Why did I turn my mom and Piper onto those damn alien books. As cute and wholesome, and entirely too sexy as they are…I did not expect them to be the downfall of what feels like my entire life at this moment.
I guess I should be happy that I didn’t pull Kevin’s name. I may or may not have asked him to stay just to piss Spencer off. But, I don’t think I’d be okay with having to spend an entire night in each other's company after everything we’ve been through. I probably shouldn't have led the poor guy on, but I was so angry at Spencer for pulling that shit on me last night, and seeing Kevin at the door after all that…it was surprisingly easy to let him take my mind off of it.
Even if all we did was go grab hot cocoa from the market and walk around each booth in strained silence. He has this knack for acting like things are fine between us in front of everyone, but when it’s just us, he totally clams up. I don’t hate the guy, but there is nothing left in that relationship for me anymore. I invited him over for breakfast this morning to tell him just that. Then I got stuck in traffic and that’s how I ended up here.
Partnered up with Spencer and dreading every moment of completing this task with him. I could just drop out and tell everyone that I don’t feel comfortable staying the night in an ice bucket with him…but that wouldn’t exactly be true.
When Mom told us that we’d have to stay the night with our partners, I swear my libido went haywire. I’m shocked that no one heard the butterflies take flight in my stomach.
It was stupid of me to get my hopes up with Spencer again last night, but I can’t help that my hormones have been kicked into overdrive after our almost kiss on the ice yesterday. I can’t ignore the fact that he obviously wants my sister, even if she has had zero interest in him from day one. And I know when she’s lying, we share that whole twinster thing, so lying to each other has always been off the table. She doesn’t want him like that, and she’s pushed me towards him for as long as I can remember. Atleast, until that kiss that happened between them that I just unluckily happened to witness.
But I want him, and I hate myself for it.
I just need to finish packing this stupid overnight bag, and by the time I meet him downstairs I’ll just tell my brain to knock it off. No self-respecting woman would be turned on and excited about being forced to stay the night with a man who is pining after her twin sister.
So, I’ll just keep repeating my mantra until it becomes engraved into my entire existence, until it becomes barbed wire wrapped around my pitiful heart.
I will not fall for Spencer Larson.
I cannot fall for Spencer Larson.
Dammit, I shall not fall for Spencer-freaking-Larson.
“So do you have any idea where we should build our fort?” Spencer asks me as we load his truck up with my things. I didn’t pack much, but I made sure to have most of the camping essentials. A heavyweight and waterproof sleeping bag that I stole from the garage, hand warmers for my pockets, a flashlight, extra socks and multiple changes of clothing that I can layer, and most importantly; everything for smores and hot chocolate. Whatever else we need we can grab from the Walmart in town.
“It’s been a while since I’ve camped out, so wherever you think is best is fine with me,” I tell him curtly. It’s all a part of my plan to talk my brain into not listening to my stupid hormones.
He doesn’t respond to that, and instead we drive in silence for about fifteen minutes along the mountain route. The snow is still falling, but it’s not a heavy downfall. It’s enough to slowly add inches without completely snowing everyone in who lives around the base of the mountain.
After another few minutes of driving, Spencer turns into a narrow street that is marked only with large boulders. I would have missed this turn completely if he wasn’t here.
“Where are we going?” I ask him, finally breaking the tense silence that has been slowly building between us.
He takes another sharp turn and we escalate up another narrow gravel road, and after about a quarter of a mile a small cabin appears.
It looks like something out of a movie. Wood log panels line the outside of the cabin, along with a thatched green roof and deep red door. The door has what looks like a gingerbread man hanging in place of a wreath for the holiday season. There are colorful Christmas lights strung up around the gutters, and more wrapped around the small porch. The deck has two dark green adirondack chairs, with a small table fitted perfectly between them.
He expertly maneuvers the truck into the driveway and parks next to the cabin, then pulls the key out of the ignition.
“I figured maybe it would be smart to camp out here for the night, just in case the snow starts really falling,” he motions towards the cabin.
“And where are we exactly?”
“My house,” he lifts the keys up and gives them a playful jingle. “I have everything we might need in the shed out back, and the mountain should block most of the windchill. Plus, nobody said we had to stay in this snowfort the entire time, right?” He flashes a cocky smile towards me, and I find myself smiling back.
“This actually might be one of the best ideas you’ve ever had. It’s genius!” The excitement in my voice is genuine, and I think just maybe this won’t be the worst night ever. Worst comes to worst, I’ll ditch him and I’ll go sleep inside the house. My parents didn’t leave any real ‘rules’ for this task other than build the snowfort and make it liveable for a night. We can totally make this work.
We exit the truck and he grabs my bag from the back, hoisting it easily over his shoulder before he grabs the sleeping bag and extra supplies I brought. Now that I see what he has in mind, I feel woefully under prepared. Did I really think one sleeping bag and some hot chocolate was going to keep me warm all night? I suppose I could have used my lack of expertise as a way to snug up with him under the pretense of body heat.
Dear lord, what is wrong with me?
I feel like I’m giving myself whiplash when it comes to my feelings about him. One minute I hate his guts, and the next I can’t stop picturing him in bed with me. And yes, rationally I know that’s wrong…but I can’t be bothered to care about that right now.
Especially as I watch him carry my bags up the stairs to the cabin door. There is something incredibly sexy about the way those gray sweatpants hug his hips, and show off all of his assets.
Nobody said two consenting adults can’t have a little fun while stuck in the woods together, right?
“You coming?” Spencer asks from the top of the porch. His voice pulls me out of my inner thoughts like a snap of a whip, and I scurry up the steps behind him as quickly as I can.
