Evander jumps up and throws open the tarp, then starts tossing things to me.My panties.My bra, thermal underwear, turtleneck, and sweater.My boots.My gloves.My balaclava and the spare parka.
A split second later, he’s diving under the table with me and we’re both getting dressed as quickly as humanly possible.I smell something burning.I hear what sounds like wood splintering.
He pulls on his thermal underwear and long-sleeved insulating shirt.Then the waterproof ski pants he wears as an underlayer.
“Has the roof collapsed?”
“A back section.I have to see what’s going on.Stay under the table until I tell you to move out.”He’s barking commands as he throws on his outerwear.
“If you see flames, none of what I’m about to tell you applies, do you understand?Fire means you just get the hell out of here,now.Run.Stay away from the cabin.”
My hands are shaking so badly that I can hardly pull on my clothes.
“If you see smoke, take a deep breath and hold it, gather what you can by way of blankets and food, and get out.”
I nod.
“If there’s no flame or smoke and I tell you to move, here’s what you do, in this order.”He’s pulling on his snow coveralls and shoving his feet in his boots.“Dump all the blankets, all the food, and all the remaining first aid supplies on the rug and try to drag everything out the front door.I’ll take it to the cave.”
“All right.”I’m doing my best not to panic as I put on all my snow gear.But all I can think is that the “just-in-case” has just arrived.
Shit has happened.
This is the worst-case scenario he’s been anticipating.
“Breathe.Stay calm.Panicking is not an option.”
I nod.
“If I don’t come back in five minutes, take everything you can to the ice shelter.Sit tight.”
“What?What do you meandon’t come back?”
“I’ll be fine.”He puts on his gloves.“What do you do if you see flames?”
“Run.”
“Smoke?”
“Grab what I can and run.Where are you going, Evander?”
“To assess the situation.”He kisses me, pulls his mask up over the lower half of his face, and he’s gone.He races out through the tarp, then the front door.The wind blows it wide open almost immediately, and a rush of arctic air rolls across the floor and slams into me.
This storm is relentless.I’m scared.I allowed myself to be lulled into a false sense of safety.I’ve been busy falling helplessly in love with the man of my dreams.Enjoying mind-blowing, out-of-body-level sex.
And all the while I took for granted the fireplace and protection from the elements.
But holy shit…this is bad.
I pull on my balaclava, the extra parka, and my boots and gloves.
And I wait.
I peer out from under the table, watching for fire or smoke.I start counting to sixty.Five times.Because I don’t have a watch.
And counting helps me remember to breathe.
CHAPTER 44
