“You mean away from me?”
“A lot of good that did. I was already scheduled to come up in the morning. I just left super early.”
“In a snowstorm?”
I smirked at her, starting to feel a little more relaxed by her surprised appearance. Plus, the more we talked, the less chance of me tracking that guy down and ending his life for even talking to her. I needed the distraction of her witty banter.
I needed her.
The thought had come so quickly that I nearly choked on my own spit as I started to cough.
She stood there scowling at me. “I don’t know how to do the Heimlich, so keep that in mind if you’re going to mock me.”
I went to the sink, cupped my hand, and drank up some water from the faucet.
“I wasn’t mocking you. I would never do that.”
“Oh. Are you okay then?”
“I’m fine,” I snapped.
I wasn’t fine. I was far from fine.
“What the hell are you doing in the mountains, anyways?”
She cringed this time.
“I don’t know how much you know about me, but I have this little social media account where people send me stuff and Iunbox it live and then record myself actually using it and give a review.”
I snorted. “Having 4.3 million followers is not a‘little’account.”
She blushed furiously. “It’s not a big deal.”
Hadn’t I thought the same before? Yet I found myself defending her to herself.
“Don’t say that. It is a big deal. Maybe not my favorite, but I guess I can see the appeal. I’m sure you work very hard for that, and it shows by how successful you are.”
“You’ve watched my videos?”
“Full confession. I just found out who you are today. I had no idea.”
She frowned. “Before or after we met?”
“Does it matter?”
“It does to me.”
“It was before. This morning, actually. But only because you got that rock climbing gear, so it popped up on my feed, and the guys had to explain who you are and all that. I was pretty irritated by it.”
“Irritated? Why? It was just an unboxing video.”
“Of some high dollar, top of the line equipment that would have been much better served going to someone who actually knows how to use it.”
She wanted to argue. I could see it on her face. But then something changed and she sighed.
“That’s why I’m here. You know? To learn. When you showed up and everything happened, I had to get away from campus sooner. It was stupid, I know. But I’m here to actually learn how to use it properly and give it a true review. I don’t just get free stuff and show off.”
“That wasn’t what I was saying. I didn’t mean it like that.”
