth to come out first.
“But it’s not just that. I need you to know that I’m selfish too, I want you for myself. You’re in my head all the damn time, and I can’t shake the thought of you loose. I don’t know if you’re my mate, or if it’s not fate and I’m just old-fashioned falling in love with you.”
I brave a glance up, my throat tight.
“All I know is that I want you, however you’ll let me have you. Even if all you can offer me is friendship. But god, I hope it’s more than that.”
The truth is out there, and I’m just waiting to see if it’ll actually set me free or if I’ll regret opening my mouth.
Daphne’s mouth opens and closes a few times, like she can’t parse what to say.
God, I must have fucked this up royally if she can’t even bring herself to turn me down. I turn back to the fire and throw on another log, trying to seem busy. There’s no way to casually come back from admitting you’re in love with someone, but my heart would have exploded if I kept what I was feeling inside for any longer.
“It’s fine if you don’t feel the same,” I mumble to the embers. “I just—”
