Page 10 of Witching You Weren't Snowed In

What we had might have burned bright, but it was short-lived, similar to my comical attempt at skiing when my parents forced me to get an outdoor hobby.

That’s where I met Leo—the ski instructor assigned to teach beginner lessons. Sure, the group was full of ten-year-olds, and we stayed on the bunny slope, but it turned out to be fun, and I felt comfortable being myself around him.

In school, Leo was the popular jock. But on the slopes, he was different—carefree, funny, patient. He made me laugh and helped me up every time I fell. It didn’t take long until I fell for him, too.

We became inseparable, hanging out after my lessons, and for one glorious season, I was secretly in love with my best friend. When he asked me out, I thought he felt the same way too. Until the night of our date, when he never showed. Lucky for me, his friends arrived to witness my humiliation. They laughed and told me Leo was never interested and he’d moved on to someone worth his time. In their eyes, I was still the weird girl—the witch—they made fun of.

Nothing was the same after, and I left townfor a new life in the city.

And that’s why we don’t fall in love with our ski instructors, folks. They’ll stab you in the heart with their ski pole.

I shoved the memories away before I could spiral. Leo and I were ancient history. There were skeletons in the Smithsonian who had a better chance of resurrection than our failed romance.

I focused on my phone. Unfortunately, the email wasn’t from the agency. It was from Delia.

Just in case you need some help to get started. Attached is an article on self-care. Though, I suppose if you’re reading this, you won’t like number five: Digital Detox.

It’s a doozy.

XOXODel

I rolled my eyes and clicked to open the article. Scanning the text, I made a note of the ways to reverse burnout, stopping before hitting number five. We weren’t touching that one yet. Probably never.

Power Naps:I slept eight hours so I can check that one as done.

Mindful Breathing:Sounds stressful.

Aromatherapy:Lavender makes me sneeze.

Walking in Nature:Are there bears in Cold Spell?

Dropping my head back, I consulted with the band members on the ceiling. They were noncommittal. I set my jaw andtossed my phone toward the foot of the bed. Stopping the snow was priority number one. It was the only way I’d get my life back on track.

I also had a side quest. Keeping up my assumed picture-perfect life was the key to keeping my past squarely in the past while I was in Cold Spell.

There was also the bonus objective to avoid Leo at all costs.

The two main goals overlapped. So I’d combine them and keep my eyes out for a certain rugged resort owner.

I’d start with walking in nature with the added twist of popping into the antique shop to find something to use as a fake trophy. Then I’d finish with some aromatherapy by way of inhaling a peppermint mocha.

That sounded pretty good.See!I could relax.