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“I’m wondering why we haven’t done that before, and when can we do it again?”
Boone’s lips curve deeper into a grin, and he opens his mouth to reply when a shrill beep sounds through the room, jolting us apart.
My eyes drop to his phone which is lit up with Jackson’s name as it trills and vibrates across the table.
“You better get that. I need to see if I have service too,” I say softly.
The moment is fully broken when I dip out of the kitchen and head toward my own vibrating phone sitting on his coffee table.
Talk about the worst timing in the world.
7
BOONE
My thumb hovers over the button to answer Jackson’s call. What would have been welcome last night—or even early this morning—I’m dreading now. I opened up to Jem in a way that I haven’t before, even to the guys I work with. My friends and family don’t even know the reason that I haven’t been back home in years.
But Jem? She understood. She didn’t judge me for not having the balls to go back home because I miss Mom.
She just gave me a hug and a very chaste kiss. One that I turned into more. And want to do again.
Before I can get too far into my head about the kiss, I press the accept button on Jackson’s call.
“Yeah?” I answer.
“Hey. Just checking for proof of life now that cell service is back up. You good?”
“Yeah. All good here.”
“How’s the leg?”
“Itches like a motherfucker and is a little sore, but otherwise fine.”
“You taking your antibiotics?”
“Yes, Mom,” I deadpan.
I step farther away from the living room, where I can hear Jem on the phone. It’s not that I don’t want Jackson to know that she’s here, it’s that I want to keep us in this little bubble for as long as I can. To maybe explore the heat from the kiss. Even if it’s only for the next few days or so until real life intrudes again.
“Well, the plow service is running through town right now, and they plan to hit the county roads by this evening or early tomorrow. You have enough supplies to hang till then?”
Fuck. So much for a few days. “I brought enough food and provisions to last me until next week. I’m good.”
“Unless the cell service dips out again, you call if you need anything. It’s going to be a minute before the plows get out to you, and I’m assuming that you’re buried in more snow than town since you’re higher up in the mountains.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Yeah. We got about three feet. How bad is it in town?”
“It’s not too bad. A couple of power lines went out, but they restored service early this morning. Other than that it’s just a shit ton of snow shoveling going on right now. Speaking of, I need to get down to the bakery and help Ally clear out.”
“Is she buried?”
“Mainly in customers who want hot coffee, but she called in her part-timers to help cover the rush. She hasn’t heard from Jem yet. School is closed and it’s an official snow day here in town.”
“I bet the kids are loving that.” I’d bet that Jem’s on the phone with Ally right now so I don’t bother saying anything.
“Yeah. I have to get down to the station and keep an eye on the kids that are on drag ass hill with their sleds. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do.” I disconnect the call and shove the device back into my pocket.
