He was older.
Scruff was on his chin.
Wrinkles around his eyes.
He looked tired.
But there was no doubt. He was still the man I loved.
I yanked open the door, almost pulling it off its hinges, and leaped into his arms.
I’d never been more glad for his army training than when he caught me and held me tight. Being alone, being lonely for all that time, I wasn’t the same girl I used to be. When the loneliness got too much, I turned to the tub of ice cream or block of chocolate, and it wasn’t until I was in Nick’s arms that I regretted it.
“Honey, I’m home,” he said with a smile, and my heart exploded. They were the sweetest words I’d ever heard.
“Mom!” Noelle screeched, shocking me out of my trip down memory lane.
I looked up and stomped on the brake.
The brakes locked.
The car skidded.
Noelle screamed.
I prayed.
I swung the wheel, trying to correct the trajectory.
There was a thunk.
Then a thud.
Then we were sliding.
When the car tilted, there was no doubt about it. We were in trouble.
two
CHRIS
I was just closingfor the night.
The whole town was headed to the Christmas festival, and I was going upstairs for a hot shower and a cold beer. The last place I wanted to be was amongst all that Christmas cheer.
I wiped my hands on a rag, the permanent grease stains going nowhere, and checked everything was turned off. Once satisfied, I hit the button, lowering the heavy roller door.
It closed with a thunk, and I dug the keys from my pocket and locked up before climbing the stairs. It was freezing out there. The snow was coming down in sheets and the wind was icy. Thankfully, I only had to climb the stairs and was back inside again. It wasn’t far enough to bother with rugging up.
I just got my front door open when headlights landed on the bricks beneath me.
I turned around and groaned.
A police cruiser idled.
I forced open my front door and grabbed a jacket from the hook and a beanie before heading back down the steps.
I hit the bottom step and slipped on the ice. I needed to salt them before I ended up going ass over tit.
