“Let me call somebody. How far are you from your folks’ house?”
I looked out at the darkened day. “A few miles,” I said. “I can call them.”
“Stay in the car.”
I smelled gasoline. “I don’t know. I smell gas.”
“Get out of the car.” He reversed course immediately.
I grabbed my purse and outerwear and stepped out, sinking into the snow up to my waist. My ankles instantly froze. This sucked. I put on my coat and zipped it up, slinging my purse across my body, and then put Aiden on speaker since he wasn’t coming through the Bluetooth any longer.
“Do you have gloves?” he asked.
I pulled them out of my pockets and immediately put them on. “Of course.”
“You have a roadside kit in the back with a blanket, hat, food, flashlight, and anything else you might need.”
That would’ve been a great idea. “No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, you do,” he retorted. “I put it in there the other day when the last snowstorm hit.”
My heart just about exploded. How thoughtful was he? “You’re the best.” I turned and slogged through the snow to open the back hatch, reaching in for the hat. “I don’t think I need the blanket.”
“Take it.” The command in his voice wasn’t new.
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the blanket, tossed it over my shoulder, and shut the hatch, turning to look up the slight hill. “All right. Hold on for a second. I’m going to try to make it up this embankment without falling into the snow and disappearing.” It was thick, deep, and powdery. The ascent wouldn’t be easy.
“I’ll call your folks to come and get you.”
Just then, a truck slowed to a stop, and a man jumped out. I could barely make him out, but as he neared, I relaxed. “Nick is here,” I said to Aiden.
“What the hell?” Nick leaned over the bank as another truck slowed, and an almost Nick look-alike stood next to him.
“Hey, Ricky,” I called out to Nick’s younger brother. “Both Nick and Ricky are here, Aiden.”
“Good.” Relief filled Aiden’s voice.
Nick dropped to his haunches. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so. I swerved to avoid a deer.” I started kicking my way through the powder to climb up and shoved my phone into my pocket so I didn’t lose it in the snow.
Ricky took a step down. “I can come carry you up.”
Truth be told, he looked more muscular in his lighter jacket than he had the last time I’d talked with him.
“I’m good.” Though the snow was freaking heavy.
“Do you need me to come get you?” Nick asked, dressed in boots and a thick black jacket.
“No, just hold tight.” I made my way up the embankment and reached for their hands when I came nearer so they could pull me up and over that last ledge. I was careful to reach for Nick’s left arm and not his right since he’d just been shot with an arrow.
“Are you okay?” He looked me over.
I took the phone out of my pocket. “Yes. Hey, Aiden, I’m safe on the street with Nick and Rick, and we’re going to my parents. Do you mind dropping me off?” I looked at Nick.
“That’s where I’m headed anyway,” he said.
Ricky snorted. “Yeah, you are.” He leaned over and looked at me. “Man, you have pretty eyes.”
