Snowed In Read online

  “It’s not like that.”

  “Sure, it is. You were perfectly happy with Nathalie before I moved here.”

  “Was I?”

  “Well, you’ve been together since you were twelve, so yeah. I mean, it’s just…”

  I didn’t know what it was.

  “I’ve gotta go.”

  I hurried down the steps, nearly tripping twice over the long skirt. I was suddenly hating the Victorians. Jeans were so much better for a hasty getaway.

  I slipped under the rope. A couple of people in the hallway stopped and stared at me.

  “I was looking for the bathroom.” I jerked my thumb toward the stairs. “It’s not up there. There’s nothing up there. It was totally boring.”

  I hurried past them, figuring I was going to become known as that crazy girl from Texas.

  I found Tara and Shaun in the kitchen, exactly as I’d left them.

  “Okay, I’m ready to go.” I smiled at Mr. Wynter. “You have a beautiful house. I can see why Mom hired you. Thanks.”

  He looked confused, like maybe he didn’t know what I was thanking him for. I didn’t know either, but it just seemed like the thing to say.

  Of course the worst part was leaving through the front door. Nathalie smiled brightly. “What did you think? Doesn’t my boyfriend have the coolest house?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Where’s your hat?”

  “Lost it. See you later.”

  “Okay. We’ll be heading over to the hotel soon. You can dance with my boyfriend if you want.”

  I so didn’t want.

  17

  “What was going on back there?” Tara asked when I finally slowed down.

  “Oh, nothing. I was just tired of touring Victorian houses. Like you said, seen one, seen ’em all.”

  Tara grabbed my arm and spun me around. “Ash, this is me. What is going on?”

  I took a deep breath. “He says he can’t stop thinking about me.”

  “I could have told you that,” Tara said. “It was pretty obvious when we walked in that he was glad to see you.”

  I pressed my hands to the sides of my head. “What if Nathalie figures it out? I should probably move back home.”

  That thought caused an unexpected ache in my chest. I was growing fond of the island. But I’d be the island slut if anyone found out what had happened between Josh and me.

  “You’re not going to move back home,” Tara said.

  I glowered at her. “You can order the fudge online.”

  “You’re not going to move back home,” she repeated.

  I nodded. She was right. I wasn’t going to leave Mom. I wasn’t going to leave the island. “He’s thinking about me because I’m a novelty, that’s all.”

  “I don’t think that’s the reason,” Shaun said.

  I glared at him. “Trust me, Shaun, a lot is going on here that you don’t know about.”

  “Tara told me he kissed you.”

  I frowned at Tara. “You told him?”

  “Well, yeah, I tell Shaun everything. He’s my boyfriend.”

  “I’m starting to hate that term. ‘My boyfriend.’”

  “Well, he is. But he’s not going to tell anyone.” She turned to Shaun. “So since you know more than Ash thinks you do, what do you think is the reason he’s thinking about her?”

  “Wait,” I ordered.

  Some people walked past. We all exchanged hellos. When they were far enough away that they couldn’t hear us, I said, “Okay. Spill it.”

  “Uh, actually I can’t. I mean, it’s a guy code.”

  “A. Guy. Code?” I asked.

  “Yeah, you know, two guys talking guy stuff. Our unwritten code is that we don’t talk to babes about it.”

  “How about your girlfriend? If she tells you stuff, shouldn’t you tell her stuff?”

  He looked guiltily at Tara. He did have emotions. I felt a little mean about putting him on the spot.

  “Never mind,” I said. “So what if he’s thinking about me? He’s not going to break up with Nathalie just to go on a date with me.”

  “A date?” Tara repeated. “You wouldn’t make an exception to your no-boyfriend rule for him?”

  “A rule doesn’t allow for exceptions.”

  “I so don’t get you sometimes.”

  I almost looked between her and Shaun and said, “Ditto.” But no way did I want to hurt either of their feelings. It wasn’t worth it to make my point.

  “Come on. Let’s just go to the dance.”

  I was numb, physically and emotionally, by the time we reached the hotel. It was a huge place. A front porch ran the length of it. Horse-drawn sleighs were lined up one after another. I guess to provide transport home afterward.

  Tara, of course, sighed and snuggled in closer to Shaun. “I want to go for a ride in one of those.”

  A lot of people were milling around on the porch. No kids our age. And the music drifting outside was definitely not the kind we usually listened to.

  “Do we want to do the dance?” I asked.

  “I’m kinda wiped out,” Tara said. “And I’m more interested in the sleigh ride. Dances I can go to at home. But a sleigh ride…”

  “Okay, go do the sleigh ride.”

  “Go do? You’re coming with us.”

  “I’m really in the mood to walk.”

  “Then we’ll walk with you.”

  “Tara, don’t be silly. You’re right. You may never get a chance to do this again. So do it now. With Shaun. I’m just going to walk.”

  “If you’re sure…”

  I could see how badly she wanted to do it. And I couldn’t blame her.

  “A hundred percent,” I said.

  Shaun paid the driver—I guess with his reserved money—at the front of the line. Then he and Tara climbed into the sleigh. The driver tucked a thick blanket over their laps.

  Tara looked so happy. When it came to revealing his emotions, Shaun might be a flatliner, but he’d obviously managed to win Tara over big-time.

  The driver slapped the reins over the backs of the horses and they took off, little bells attached to the reins jingling as they disappeared around the corner. I thought I saw Shaun lean in to kiss Tara—or maybe she leaned in to kiss him. But either way, I knew romantic-at-heart Tara was going to get a sleigh ride she’d never forget.

  By the time I got home I was coooold!

  I could smell something spicy coming from the kitchen. When I walked in, Mom was sitting at the table, making notes in a binder. She was wearing velour lounging pants and a tank top. Her fuzzy socked feet were on a chair.

  “Hi, sweetie,” she said. “I made some tension-reducing tea. It has chamomile. No caffeine. It’ll warm you and help you sleep.”

  How had she known that I’d be so tense I was close to snapping in two?

  “Why would I need help sleeping?” I mumbled as I poured myself a cup. I sat down across from Mom. “Are you tense?”

  She laughed lightly. “No, but I don’t believe a person can ever be too relaxed.”

  I took off my gloves and wrapped my hands around the mug.

  “I made some spice cake, too,” she said.

  “You’ve been busy. I thought you were going on the Victorian Walk.”

  “I did. I have lots of ideas now for decorating. I wanted to write them all down while they were fresh in my mind.”

  “You didn’t go to the dance?”

  She took a sip of tea and shook her head. “No, maybe next year. What did you think of the houses?”

  “I think they’re officially called cottages.”

  “I think you’re right. Did you see the Wynters’?” she asked.

  “Yeah, it was pretty awesome.”

  “I thought so, too.”

  She went back to scribbling in her binder.

  “Mom, can I ask you a question?”

  She looked up at me and smiled. “Of course, sweetie.”

  I was starting to get warm and