I couldn’t help wanting to make it better.
Even if he had enough spikes growing out of him and a literal neon sign that said: go away!
I sighed and waved the dog toward me. “C’mon, boy. My house is even nicer than his.” I had to raise my voice against the wind.
He bowed his head, his tail falling down between his legs as he followed slowly.
“I have delicious hamburger that I can cook up with some rice until I get you some dog food.”
His tail lifted again, swishing behind him.
“At least you want me for food.” I slowly climbed the winding steps to my door. I’d have to come out and shovel, but it wasn’t worth it until the wind gave me a break.
I stomped my boots on the porch and opened the door, the lights still on from when I left the day before. At least the powerhadn’t gone out. The blast of warm air made my skin tingle and my nose instantly run.
I urged the dog inside, panting a bit as I shut out the wind and leaned against the magenta door.
The dog instantly started sniffing around my abundance of rugs, pillows, and throw blankets that were draped over every corner of my living room. I liked it cozy and my eclecticism didn’t just run to my artwork.
Bright colors were splashed around the room from the dark burgundy walls of my living room to the deep jewel-toned teal of my couch. The carpets were bold geometric patterns that I’d bought from the Winter Wonderland artisan who’d come in from New York City over the holidays.
Between the gorgeous carpets and the blown glass I’d become obsessed with, I’d added quite a few pieces to my house lately.
I stripped out of my jacket and kicked off my boots. My phone slid out of my pocket and thunked to the floor. I picked it up, noticing the messages from my brother and mother. Skipping over my mom, I quickly skimmed the texts from Lance.
Lance:
You okay over there? You never have food.
You aren’t stuck in a snowbank are you?
At least let me know you’re alive.
Don’t make me send Keaton out there.
I grinned and quickly replied.
Me:
I’m alive. I actually got snowed in with my
I paused and erased that. I didn’t need to tell Lance about my new neighbor. He was oddly protective sometimes. Knowing there was a strange new dude living near me was just asking for my family to drop in and get nosy about it.
Me:
I’m alive. Just forgot my phone while I was in my studio.
At least that was plausible.
Instantly text bubbles started. My brother was perpetually online thanks to his job as a web designer and graphic artist. He was the only one who actually understood me. Though his artwork was more corporate in tone, at least he had a bit of creativity under the code that flooded his veins.
Lance:
Keep your damn phone in those stupid overalls.
I laughed. He knew me well. Overalls and jumpsuits were my uniform of choice while in my home studio.
I hated being hemmed in when I was working. In the summer I’d been known to wear next to nothing when I was really in the zone with a project.
