“Yeah, I imagine.” He starts walking, making it look effortless. “For what it’s worth, this is the most exciting Saturday night I’ve had in months.”
“Happy to provide entertainment.”
“See, that’s what I like about you. Even half-frozen, you’ve got jokes.”
“I learned from the best. Ben’s been cracking them all night.”
“Ben cracks jokes to avoid feelings. You crack them because you’re actually funny.” He grins down at me. “Don’t tell him I said that.”
I almost smile. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
We walk in silence for a moment. The rope tugs between us and the others, keeping us connected. Through the snow I can just barely make out Ben and Elijah’s shapes ahead of us.
“You tried to dig your car out,” Milo says. “With your bare hands.”
“I noticed you all noticed that.”
“Elijah noticed first. He doesn’t miss much.” His voice softens. “Your hands are a mess, Tessa.”
“They’re fine.”
“They’re bleeding.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“That’s not the flex you think it is.”
He’s right. God, he’s always right.
“I didn’t want to call for help,” I admit. “I sat in that car for almost an hour trying to figure out how to fix it myself.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know?—”
“I know you, sweetheart.” His arms tighten around me. “I know you’d rather freeze to death than admit you need someone. It’s one of your worst qualities.”
“Thanks.”
“But you called anyway. You asked for help. That’s huge for you.”
I think about what he said at the bar. Let someone help once in a while, Tessa. You might like it.
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice. You could’ve kept sitting there until the snow buried you. You could’ve tried to walk yourself and gotten lost in the storm.” He ducks his head, his breath warm against my temple. “But you didn’t. You called. You let us come get you. You let us carry you.”
“Under protest.”
“Still counts.”
The wind howls. The snow swirls. But Milo’s arms are steady and strong.
“Why did you come?” I ask. “All three of you. You could’ve just called search and rescue.”
“Search and rescue would’ve taken an hour to get there. You didn’t have an hour.”
“But walking through a blizzard?—”
