“Of course. I don’t have these muscles for nothing,” I kidded, flexing my bicep for emphasis.
His eyes gleamed with that familiar teasing glint. “You still hard-headed, though.”
“And you’re still an over-protector," I shot back, rolling my eyes playfully.
Bryce licked his lips—a habit he had when he was trying to formulate a response. “And I always will be when it comes to you.”
This man!
I felt a rush of memories flood my mind. There was a reason I hadn’t fully moved on—I simply couldn't.
Not with him still sounding like that… looking like that… caringlike that.
For a fleeting moment, we were just two souls caught in the biting cold, pretending like our hearts weren’t thumping for reasons that had nothing to do with the chill that surrounded us.
I diverted my thoughts and nodded toward Isis, who was tiptoeing across the snow like it was a high-end rug and she just got a pedicure with no insurance.
“I think it’s yourassistantyou need to be more worried about,” I said, stifling a laugh at her exaggerated movements.
Bryce let out a short laugh. “Nah, she’s good. The cold will humble her faster than I ever could. Besides… I only protect what’s mine.” He winked, before turning back to the wood he was working with, his focus shifting and somehow making the moment feel all the more real.
Meanwhile… Adrian was staring at his own pile as if he expected them to magically assemble themselves if he just looked sad long enough.
I shook my head.
Just as I was about to take the first set of wood back in the cabin, a bloodcurdlinghowlcracked through the air.
“Aaawwooouuuuuuuuuuuu! SHIT—AHHHH!”
Adrian’s voice climbed ten octaves and dropped five IQ points in one breath.
I flinched, nearly dropping the log, then hastily spun around. “What the—?”
Adrian was hopping on one leg like a newborn horse, clutching his knee with both hands, his face twisted in a theatrical portrayal of agony.
Bryce stood back with an unbothered demeanor—arms crossed, a toothpick wedged between his teeth, and looking far more amused than concerned as he watched the chaos unfold.
“Oh my goodness!” Isis screamed from behind me.
Without a second thought, she took off running toward Adrian likehe was her man, and they came there together.Isis shot past me so fast that her hat flew halfway off, twisting to the side like it changed its mind about being cute in that weather.
I dropped the logs and walked over slowly, mumbling to myself in frustration, “Iknowthis man is not about to die out here! It’s too damn cold for this!”
Isis dropped down beside Adrian, assuming the role of a triage nurse in a cabin getaway sitcom.
“I got this! I’m trained for this!” she exclaimed with an urgency that only made me roll my eyes.
“Trained for what, exactly?” I shot back, curious to hear her answer.
“Medical crises! I’m a flight attendant—”
Bryce cut in sharply, his voice dripping with seriousness and a bit of sarcasm. “Isis, you pass out pretzels and play charades with seat belts. Ain’t nobody calling you when somebody leg falls off. If the plane crashes, your job is to die politelyandbougie.”
Isis waved him off dismissively and redirected her focus back to Adrian. I noticed Bryce didn’t seem fazed at all by how attentive Isis was being to Adrian. It was like he expected nothing more from her anyway.
“Talk to me! Are you breathing?! Do you know your name?! Follow my fingers! How many do you see?!” Isis blurted out, holding up three gloved fingers in front of his dazed face.
“Twelve,” Adrian croaked, his voice pitiful, like he’d just been shot and cheated on by the same person.
