Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)
Connor pokes his head in the room. “I thought I’d find you here.”
“Just showing the girls my favorite room,” Dred murmurs.
“Mine, too,” Connor replies as he crosses over to her.
The temperature in the room goes up by three degrees as their eyes meet.
“We’ll let you settle in.” Hammer grabs my hand. “Let’s unpack.”
We hustle into the hall, and I pull the door closed.
“Did you see the rolling ladder in the corner?” I whisper.
Hammer’s eyes light up. “Oh yeah, those two are going to bone Atonement style, for sure.”
At the sound of her voice, Hollis pokes his head into the hall. “There you are, Princess. Did you know there’s a pool and a hot tub on the main floor?”
Hammer smiles up at him. “We’ll have to check them out later.”
“I’ll see you two in a bit.” I keep walking, Hammer’s giggle floating down the hall after me.
I love being with my friends, but when I’m surrounded by all this love, the loneliness is a lot. It makes me hopeful and scared. They’re still madly in love now, but what happens when two decades pass and new love fades in the predictability of routine? Will they endure, or will some of them end up like my parents? How do I know which will be which?
I step into my Nutcracker themed room, shaking off my worries as I check my phone I reluctantly open the one from my mom.
Mom
Please message to let me know you made it to the lodge safely.
I shove down the guilt over my irritation and message back.
Tally
Here safe and sound! Have fun tonight!
I tuck my phone away before she messages back.
The holidays with my family were awkward and uncomfortable. When I couldn’t actively avoid my parents, I divided my time between coaxing a teary Fenna out of her room to play cello for us and helping Ties build a robot—something I’m decidedly terrible at. But both things were better than being cornered by my mom and dad so we could talk about how we’re coping. The whole ordeal was exhausting and emotional, and aside from driving Fenna to cello lessons, taking her to the cat shelter, and attending my brother’s robotics competition a couple of days ago, I’ve been successfully dodging my parents.
But now I’m here with my friends, and I’m hopeful that the awkwardness of Christmas won’t follow me through the weekend. Along with the Grace twins, Kellan, Quinn, Flip, and I are the uncoupled of the group. Flip has been messaging me every time he thinks he’s stumbled upon one of my favorite scenes lately, so I have hope. He’s been startlingly accurate, too.
I finish unpacking and head down to the great room. The twins are already there, snacks spread out on the table.
“How much do you love your room?” Everly asks as she pops a peanut butter-filled pretzel into her mouth.
“It’s perfect.” I drop into a plush chair that could easily fit two.
“Yay!” Everly claps. “I helped Connor and Dred assign all the rooms.”
“What’s your room’s theme?”
“I have the Poe room,” Everly replies.
“And I have the Musical Night Sky.” Victor stacks cheese and prosciutto on a cracker.
“We can show you later, if you want,” Everly says.
“I’d love that.” The twins are the same age I was when I interned for the Terror. And in grade twelve, like Ties. Hemi and Hammer never made a big deal about me being younger and immediately folded me into their group. I feel understood by them in a way I often don’t with university peers beyond my small circle of friends.
Flip appears in the living room wearing black joggers, a Terror hoodie, and a pair of festive socks. He’s carrying my most recent book suggestion, a bookmark tassel marking his spot. He’s close to the end.
My heart stutters and then gallops as his eyes find mine.
He grins impishly and sings, surprisingly in tune, “Do you want to build a snowman?”
Everly springs off the couch and bounces toward the door. “Yes! Me! Let’s go!”
Victor is right on her heels.
Flip crosses to me and extends a hand, eyes warm and hopeful. “You in?”
My heart aches knowing he’ll never be more than a friend, but I accept the peace offering. “Yeah, I’m in.”
I slip my hand into his, warmth zipping through my veins as he pulls me out of the chair. His fingers are still wrapped around mine. I try to break the sudden tension by twirling away from him.
His smile widens. “I could watch you dance all day.”
“I could watch you watch me dance all day,” I fire back without thinking. Before I can apologize for making things awkward, again, Quinn and Kellan come down the stairs.
“Where my party people at?” Kellan calls.
“All the couples are boning, but the rest of us are heading outside to play with snowballs!” I reply. My whole face is now on fire. Flip coughs to cover his laugh.