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My lungs feel too small. I wipe a hand over my mouth. If that’s true, then maybe Cole and Eli are right. Maybe she does want to stay here. Maybe, if I ask, she won’t say no.
Giving the painting one last look, I head back into the hallway.
I finally find her in Eli’s room. She’s in his bed, curled up, scrolling through her phone. She glances up at me. “Riv! How was work? You look frozen.”
“Just got in. Work was fine.” I run my eyes over her. “Why are you lying down? Do you feel okay?”
She groans. “Eli cooked so much food. I think I need to hibernate to digest it all.”
My lips twitch. “He thinks that fattening you up will increase your chances of surviving up here.”
“Will it?”
“Probably.”
“I thought he just wanted me to have a bigger ass,” she mumbles. “Whatever. I’m not complaining.” She yawns, stretching delicately, then curls up in a tiny ball. Her hair is down, and it’s spread over the pillows in loose, chocolate-covered waves. I stand in the doorframe and just watch her. I can’t move.
I really, really don’t want to tell her about the car.
I don’t want to lose her, I realise. I can’t stand the thought of never seeing her again.
“It’s kinda hard to sleep when you’re being creepily watched,” she mumbles into the pillow.
I clear my throat. “Sorry. Can I warm up with you?”
Her smile brightens her whole face. She holds out her arms. “Please.”
I strip off my jumper and socks, sliding into the bed next to her. She cuddles up to my chest, and I wrap my arms around her, drawing her close.
“You’re so cold,” she whispers, tipping her face up to kiss my neck. She presses tiny, fluttery kisses up and down my throat, her lips barely brushing the skin. They feel good, but I don’t reciprocate.
She frowns, pulling back. “Wait. Was that not a come on?”
“I’m just…” I close my eyes. “I just want to hold you.”
“Oh,” she whispers. “Okay, then.” She tucks her face into my neck. “Hold away.”
Fuck, she’s cute. “Baby.”
“Baby.”She snugs closer. “I like that.”
I steel myself. “I have something to tell you.”
“Hm?”
“I got a call from the mechanic. Your car’s ready.” She tenses. I keep talking through the lump in my throat. “As soon as the snow clears, you’ll be free to go. You got the money for your commissions, right?”
She nods slowly. “Came into my account this morning.”
“Well, then. What are you going to do?” I stroke through her hair, pulling it away from her face.
She’s quiet for a bit, thinking. “I don’t know. I’m not ready to go home, yet. I guess I’ll just book into the Airbnb down in Kiruna. Maybe I’ll get lucky and finally get a glimpse of the lights.”
“You could go to Eli’s ski resort,” I offer. “Have him give you some lessons. I know he’s dying to get you on the slopes.”
She shakes her head. “No. No. I… can’t stay anywhere near here.”
My heart contracts. “Why not?”
