Kaelee watched the thick, wet globs of snow gather on the windshield. These were the sort that accumulated and took down power lines. “You were right about the power,” she muttered.
“I know.” Toni’s hands were tighter than normal on the wheel.
Snow built up on the sides of the road and trees as they crawled toward the outskirts of the city where Toni lived. Kaelee added, “I give it until evening at best.”
“I’ll see if we need to do anything about the generator. I feel like it just starts if the power goes out.” Toni finally exited the Beltway onto side roads, steering them from steadily moving but slow traffic to what looked like a hockey game played by cars. Not everyone was sliding, but the side roads had not been treated yet, so the intersections were an adventure.
By the time they reached Toni’s place—where the entire community lot was as cleared of snow as possible with it still falling—all three of them let out sounds of relief.
“So this is where westay,” Toni announced. “I’m not driving anywhere else until the roads are salted, plowed, and ready.”
Addie stood at the open door of the townhouse. Even though she wasn’t stepping into the actual snow, she was practically engulfed by an oversized cardigan, fluffy sweatpants, and knee-high snow boots. “Good thing I ordered groceries earlier before the roads were a mess.”
“You didn’t drive, did you?” Toni glanced at a tiny car heaped with snow.
Addie laughed and tapped her chest. “California girl. No snow driving skills. Don’t want any either.” Then she motioned them all toward her. “Inside. It’s too cold out here. I started a thick vegetarian soup that ought to be ready soon. Tomato, onion, leeks, and some assorted things that tasted good with it. The bread is bakery, not homemade, but it’s yummy. Are either of you gluten-free?”
“No restrictions for either of us,” Kaelee said, glancing at Greta and hoping that answering for her was okay. Was it too couple-y? “Go on in. I’ll grab our bags.”
“I’ll take this one.” Greta snuggled closer to her briefly, before heading to the door with her bag of laptop and chargers and the manuscript.
“You brought snacks.” Toni nodded approvingly at a couple of the bags she was pulling out of the Jeep. “The best guests bring snacks, not the weird ones either. Addie’s parents brought some sort of jalapeño jelly and dried wild game and something that I think had drugs in it. There’s no graceful way to ask your future in-laws if the baked goods are supposed to make you need a nap, is there?”
“Are we okay?” Kaelee asked, pulling out the two bags of clothing and essentials that she and Greta had in the Jeep.
Toni sighed. “So Ian’s editing your next book?”
“He is.” Kaelee nodded and put her messenger bag over her shoulder. “Emily knows I’m seeing Greta, too.”
“Just don’t break Greta’s heart, okay?” Toni paused and held Kaelee’s gaze. “Maybe I shouldn’t sell herthreebooks in case she breaks your heart, and I need to find a new editor. That would suck, by the way. I like her.”
“You don’t have to do that! Greta’s amazing. Sell her all the books!” Kaelee shivered and followed Toni to the townhouse. “My romantic life shouldn’t matter in your career.”
Toni scoffed. “You’re my friend, Kae. I’ll sell her the new book. It’s done. I think I’m not selling whatever comes next yet, though. Not until you two either commit or quit. I can write without a contract.”
A tangle of guilt and affection filled Kaelee at that. “You’d do that?”
“Dumbass. Of course I would.” Toni grinned. “I’d also refuse to sell more just because it’s good to have no deadlines, so don’t be weird about it. Come on. We need to check the generator.”
Dinner was hearty, both the soup and the bread, but Kaelee secretly wished she could pour a pile of meat into it. Bacon or ham, maybe. They sat around the living room with their wine and a few candles. The generator was, in fact, an automatic start—which had been their hypothesis. That was proven true when the lights flickered and died, only to pop back on a few seconds later.
The sound of the central heating turning back on was a huge relief.
Outside, the snow had already accumulated a good eight to ten inches, and Kaelee was glad they were tucked in somewhere more spacious than her little studio. Greta was just as cuddly around Toni and Addie as she was when they were alone in a hotel or at Kaelee’s apartment.
“I set the heater to cool down a bit, but not as much as usual just in case the generator stops or fails or whatever generators do.” Addie pulled her cardigan around her like a cozy blanket. “So I’m taking this one to bed. Your room has clean linens on the bed and fresh towels. Oh, and I put a heavy spare quilt down there just in case. We’ll see you for breakfast, hopefully with heat still by then.”
Addie took her wineglass in one hand and Toni’s hand in the other and called, “Rest well.”
“Shall we?” Greta asked.
Somehow going to the guest room felt more intimate romantically. Kaelee nodded, but she wasn’t sure what the rules were.Do I lead her by the hand like Toni was led by Addie? Is that a year-two thing? Do I need to do anything?Kaelee stared at Greta briefly, but she wasn’t offering any cues on what was expected.
“Less panic,” Greta said after a moment. “Overthinking is the enemy. You’re still you, and I’m still me. Nothing has changed except we’re in the fifth new bed we’ve shared.”
The pressure in Kaelee’s chest let up as she caught Greta’s smile. “You’re good at knowing what to say.”
“How about this one?Come to bed with me, Kaelee.” Greta walked toward the steps. “I’ve had enough of not touching you today.”
