Page 124 of Consumed By You

“Okay, okay.”

He shifts course to avoid us crashing into the snow, guiding me.

“Think you can do this with one hand?”

I glance at him nervously. “I’ll try.”

He stops us and stands beside me, holding one of my hands.

“And we’re off.” I’m clumsy and fumbling, but thankfully able to stand upright.

“Look, you’re practically a pro.” He smiles warmly. With immense concentration, I risk glancing up at him to smile. His phone rings and he reaches with his other hand into his pocket for it.

“Benjamin Scott.”

He listens for a moment, glancing briefly at me, then shakes his head. “No, we need those records, Jack.”

Jack Upton. I remember him from when I worked at Scott Industries. He’s the vice president of the company. I wonder what they’re talking about.

“I don’t care. This guy is coming at us with everything he’s got. We need to know who we’re dealing with. Get them.”

He hangs up and stuffs the phone into his jacket, sighing.

“Problem?” I ask.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

He turns to his left, taking me with him.

***

I’m sitting on a bench removing the skates when I spot a group of children near a large snow pile, getting ready for a massive snowball fight. Benjamin went to get us hot chocolate from a nearby vendor.

I feel a cold chill to the back and I turn around in shock, seeing a little boy behind me.He threw a snowball at me!

I grin and reach down into the snow with my gloves on. He quickly jumps down to make a new one. Within seconds, I’m the target and nearly half a dozen little monsters are attacking me with snowballs.

I jump up and run, shrieking. The kids are laughing hysterically, obviously enjoying this. The parents are on standby, watching with amusement. I give up and deposit myself on the ground, my arms stretched out. I’m shivering but truly enjoying myself.

I move my arms and legs in and out repeatedly. “Look! I’m making a snow angel!”

They all look at one another and settle themselves down beside me, copying my movements.

After a few moments, I stand up to appraise my work. I catch sight of Benjamin walking up, his brows turned up curiously at my appearance. I run up to him.

“You’re covered in snow. You were getting whooped in that snowball fight.”

I take the Styrofoam cup from him. “It was five against one!”

The warm chocolate tastes and feels like heaven trickling down my throat. I can’t help the sound of comfort that escapes my lips.

He raises a hand to my face, removing flakes of snow from my cheeks. “I like this.”

That warm feeling shoots to my heart. “Me too.”

***

I check my phone before dinner, seeing a missed call from Kevin and Doris. I decide to call Kevin first, knowing he’s got to be losing it since I didn’t tell him I was leaving for the weekend.