“Storm’s getting worse,” Joe called from his position near the front windows, peering between the boards. He’d been quiet since they brought things inside, clearly exhausted from the trek down and still struggling with the altitude. “I can’t even see my truck anymore.”
Nick moved to check the view between the wooden window slats and confirmed Joe’s assessment. Snow was accumulating at an alarming rate. Visibility had dropped to near zero, and the wind was driving snow horizontally across the ghost town. This wasn’t just a passing mountain storm anymore; this was a serious weather event that could last for hours. Days, even.
“What do you think about the road conditions?” Gina asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
“No way anyone’s driving out of here until this passes,” Nick replied. “And even then, we’ll need to wait for the river to drop.”
He saw Gina process that information with the same calmness she’d shown all day. No panic, no complaints, just acceptance of their situation and mental adjustment to the new timeline.
It made him acutely aware of his own mixed feelings about being trapped here with her. Part of him was relieved to have more time in her company, to continue the easy partnership that had developed during their crisis management.
But a larger part of him knew this forced proximity would only make it harder to maintain realistic expectations about what he could offer someone like her.
“So, we’re here until tomorrow at least,” Brooke said from her position in the doorway, her voice tight with frustration, and her stance suggesting she was ready to bolt at any second. “This completely destroys my training schedule. I had back-to-back long runs planned for this weekend.”
“Your training schedule can survive one disruption,” Gina said gently. “Elite athletes deal with weather delays all the time.”
“Elite athletes don’t have my history of failure,” Brooke snapped, then immediately looked stricken. “Sorry. I know this isn’t anyone’s fault. I’m just stressed about the race.”
Nick exchanged a glance with Gina, both of them clearly concerned about his cousin’s mental state. Brooke’s fixation with things had always been intense, but this level of desperation was troubling. It was almost like an addiction.
Kelsey continued her nervous patrol of the windows, checking and rechecking the limited view outside. Her anxiety seemed disproportionate to their situation, and Nick wondered what had her so on edge. She didn’t seem to care about stopping the run early, like Brooke did, but there was something else. Maybe the idea of being stuck in the ghost town of Bearwater was the issue for her as it was for Brooke.
“We should do an inventory,” Gina suggested, clearly trying to give everyone something productive to focus on. “Food, water, emergency supplies...figure out exactly what we’re working with.”
They spread everything out systematically—his camping supplies, the gear each person had in their packs, their combined food and water. It was enough to keep five people alive for several days, if necessary, though Nick hoped they wouldn’t be here that long.
“This is great,” Gina said as she surveyed everything. “We’re actually in pretty good shape.”
“Thanks to Nick’s stuff,” Joe added, still looking pale and tired. “Good thing someone was prepared for the apocalypse.”
Nick felt that familiar defensive tension. “Just prepared for camping,” he said mildly, though he knew Joe was right. His supplies were excessive.
Gina was quiet, but he could see her putting pieces together. His extensive supplies, everything organized for mobility...it painted a clear picture.
The temperature kept falling as the storm gathered strength. They had a little time yet, but nightfall would force their hands. Even with the old building for shelter, staying warm through what promised to be a long, bitter night was going to take some planning.
“We should stay closer together,” Nick said. “I’ve got a small tent we could set up. It won’t fit everyone, but it’d give us a smaller pocket of space. Maybe we can drag some things in here and block off a section so there’s less area. Maybe our body heat would keep it somewhat warm.”
Gina nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Good thinking. You’re right. We could take turns napping in the tent. And something warm to eat will help keep our energy up.”
Brooke shook her head, then looked toward the exterior door. She dropped her shoulders. “I suppose I’d better. I don’t like it, though. This place is creepy.”
“You’re not wrong,” Gina agreed. “But with us all together, it’s a little less creepy.”
“I guess.” Brooke sighed and moved toward them.
Setting up the tent took only a few minutes. The two-man backpacking tent was small, but it did provide a private area and helped compact the space.
“There’re chairs strewn throughout the building,” Gina said. “We could move them in here and use the emergency blankets to make a fort.”
“Great idea.” Nick couldn’t help but smile at her. “That’ll especially help during the night.”
Working side by side, Nick felt the pull toward her intensify. The way she made him feel included and needed, the way they moved together without needing to discuss every step—it felt right in a way that scared him, like they clicked on so many levels.
But she deserved someone whose life wasn’t built out of borrowed spaces. Someone who wasn’t still pretending that “between places” was just a phase.
Chapter 5
