Fourteen
Freezer Feast
Miles
The next three weeks blur into a haze of meetings and scheduled footage days with Trey and the Bluestone Group real estate team. By the time I finally make it home, my brain is running on low battery. I drop my keys on the counter and flip through the mail just as my phone lights up with an incoming call.
I answer on the first ring. “Hey.”
“Miles!” Mallory’s voice is already loud and suspiciously cheerful. “You and Nora are still coming over for the Freezer Feast, right?”
I pinch my eyes shut. How could I forget? “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
“Great! And don’t forget to bring a freezer dish to pass. See you tomorrow,” she sing-songs before hanging up.
I scroll to Nora’s name and hit call. It rings a few times before she answers.
“Hey, Miles. What’s up?”
“Hi. Sorry it’s been a bit since we talked. Work got busy?—”
“Miles,” she cuts in gently. “What do you need?”
“Freezer Feast is tomorrow.”
“Shit. I forgot.”
“Are you free?”
There’s a pause. “I am. But I don’t think I have anything in my freezer.” I hear rustling. “Yeah, nope. Just a half-empty bag of frozen peas and something completely encased in freezer burn that should’ve been thrown out months ago. Oh—and ice.”
I pull open my freezer drawer and glance inside at a single vacuum-sealed filet of salmon, a half-empty box of fruit popsicles from the summer, an almost-empty box of dinosaur chicken nuggets from when my nephews were over, along with a couple of ice packs. “Same. Want me to pick you up tomorrow, and we’ll go shopping before heading to my sister’s?”
“Sounds like a plan. See you then.”
The next day, I pull up in front of Nora’s place right on time, and when she steps outside, I do a quick double take. She’s dressed casual in dark leggings, an oversized sweater that looks soft enough to live in, a coat, and sneakers. Nothing fancy. Still, she looks great. I climb out and pop the trunk so she can toss her tote inside before sliding into the passenger seat.
As we pull away, I clear my throat. “I’m sorry again for forgetting to remind you about today.”
She laughs it off, shaking her head. “Don’t be. Honestly? Thanks for the reminder. I’ve been intrigued ever since your sister mentioned Freezer Feast. It sounds fun.”
At the store, we grab a cart and drift down the frozen food aisle together, debating casseroles and laughing at questionable box art. It’s easy and comfortable. Almost… domestic. After tossing a few freezer-worthy items into the cart, we check out and head over to my sister’s place.
Before our feet hit the porch, Mallory swings the door open and beams. “I’m so glad you made it.” Mallory squeezes me once before moving on to Nora. “I hope you didn’t bring frozen peas. We have enough of those to start a pea farm.”
Nora laughs. “Lucky for you, I left my peas safely locked in my freezer at home.”
Mallory takes the bag from me and peers inside before pulling out a receipt. “This defeats the purpose of the Freezer Feast.”
“I thought this would be better than ice cubes and peas.” I shrug.
She steps aside to let us in, the warm rush of noise and laughter spilling out onto the porch. “Come in. Shoes off, you can put your coats on the bench, food in the kitchen, and fair warning—there’s already an argument happening about whether freezer lasagna counts as homemade.”
Nora glances at me, eyes bright. “I’m curious to know who wins this argument.”
Mallory hoists the paper bag higher on her hip. “Ben is adamant that it’s homemade because the recipe comes from someone’s great-great grandma, and the family found a way to capitalize on it.”
Nora peers over her shoulder, smiling. “Ben has a point.”
