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“We die.” My eyes sting as I focus on the next stitch. “I just…I don’t want you to go.”
I feel a slight tug on my hair and glance up.
“Just want to say…” He touches my chin, his expression somber. “It was really nice to know you.”
“Wolf.” Gritting my teeth, I keep my voice gentle. “You have the power to write your own story.”
“I did. It’s a dark comedy titled Already Dead.”
“Rewrite it. Change the narrative. Make it more empowering. The only thing standing between you and your happy ending in Disney World is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself. It sets you up to barely engage with us, and that disconnect cuts me to the core.”
“Okay, okay.” He holds up his arms in surrender. “I’ll let you have your world of make-believe.”
“Perception is reality. If your brain is convinced of the truth, it becomes the truth.”
He studies me, head tilted, and for a moment, I think I’m getting through to him.
Then he opens his mouth. “I’m not afraid to die.”
“But I am.” Outrage laces my tone. “I’m afraid for you to die. Your life has value and meaning. You mean everything to me and your brothers, even if you don’t feel that way. Don’t you get it? I need you.”
“Alright.” He hangs his head. “I’ll live, okay? I’ll survive for you.”
He meets my eyes, and a smile touches his lips.
A quiet, tender glow fills the air, a silent pact, a chance to breathe, and I take it.
I set aside the glove I’m mending, climb onto his lap, and hug him fiercely. He hugs me back, and it’s enough. Enough to close my eyes and smile with him, just a little.
67
Frankie
—
Ice-cold lips graze my cheek, startling me awake.
As my vision adjusts to the firelit room, I tumble into my favorite pair of unmatched eyes. Iridescent swirls of blue and gold hover inches away before I’m greeted with another kiss, this one directly on the mouth.
I stab my hands into Leo’s hair, the strands freezing my fingers. His mouth is arctic, his ears, his neck, everywhere I touch feels hypothermic.
I nudge him back to take a closer look. “Did you spend the night in the workshop?”
He nods and kisses me again, his tongue rubbing against mine, bringing with it the taste of minty snow. Friction warms our breaths, his lips soft and hungry. It makes me ache for him, pull him closer, ignore the audience. Forget our problems.
He breaks the kiss. “We’re heading out.”
My heart takes an icy plunge.
After we packed the hiking bags yesterday, we disassembled Denver’s bed. Moved the mattress close to the hearth. Broke apart the wood frame to use as firewood. Then the four of us curled up together beneath every blanket and rug in the cabin and fell asleep.
I knew Leo wouldn’t stay. He was too wound up, too determined to solve the generator situation.
“Has Denver spoken to you yet?” I tuck a braid behind his ear.
“Not a word.”
I wonder if he’ll talk to me. Not that I want anything to do with that, but he entertained genuine—genuinely fucked-up—conversation with me before. Maybe he’ll do it again.
Reluctantly, I crawl from beneath the covers and seek the heat from the fireplace. Kody and Wolf stand near the door, dressed in coats and boots.
“Thank you for mending our clothes.” Leo brushes his mouth over mine, his tongue tracing the seam. “We’ll come back. I promise.”
My voice dries up, my jaw clamped so tight my teeth ache.
“Don’t leave this room.” He rolls his lips together as if forcing the next word. “Please.”
Angling around him, I find Kody’s dark gaze. “What about your brother?”
“He’ll be guarding Denver.”
“You want me to sit in Denver’s bedroom alone for three days? While Kody freezes to death in the workshop?”
“He won’t freeze to death. But you might. It’s warmer and safer in here than anywhere else.”
As much as I want to argue, it’s pointless. They will always put my safety over theirs.
“I’m going to check on him and bring him food.” I sigh. “Otherwise, I’ll stay here.”
“Thank you.” He touches his brow to mine. “Forever.”
“Forever what?”
“Not what. Who. You’re my forever.”
“Who’s counting?”
“Indeed.” With a parting kiss on my mouth, he strides out of the room.
I hold my arms out for Wolf, and he swoops in, stealing a kiss, too.
Then they’re gone.
I stand at the bedroom window and watch them speed off on the snow machine with the cart in tow. As the monotonous landscape of white and black swallows them, I can’t look away. Long after they vanish, I linger there, hoping they’ll reappear.
“There’s too much draft from this window.” Kody drapes a heavy fur pelt around my shoulders. “I need to close it up with insulation.”
“No.” If I’m going to be trapped in here, he’s not taking my only view of outside. “If it gets too cold, I’ll hang a rug over it.”
