Chapter Five
MATT
The crunchof our boots through fresh snow breaks the pre-dawn silence as Eliza and I make our way to the lodge. The air is sharp with cold, our breath visible in clouds before us. The storm has passed, leaving behind a pristine blanket of white that makes everything look deceptively peaceful.
We'd agreed to start early, hoping to get the generator running before attempting any other repairs. As we reach the main building, I head straight for the electrical panel mounted on the east wall, its switches and meters a silent challenge. I'm grateful for Finn's foresight in designing a system where each cabin and the main lodge can be isolated. It's a smart setup, one that might save us from a lot of trouble.
“Okay,” I say to myself, my fingers tracing each labeled switch. “Solar's off, main lodge disconnected. Only cabin five is attached to the generator line.”
“Is everything alright?” Eliza's voice comes from behind, concern clear in her tone.
I turn to face her, momentarily struck by how the soft light catches in her hair, giving it a golden glow. Forcing myself to focus, I offer what I hope is a reassuring look. “Yeah, double-checking to make sure we don't overload anything when we startthe generator. Your brother did a great job setting this up, which makes it much easier and safer for us.”
The creases in Eliza's forehead soften. “That's comforting to hear. Finn's always been thorough about safety.” Pride colors her voice when she talks about her brother, and a twinge of something—envy, maybe?—stirs in me at the obvious closeness of their relationship.
With the electrical system secured, we head toward the generator shed. The squat, snow-covered structure holds the key to our comfort. The sky is beginning to lighten, painting the world in muted hues of pink and gold. It looks like a sunny day ahead, though the challenges we face remain.
“Are you confident about this?” Eliza asks, her breath visible in the frigid air. “After what you said yesterday about potential dangers...”
It's reassuring that she's thinking critically, not following my lead without question. “I've isolated the systems as best I can. We'll be powering the one cabin for now, which should be safe.”
Determination flashes in Eliza's eyes. “Alright then. Let's do this.”
When we reach the shed, the door's frozen shut. I throw my shoulder against it, grunting with effort. It gives way with a crack, and I stumble forward. Eliza's hand catches my arm, steadying me. Her touch lingers, warm even through my jacket, and our eyes meet a bit too long.
I clear my throat, breaking the spell. “Thanks.” The word comes out rougher than I intended, and I turn to hide the flush I can feel creeping up my neck.
Inside, the generator stands silent, a hulking mass of metal and wires. As I explain the basics, I notice how her eyes spark with curiosity. I force myself to focus, pushing away unbidden thoughts of how beautiful she looks right now.
“Can you hand me that wrench?” I ask, pointing to the nearby toolbox.
As Eliza passes it to me, our fingers brush, and a spark of awareness flares between us. I wonder if she felt it too. I clear my throat, reminding myself that she's off-limits—not only because I'm here to heal, but because she's Finn's little sister. Finn would kill me if he knew where my thoughts were headed. I'm supposed to be getting my head straight, not complicating things with a relationship.
We work in silence, moving around each other in the tight space. I'm hyper-aware of her proximity, the scent of her shampoo mingling with the oil and metal. I have to stop myself from staring at the curve of her neck as she leans in to examine something I'm pointing out.
After what feels like hours but is probably minutes, the generator roars to life. Eliza's face lights up with a triumphant smile, and before I can react, she's thrown her arms around me. Unlike our tentative hug the night before, this one is pure celebration. I find myself returning her embrace more naturally this time, though the feel of her in my arms still sends my pulse racing. The heat of her body against mine—it's both comforting and unsettling, a reminder of everything I've been trying to keep at arm's length.
She pulls back, still beaming. “We did it!”
“Yes, we did.”
Her eyes light up, and for a moment, I forget about the storm, the damaged lodge—everything but the woman in front of me. The urge to lean in and close the distance between us is almost overwhelming. But I catch myself. Kissing her wouldn’t complicate things; it could jeopardize everything—my friendship with Finn, my fragile sense of stability, and whatever this is between us. We’re stuck here, and if things go wrong, there’s no getting away from it.
The spell breaks as a gust of wind rattles the shed. Reality crashes back, and I step away. “We should head back and check to see if everything's working in the cabin.”
Eliza's expression flickers with something I can't quite read. Disappointment? Relief? Before I can dwell on it, she's moving toward the door. “Right, but first I should search Finn's office for spare batteries for the satellite phone. In case the generator doesn't work, we need to be able to call out.”
As we approach the lodge again, I notice Eliza hesitate, her eyes scanning the damaged building. We step inside, and while searching Finn's office for the batteries, I catch Eliza's gaze drifting toward the stairs leading to the upper floor. Following her line of sight, I remember her talking about her studies.
“Is that where your books are?” I ask. “Your study materials?”
Eliza's eyes reflect longing and resignation. “Yeah, but ... it's not safe to go up there. We should leave them.”
I look at the stairs, then back at Eliza. The importance of those materials to her is clear, and before I can talk myself out of it, I'm heading for the steps.
“Matt, what are you doing?” Eliza asks, alarm clear in her voice.
“Which room is yours again?” I’m already stepping onto the first stair.
