“What are you doing?” he asks.
“I need coffee and maybe something to eat. I think we need to process what all this actually means. Try to dig deep. Figure out why she may have put us here.”
“Dig deep?”
“Yeah.” Grabbing a canister of coffee, I flip around to face him. “Like maybe I’m here because I clearly cannot make good decisions when it comes to my love life, and she’s trying to teach me a lesson.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, I don’t think dating Raph and then jumping into bed with you literally while I ended things with him was the best decision I’ve ever made.”
He rubs his hand on the back of his neck andshakes his head.
“Is there something going on with you that could’ve been the reason she sent you here with me?” I ask.
The hand that was still resting on his neck drops to his side, and he moves his right shoulder again. “No, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” he says through a smile. “I woke up married to you.”
Thisfuckingman. I set the coffee container on the counter, sighing heavily. “Actually, I changed my mind. I think I’m gonna go try to find a coffee shop.”
“Out there? You don’t think we should get a plan together before we go gallivanting off into the snow?”
“No, I’m not thinking clearly, and coffee will help me do that. I just need to get out of here and clear my head.”
“Well, then I’m coming with you.”
“You really don’t have to,” I snap, marching towards a door that looks like it might be some sort of coat closet. Swinging it open, I’m relieved to find that I was correct. I scan the coats, trying to decide which one to wear, but everything is—you guessed it—pink.
Everett walks up behind me, and we both reach into the closet at the same time, grabbing for the only black coat. Our hands collide against the fabric, and he lets out a low chuckle.
“This one is mine,” he says. “I think it’ll be a little big on you.”
“I know that,” I say through a clenched jaw, moving to the blush coat next to it.
“Trying to hold my hand then, Wifey?”
“No. No. No. No. No. We aren’t doing that.” I pull the coat from the closet and begin putting it on. “We aren’t really married. I’m reinstating the no nickname rule.”
Straightening the jacket, I move my hair from under the collar. I need to clear my mind, and being around him isn’t helping.
“But we were never good at following that one.” He smirks.
“Why don’t I run and find us a coffee, and you stay here and start working on yourgame plan,” I suggest, throwing air quotes around the final two words.
“I’m not going to let you go out there by yourself,” he says, batting his eyes at me. “What if this witch finds you and eats you?”
“We aren’t Hansel and Gretel. She’s not going to eat me.”
His laughter gets louder, and with it, my blood pressure begins to rise.
“Oh sure, mock me. That’s incredibly helpful. I’ll be back soon.”
“We will be back soon,” he corrects. “What kind of husband would I be if I left you all alone to fend for yourself out there?”
Exhaling, I turn and reach for the crystal door knob of the front door.
“Like it or not, we’re stuck together until we make it home,” he says from behind me.
Spinning around to face him, I’m surprised to find him incredibly close. He takes a step towards me, crowding my space even more. I attempt to take a step away, but my back hits the door. His eyes find mine, and my breath hitches when I inhale his expensive cologne. Leaning forward on both of his arms, he cages me in, and my body betrays me like it always does when he’s nearby.
