We’ve been snowed in for less than thirty minutes, and I’ve already gotten into it with Ethan. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, remembering with a jolt that I was supposed to be meeting Desiree at the airport.
“Cassidy Morgan!” Desiree’s voice explodes through the speaker. “I have been worried sick! Where are you? The airport said all flights are canceled, and you weren’t answering my texts!”
“I’m so sorry,” I say, leaning against the sink. “It’s been... complicated. I’m snowed in at Britney’s house—”
“Wait, why are you there? I thought you were just meeting with social services about paperwork.”
I take a deep breath, staring at my reflection in the cracked mirror. “That was the plan. But her son had nowhere to go, andI agreed to keep him ’til after Christmas. Now I’m trapped with her seven-year-old and... and Ethan.”
There’s a long pause. “Ethan? Your Ethan? The one who—”
“Yes, that Ethan,” I interrupt, not wanting to hear her say it. “He drove Axel and me here to get a few things, and now we’re all stuck because of the blizzard.”
“Holy shit,” Desiree breathes. “That’s... wow. Are you okay?”
I close my eyes, remembering how my heart skipped when Ethan took off his suit jacket. “I don’t know. It’s surreal.” I perch on the edge of the bathtub. “What about you? Did you make it to the airport?”
Desiree’s laugh is bitter. “Are you kidding? I’m stuck in Winter Bay too. This storm has shut down the entire town . And guess where I’m trapped?”
I can tell already from her tone. “Enrick’s house?”
“Bingo. When I dropped Bella off, his sister-in-law Gina insisted I come into their mansion. Next thing I know, the roads are impassable, and I’m stranded with my baby daddy and his perfect family.”
Despite everything, I laugh. “At least you’re somewhere warm and luxurious.”
“Warm, yes. Comfortable, no.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “And it doesn’t help that he looks better than he did six years ago. How is that fair?”
“Life’s not fair,” I agree, thinking of the cruel twist of fate that brought Ethan back into my life after eight years.
“Let’s back up,” Desiree insists. “Is he still... you know... ridiculously good-looking?”
I stand. “Unfortunately, time has been very kind to him.”
“Damn. The universe really said let me make this as difficult as possible for Cassidy and Desiree.”
“Tell me about it. Look, I should go. I’ll tell you everything when I see you.”
“You’d better. This sounds way more interesting than my situation.”
“Don’t be so sure,” I say, hearing something in her voice that makes me curious. “There’s a reason you two never got together properly after your one-night stand.”
“Ancient history,” Desiree says quickly.
“We’ll see. I’ll call you tomorrow. Stay safe.” I hang up and step out of the bathroom.
The hallway is colder than the small space I just left. I make my way down the stairs, wrapping my arms around myself.
At the bottom, I nearly collide with Ethan. He’s covered in dust and cobwebs, a toolbox in one hand and a frustrated expression on his face.
“What are you doing?” I ask, taking an instinctive step back.
“Trying to get the furnace working. It’s completely shot.”
“Of course it is,” I mutter. “Because Britney never met a responsibility she couldn’t shirk.”
I didn’t want to think about how we’re going to survive the night in a house with no heat. Or about the last time I was trapped somewhere with Ethan Whitmore, we ended up naked and breathless and whispering promises we’d never get the chance to keep.
“There’s a fireplace,” Axel says quietly.
