I clutch my chest, with feigned shock. “Did you just crack a joke? Should I call for help?”
“Don’t expect a repeat performance,” he warns, though his eyes crinkle at the corners. “I’m going to grab the other pillows from the living room for your foot. I’ll be back.” He stands, resting my leg on the bed.
“Can you get my phone, please? It’s in the front pouch of my carry-on next to my e-reader.”
“Sure.”
It hasn’t been much use with the lack of service, so I left it charging and figured I’d check it later.
When Shep returns he looks flushed. His face is tinged red, and he avoids meeting my eyes when he gives me my phone.
“Thanks,” I say, hesitating when I notice the tension in his jaw. “Is… everything okay?”
“Yeah, fine,” he mumbles.
It looks like he’s back to clipped answers, but I decide not to read too much into it.
I hold my breath as I check my phone. Now that the storm has eased up, I’m hoping I finally have service—squealing when the screen lights up with three bars.
“I’m going to call my friend Gemma. She hasn’t heard from me in a couple of days, and I don’t want her to worry,” I say.
Shep shrugs. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll start searching for places to stay in Pine Haven, too. The weather app shows another storm coming in tonight, but this one should clear up quickly, so I won’t be in your way for much longer.”
With only five days until Christmas, I’m anxious to find somewhere to stay through Christmas and get some decorationsto make it festive. It doesn’t feel like the most magical time of year without a tree and twinkling lights.
A shadow passes over Shep’s expression, but it disappears in an instant. “I’ll be in the kitchen making lunch while you call your friend.” He nods stiffly, and steps back and leaves before I can respond.
What was that all about?
Shep went from playful ribbing to awkward silence, and when I brought up leaving, he shut down completely. Maybe he’s not happy that another storm is coming. Not only am I crashing at his place, but I’m now even more of a useless guest with my sprained ankle. It’s no wonder he’s so tense.
A sharp pang shoots through my ankle. Ready for a distraction, I call Gemma.
She picks up on the second ring. “Finally! I was about to file a missing person’s report.”
“Sorry for not checking in sooner.” I switch the call to speaker so I can rest my head against the pillows. “I got stuck in a blizzard without service.”
“Whoa, are you okay?” Gemma’s voice sharpens with alarm. “Wait—I thought you were headed to Arizona for endless sunshine?”
“Apparently, if you drive a few hours north of Phoenix, you trade desert heat for icy mountain ranges,” I scoff.
Gemma gasps. “You’re kidding. I thought the whole state was palm trees and pool weather.”
“Me too,” I exclaim. “Clearly, we’re both overdue for a middle school geography refresher.”
She usually handles all my business travel, and when I manage it myself, I send her my itinerary for a quick check. But since this trip was personal and I planned it at the last minute, I didn’t want to pull her away from her well-deserved time with family in Vermont. I won’t make that mistake again.
“I peaked when I learned the name of every state capital,” Gemma states proudly. “At least your adventure will make for some great podcast material.”
“Believe it or not, that’s just the start,” I admit, laughing nervously. “The place I rented was a total scam, and theactualowner thought I was breaking in when he caught me looking through the window. But then I accusedhimof being a serial killer, so I guess we’re even.”
“Wow, you’re lucky you didn’t become a true crime feature. They’d have probably called it ‘Snow Way She’s Gone,’” Gemma teases.
I pause briefly, twisting my hair into a bun with the tie on my wrist. “You have connections to several true crime podcasters, so at least I’d go out knowing you’d give them my most flattering photos for the episode.”
She clicks her tongue. “Obviously. If the world’s watching, you’re going out in style.”
