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“What’s the plan for the rest of this?” I asked. “If I see Nick, I might go ahead and kill him.”
“That’s not usually a good first greeting,” he replied. I gave him a flat look. “Stella.” He set his hands on my shoulders. “We’ve been stuck in a house for the last few days and you missed Christmas with your family. Talking to Nick can wait.”
“I don’t know if Icanwait. I’m mad just thinking about him.”
“And what if it goes south? What if he’s angry and thewhole night is ruined? We’ll talk to him today, but can we give it until after the party? You were heartbroken after missing Christmas, and you deserve to have fun, even if you’re glaring at Nick all night.”
I bit my lip. “Okay, I see your point. I do want to enjoy it.”
“We’ll play it cool.”
“Can we even do that?”
“I did it for years. The better question is, canyoudo it?”
I glared. “Keep teasing me and it’ll make it very easy.”
“Good news,” Amma said, walking in. “The city wasin better condition than here, and Nick isveryready for a party.”
“Great,” Alden replied, taking a step away from me. “I’ll drive.”
“Yes,” I said. “Please.”
I didn’t mean for my eyes to linger on him, but they did.
Amma caught it. Her smug grin made me wonder just how much she’d already deduced.
To be safe, I walked to the carveryfar from Alden and sat in the back seat for good measure.
Alden backed out of the driveway, but we slid as he was changing gears.
I tried not to let it show, but I was terrified of getting on the road, and he didn’t seem too thrilled either. We veered at every turn, and I couldn’t help but glance at him on the way back. His brow was creasedwith concentration, though he was far calmer than I felt.
If it were me driving, I would have been panicking.
Thankfully, it got easier once we were on the main roads. Snowplows had come through to all the major areas, and Nick lived right off of one.
We pulled into his apartment parking lot half an hour later. The nerves hit as we got out.
I needed to play it cool until we talked to my brother, but I wasn’t sure how to. I tried to remember how Alden and I were before, but all that took over my mind was what we had now. We needed to play this well to get through the party and avoid a possible fight while everyone was there.
I, of course, didn’t want to fight with Nick—I never did. Sure, we had squabbles like any brother and sister, but there was never a massive, earth-shattering argument.
This could be the day that changed that.
My heart raced as we walked in. But I barely got a glance at my brother before he pulled me into one of the tightest hugs of my life.
My anger dissipated momentarily. He had to be terrified not being able to reach either of us while we were stuck. With Alden there, I’d never been in danger.
“It’s so good to see you two.” Nick moved away from me and pulled Alden into the same tight hug.
“We’re fine, Nick.” Alden’s voice was soft, but I could hear it shake with nerves.
“Still. All of the reports coming out from people stuck were awful.” He shuddered.
“No worry for me?” Amma asked.
“You could keep yourself alive with a match and one pack of food,” he said. “And you had a phone.”