In the beginning of my career, I made team outings mandatory. They were a pain in the ass to plan and took so much time, but looking back, they worked. When was the last time I did that? Years? Groaning, I pinched the bridge of my nose. The truth of the matter hit me in the face like the wind hitting the windows: I had to be the leader I wanted my players to become.
My neighbor with a body of a goddess was full of surprises, and for the first time, I wanted to talk more when she wanted the silence.
For as loud as her colors and personality were, Becca was quiet as the day went on. I was used to stillness, so every little sigh or crinkling of pages turning reminded me that she was very much here. The temperatures still rocked forty below. Thankfully, the fireplace was large and kept the first two rooms in the house warm.
“Hey, Harrison?” Becca asked a couple hours after breakfast.
“Yeah?” I looked up from the book I’d been reading. She suggested one of her books,Factfulness, which showed how the world really wasn’t as bad as the news suggested. I tried not to take the recommendation personally.
“Do you think the sorority house is okay? I keep imagining windows breaking. The girls probably didn’t clean their rooms or remove stuff near the windows. I’d hate for them to lose anything.” She looked at me over the spine of her book, concern etched on her face. “I know we shouldn’t leave your house for any reason, but do you think it’ll be safe tomorrow?”
“It seems like the wind is settling down a bit. We can listen to the radio this afternoon and get an update. If it starts to clear up, we can take a trip over there to check.”
“Okay, good.” She stared out the window and clicked her tongue. “It’s insane how white it is. Do you have a snowblower? Would that even work? Would shoveling even help? It seems too high.”
“Great question.” I glanced out the window and studied the snowdrifts that had piled up. Some were easily over six feet high and completely covered the fence in the backyard. “Might take a good week or so for it to melt. Damn good thing this hit after most of the students left.”
She paled. “Holy moly, you’re right. Could you imagine all the dorms out of power? The girls in the house?” She winced. “It would be awful! I’m so glad they aren’t here.”
“I’m assuming the school has emergency generators or would move everyone into the library or something.” I shook my head, imagining how much of a disaster it would’ve been if the storm hit a week ago with campus at its highest population.
Becca stood and walked over to the window, her gaze now focused outside. “I have a shovel that I could use on our small sidewalk, but I don’t think it’d help much.”
“Becca, I can help you get the house ready for when the girls get back, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“You wouldn’t mind? Really?” Turning back toward me, surprise registered on her face before it transformed into a warm smile.
“I wouldn’t mind at all.” I returned her smile and had an inexplicable urge to make more promises to her. “We can barter a couple cups of your hot chocolate for payment.”
“That I can get behind! Thank you, Harrison. It takes away a little of my anxiety. Well, except the fact the snowdrifts could be six feet high and block the doors.”
She rubbed her bottom lip with her pointer finger, drawing my attention to her mouth. My blood headed south.Am I a damn teenager?
“We can try different points of entry.” Joining her at the window, I placed my hand over hers. “Don’t worry, okay? We’ll figure it out.”
She gave me that warm smile again—the kind of smile very few people directed my way—and I craved more. There was no pity or disdain in her eyes. Just… happiness. No wonder the girls liked her so much. After spending one day with her, I’d do anything she asked of me.
She placed the back of her hand theatrically against her forehead. “My dear sir! Why the ladies would just fawn all over you if they knew how kind you are,” she said, faking a Southern accent.
My lips quirked. “Yeah? Are you one of them?”
She blushed and then dropped her gaze to the ground for a second before lifting her head and flashing me a playful smile. Her eyes glinted with mischief. “Do you want me to be?”
Yes. Maybe. I don’t know.Before I could decide, my phone blared from the counter and the moment was broken.Damn it.
I let out a frustrated sigh before picking up my phone and sliding my finger across the screen. “Hey, Mom.”
“Blair said you two are celebrating the holidays at her house in Illinois. Is that true? Don’t you think it’s a little selfish? You should at least try to be with family to celebrate your brother’s success.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
BECCA
It was fascinating how fast the walls around Harrison reconstructed themselves. The second he answered his phone, his demeanor did a one-eighty. Gone were the relaxed shoulders and half-smile I loved, and instead, his entire body went taut.
Is it me?
His mom?
