“Ready when you are. I was starting to sweat it, Soupman. It’s rough out there and getting worse every minute,” Azi said, not helping my churning worry.
“I can’t believe you’re actually doing this.” Bee slapped at my back and smacked my ass in the process. “Sorry,” she squeaked in a high voice. “I didn’t mean to—hey!”
I patted her ass lightly in retaliation. I hadn’t meant to. It was a reflex. We both stilled, neither acknowledging the weirdness before I kept walking again.
“Ah! Stop! Do my needs mean nothing?” she continued. “Can’t you just pretend I’m not here like the rest of the town? Why, of all the times, does somebody actually care about where I am?”
I had no idea what she was talking about, and I was too absorbed in my growing trepidation to focus on her ranting. I set her down just inside the tram doors, blocking her from any chance of escape. It was at least twenty degrees colder outsidethe shop on the loading dock. She huddled her arms tight around herself despite the fury that made her cheeks rosy. The cheeks on her face. Though there was a chance that now her ass …
I cleared my throat, determined to stay attentive. I scanned her from head to toe, then dropped her bag on the bench in the tram behind her. We had to get going, but that weird excuse of an outfit wouldn’t cut it.
“You’re going to freeze out there. Get your heavy coat on. And any other layers you have.” I jutted my chin in the direction of her duffel, which should have clothes along with the bricks that had to be in there.
“I came from work. I didn’t have time to change,” she said, not meeting my gaze.
“Is this all you have to wear?” I reached out to feel the material of the long coat she wore, which was hardly warm enough for a mild spring storm.
“No touchy.” She smacked my hand away.
I narrowed my eyes at her but lowered my hand. She huffed with annoyance. “I hadn’t planned to go outside.”
“Ever?”
She crossed her arms and glared.
“It’s winter. On the mountain,” I added.
“Thanks. I didn’t see that,” she said dryly.
I gestured to her high collar, and she flinched back again, turning away. “What have you got on under there?” My curiosity was piqued.
“Absolutely none of your business.”
I pinched the area between my eyes where a growing headache named Bee formed.
“Anything warm at all in that bag? The tram has a heater, but the wind cuts through.”
“I’ll just stay here where it’s nice and warm then. As planned.” Her face was scrunched up in a stubborn scowl.
“Hang on, Azi. Five more minutes,” I said through the radio as she glared at me.
“Really gotta move out, Soups,” he said.
“I’m trying,” I ground out. To Bee, I said, “Stay. Here. Or there will be consequences.”
She eyed behind me.
“Don’t even think about it,” I said.
“You can’t control what I think. I’ll think whatever I want.” She held my gaze, dark with fury. “I’m thinking about thingssohard right now.” She was defiant even as her teeth chattered just from standing near the threshold.
I didn’t like how my body reacted to her words. Even at the worst, most annoying moment of my life, a part of me still crushed on her and liked her defiance, her lack of fear. What would she trust me with? What would she let me do to her?
“Fine.” I scooped her back up, not even breaking a sweat, as she yelped. There was less resistance this time as I carried her over to the dusty old nylon snowsuits.
“Pick your size.” I set her down, holding her shoulders in place while facing the rack.
“I’m not buying these. Aside from being grossly overpriced, they’re very out of fashion,” she said with a curl of her lip.
