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Nate and Trevor began pulling on their winter coats, while Vivienne reluctantly did the same. Jessica glanced around nervously, seemingly sensing the tension in the room.
I heard the door creak open, and a gust of cold air hit me. A blanket of white greeted us. It wasn’t just a light dusting—at least six inches of snow were on the ground, with more coming down heavily. The vehicles were partially buried, their shapes distorted by the accumulating snow.
Trevor took a step outside, and his boot immediately sank into the snow. He tried to walk forward, but the weight of the snow made it clear that driving out of here wasn’t an option.
He turned back, his face a mixture of frustration and resignation. “Well, I guess we’re here for the night. Do you guys mind?”
I wanted to say yes, I did mind, especially with Vivienne and her relentless pursuit of Mason. But I held my tongue. After all, it wasn’t their fault a storm had blown in.
Seeing an opportunity, Vivienne said sweetly, “Well, I assume there aren’t enough bedrooms for all of us. I can bunk up with Mason. You know, for old times’ sake?”
Mason’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing. The playful demeanor he’d carried earlier was replaced by frustration, and I could tell he had reached his breaking point.
“Viv,” he began, his voice strained. “Enough is enough. We broke up a year ago.” He paused and clenched his jaw. “Zoey is my girlfriend now. Your behavior tonight has been nothing short of embarrassing.”
The room went silent. You could’ve heard a pin drop.
I blinked in surprise, trying to process the weight of Mason’s words. The term “girlfriend” echoed in my mind. My heart rate accelerated, and a whirlwind of emotions surged through me. It was the first time he’d referred to me with such a definitive title.
I tried to mask my feelings, but the truth was, hearing him say that gave me a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, what we shared could have a future beyond our current situation.
Bodhi and Liam had their mouths open but thankfully stayed quiet.
Nate and Trevor exchanged surprised glances, clearly taken aback by Mason’s sudden confession. “Mason,” Nate began, his voice betraying his surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Before Mason could reply, realization dawned on Nate’s face. “Eric doesn’t know, does he?”
Everyone’s gazes shifted to me. My cheeks grew warm, not from embarrassment, but from a rush of emotions. Could Mason trust these people? They knew Eric. The flutter in my chest was a tug-of-war between exhilaration and unease.
Mason cleared his throat. “That was something we were going to handle when the time was right.”
Sensing the mounting tension and trying to be helpful, Jessica chirped in, “It’s not like we can leave right now. Let’s just all try to get along and make the best of it. It’s the Christmas season, after all.”
Mason sighed, and for the first time, he looked genuinely tired. “She’s right. Let’s just get through tonight.”
The lights flickered back on, and that seemed to push away the tension that had thickened the air. Everyone glanced around, faces painted with gratitude for the restored illumination.
The awkward silence was broken by the soft humming of the refrigerator and the gentle beep of the microwave’s timer.
Liam looked relieved. “Well, at least we won’t freeze tonight.”
Bodhi chuckled. “Speak for yourself. My toes likely have frostbite already.”
I offered a small smile. “All right, let’s figure out the sleeping arrangements. Mason, you can sleep with me tonight.”
Mason’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked at me with surprise. It wasn’t like we hadn’t shared intimate moments before, but this was different—this was a confirmation to everyone present that we were truly in a relationship. He gave me a nod of appreciation.
“Nate, you can take Mason’s room,” I continued.
I didn’t want to give that room to Vivienne.
Vivienne, who seemed to be on her best behavior now after Mason’s earlier reprimand, spoke softly. “Jessica and I can share a room if you have a spare.”
“Yes, great. There’s an extra guest room that nobody is using,” I replied. “Bodhi and Liam can take the rooms upstairs that they are already in. There’s a pull-out couch in the office for Trevor, or he can take any of the couches.”
I was uncomfortable offering up my parents’ or Eric’s room.
“I’ll take the office,” Trevor said, and I nodded.
