Page 24

“Not now,” Stella interrupted. “I’m trying to figure out how to explain to Amma that I burned her bread pudding.”
I could only stare at her. Stella burned something? Was that even possible? I opened my mouth to ask how when I realized Amma wasn’t in the kitchen.
“Is Amma not in here?”
“Nope. She abandoned me to my own cooking, which obviously went poorly.”
“Where is she?”
“No idea, Alden. What do you need?”
“I need to tell her I finished the list.”
She finally turned to me. “You finished the list? Good. That means you can go.”
“I want to check with her first.”
“Alden,” she snapped, “whatever Amma needs, I’ll take care of. Now, will you please go back to whatever park ranger thing you have to do and leave?”
“Fine,” I said after a long pause. “I’ll go. Just stay safe. She might not be here.”
“She’s obviously in her room or doing something outside. It’s fine.”
“There’s a snowstorm coming.”
“My God, Alden.” She turned to me, green eyes full of fire. “Just go. I’m perfectly capable of handling things here, even if there is a massive snowstorm. I’ll find Amma and make sure she’s okay. The only thing I can’t do is deal with you being here anymore.”
“Stella.”
“Alden.” She stepped into my space. “Go.”
This was bad. We hadn’t been this close in years. The last thing I needed was for her to be so close, especially when I’d never put my feelings for her in a box like I should have.
“If Amma isn’t back, call someone.”
“I will. I’m not stupid.”
But maybeIwas.
Because I was thinking about staying, even though she was one wrong move away from pushing me out the door herself.
I let out a sigh, turning on my heel to leave.
The second I walked outside, I felt the ice under my feet.
Fuck,it had already started, which meant getting outof here was going to be a nightmare. I turned once more to the house, tempted to go back inside.
Amma is there,I said to myself.Stella doesn’t want you to stay.
It was a version of the mantra I told myself each time I stayed away from her. She didn’t want me around, which was exactly what she should feel. It made it easier for me to stay the fuck away.
The truck door was stuck shut, and it took me far too long to get it open. Then the truck slid as I was coming out of the driveway. I cursed but managed to keep it on track.
There had to have already been half an inch of ice on the ground, which was way ahead of schedule. I’d studied the forecasts, and there wasn’t supposed to be this much this fast.
This was bad. So bad.
Amma is there. Stella is fine.