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Ice was less visible. Ice was more dangerous. And it waseverywhere.I slowly sat up, seeing that Alden’s truck was indeed gone.
Oh my God. Could I even survive in this? Did I know how to stoke a fire? Break logs to use in the stove?
Panic made my throat close. I’d managed to keep my cool throughout everything, butthiswas way worse than I could have imagined.
I slowly stood on shaky legs, eyes on the scenery. Ice didn’t immediately turn everything white. It instead coated everything in a clear, dangerous concoction. While our area didn’t get much snow, we sometimes got ice, but it quickly melted because of the warmer weather.
But we were in a cold front, one destined to last for a long time.
I was hyperventilating. I’d stayed too long. I was too confident.
And then a pair of hands clamped down on my shoulders.
I let out a bloodcurdling scream, my mind going a mile a minute.
Who the fuck was out in this weather? Why were they grabbing me?
And wasn’t this ice bad enough? Did Ihaveto get murdered too?
I tried to fight back, but it led to me falling onto my knees.
The hands tightened.
“Stella, it’s me. It’s Alden.”
My eyes finally met his. Both of our breaths were quick.
I didn’t usually feel relief when Alden was in front of me, but these were not normal circumstances. As much as I hated him, I hated the idea of being alone in this mess of a situation more.
“Wha—why are you out of breath?” I managed to gasp. “Where’s your truck?”
“I ran here.”
“Youwhat?”
“I didn’t know for sure if you were alone or not. And I’m not leaving you in this.”
I didn’t understand. He’d left me before. He shouldeasilybe able to do it again.
But even with our past, relief made my eyes water. The panic ebbed, replaced with the feeling of gratitude that Alden may have broken my heart, but he didn’t leave me in this ice storm.
“Why didn’t you drive back?” I asked, eyes on the empty driveway.
“The truck went off the road about half a mile out.”
“So, you’re stuck here?”
“I could have—” He paused. “Would it make you feel better if I said yes?”
“You chose to be here? Inthis?”
He nodded.
My jaw dropped. It was then I realized that I was still in his grip and that I had the stupid urge to lean into it to shield myself from the cold.
I wrenched myself away, reminding myself just what Alden had done to me.
“This is a disaster. Can we get to your truck? Can we get out?”