“Do you need any help?” he asks.
I furiously shake my head. “Oh no! I’ll be good. It’s going to take me just a couple of minutes. I don’t need a lot since Aiden has a washer and dryer.”
He didn’t mention my needing to bring two weeks’ worth of clothes.
“Do you think I need to bring any work clothes?” I ask before I can stop myself. “Wait, don’t answer that. I’ll pack some just in case he needs help with something.”
“If you pack work clothes, Aiden isn’t going to be happy. You bringing it up isn’t making me happy either.” His voice dropsan octave. “Just pack some comfy clothes, and if you forget anything, we have a shop up there.”
Nodding, I walk to my room before turning around. “You can sit on that chair there. I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”
Before he can say anything, I walk into my room and start stuffing everything I need into a duffel bag. Is this going to be enough? Aiden said it was going to start snowing soon which means I’ll need layers. I don’t have snow boots, but hopefully that won’t matter too much.
Zipping the bag closed, I look at Billie—my elephant stuffed animal—sitting on my bed before shaking my head.
“I’ll be back,” I whisper.
It’s going to be two hard weeks without Billie, but it’s for the better. Everyone tells me I shouldn’t be attached to a stuffed animal, but I can’t help it. I’ve had her for so long and we’ve been through so much together. She has too many tear stains to just get rid of her.
I walk out of my room and stand in the now very clean living room.
“I couldn’t help myself.” Tobias looks at me sheepishly. “I wanted to help you out to relieve some of the stress in your life. Some of them I folded and put on the couch, the ones I think are clean, and the ones that are dirty are in your hamper. We can bring those if you want and do the laundry at the lodge.”
“I don’t have that much money to spend there.” I look away from him. “I don’t think I can do that.”
“It’s free to use for anyone who is staying at the lodge. If you don’t want to use the public ones, then you can use mine that’s in my cabin. I won’t charge you,” he says.
Furiously shaking my head, I take a step back. “I couldn’t do that.”
“Why not?” He takes a step closer to me. “I’m offering it to you. You can use anything of mine, Little One.”
My brain short circuits hearing him call me Little One. How long has it been since someone has called me that who wasn’t Aiden?
“I want you to use mine. You don’t have to worry about anything. You can do as many loads of laundry as you want.”
“Tobias,” I mumble.
“Just think about it. If you don’t want to use mine, then you don’t have to, but why don’t we bring them along just in case you want to?” He pushes a little.
“Fine.” I sigh.
“Do you have everything you need?” he asks as he looks around. “Do you need to clean out the fridge?”
“No, I don’t.”
He searches my face for several seconds, and I just stare at him. “Okay, then. Do you have a stuffy you want to bring?”
CHAPTER 3
MILA
Ilook behind me at the door to my room. Billie is on my bed, but I didn’t pick her up in case he would make fun of me.
“Why don’t you go get it?” he suggests. “It’s going to be a long trip, and I want you to be comfortable.”
Before I can say anything, Tobias grabs my bag and gently taps me on the bottom. I glare at him but walk to my room, grabbing Billie before sluggishly walking back in.
“What’s its name?” he asks.
