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I was never alone. And even though they didn’t say it, I knew what they were trying to tell me: I’d never be aloneagain.
* * *
A few weeksafter my mother’s funeral, after Michael had flown back up to New York, I woke to the soft sound of footsteps in the hallway. They were moving so slowly that I knew whoever it was meant to be quiet. I sat up, rubbing my eyes with my palms and groaning as a yawn echoed up my chest. After a moment more, I tugged the covers off and shivered as a wave of chill hit my bare legs. Continuing to shiver, I hurried out of the bed, grabbed a pair of sweatpants and yanked them up my legs, over the sleep shorts I'd worn to bed the night before.Why was it so cold?Iwondered.
I went to the door of my bedroom and peeked my head out. Texas stopped at the end of the hallway and turned back when he heard my door open. I blinked blearily at him and he smiled, waving meforward.
"Come on, come see," hewhispered.
Frowning, I crept out into the hallway after him. It was early. Far too early for most of the house to be awake, but for some reason this didn't feel like a Texas prank. He waited for me at the end of the hall, and when I approached, he reached out and took my hand, pulling me behind him as we headed for thekitchen.
When the sliding backdoors came into view, I stopped. A gasp slipped free from between mylips.
"Isn't it pretty?" Texas asked. "I saw it from outside my bedroomwindow."
A solid blanket of white covered the ground outside. "But..." I approached slowly. “Snow?”
“Yeah.” He nodded his head enthusiastically. “The weather report said we might be gettingit.”
“We never get snow here,” Isaid.
He chuckled quietly. “Iknow.”
“It’s beautiful.” I released Texas’ hand and pressed mine against the glass separating us from the outside. The soft, cloud-like substance covered everything—from the lawn chairs to the patio and the grass. It looked like a winter wonderland. There was something precious about how untouched itwas.
“Want to go outside?” Texasasked.
I turned wide eyes on him and nodded fervently. He laughed. “Come on, let’s go get some more clothes onthen.”
Both of us rushed back to our rooms and the next time we met, we were both dressed from head to toe. Thick pants. Boots. Long sleeves. Sweaters. Coats. Hats and scarves. We went all out. When we reached the backdoor once more, we were joined by Bellamy—who was dressed the same as wewere.
“Heard you getting ready,” Bellamy said with a grin. “Thought we’d joinyou.”
Unable to help myself, I grinned back. “Let’sgo!”
Texas slid the door open and I dashed outside before anyone else had the opportunity, loving the feel of my boots making the first footprints in thesnow.
“Hey wait up!” I giggled and rushed ahead as Texas’ call followed afterme.
Scooping up a handful of snow and mashing it down into a semi-circular shape, I stopped, whirled, and tossed it straight at him. The ball of slushy snow smacked his face and slid down hisneck.
“Shit! Oh, Spider-Monkey you are in so much trouble. That shit’scold!”
Laughing, I sprinted away, heading around the side of the pool house. I wondered if Grayson was awake yet. I found out he was a moment later, as I was circling the other side of the building when he stepped out and caughtme.
“Ah. Ah. Ah. Babydoll. No running from your punishment,” hesaid.
“Grayson!” I shrieked in outrage and betrayal as Texas rushed up behind me and dumped a handful of snow down the back of my coat and shirt. I screamed and thrashed, laughing and slapping out at the two of them as they laughed back. Grayson dropped me and ducked away as I swung myfist.
“Run!” Texas ordered and both of them dashedaway.
“You—damn!” I wiggled, flapping the back of my clothes, trying to get the snow out. It melted against me as I moved. “You assholes!” Iscreamed.
I heard the soft stomps of their rushing footsteps as they sprinted away. I ran around the rest of the pool house, hoping to cut them off, when I ran headlong into Bellamy. I slipped on the soft wet ground and nearly went sprawling backwards before he caughtme.
“You okay?” he asked, frowning as he dusted off some extra snow that clung to the back of mycoat.
“No,” I snapped. “I’m vengeful. Wanna help spread some holiday cheer?” Iasked.
