The Dead of Winter (Seasons of Jefferson: Book 2) (35 page)

“WELL, HOW DO I LOOK
?” I struggle to open the top button of my suffocating collar, as I walk into T’s room looking for some kind of reassurance. Tonight is a big deal, and I don’t want to mess it up with a goofy looking outfit. I’m used to warm ups and tees, so I’m definitely out of my element trying to dress myself for a black tie event.

Relief comes over me when I hear the fox whistle. “Impressive.” Kaitlyn gives me the once over, raising her eyebrows when her eyes meet my shiny, new tie. “I didn’t think you knew how to tie one of those. Who has you looking so spiffy? I haven’t seen you dress like for … well, I’ve never seen you dress like that.”

“I’ve got a pretty special date tonight.”

“Really. You’ve done a good job of keeping it under wraps.”

“Well, I had to work pretty hard to make it happen. I wasn’t sure it was going to pan out.”

“It’s New Year’s Eve. Where are you taking her?”

“The party at the ski park, remember?”
Of course she’s not going to remember.
I haven’t talked about the party at all. I don’t want to make anyone feel bad that I’m ditching them tonight. Not to mention, I can’t answer the predicted onslaught of questions about “the new girl.” Not yet, anyway.

“Oh yeah, the one I didn’t have a chance to get into because you sent us home with Jenna.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. She’s a little bent out of shape too. I thought they’d at least give us a couple more guest passes, but we only got one per team, and ours is going to Tyler.”

“Jenna’s Ty?”

“No, Tyler R. We’re going on a double date with my teammate from the Dash.”

“It’s okay. The rest of us are going to the Fear Factor party at Timmy’s house. I hear it’s a pretty good time.”

“You’re not kidding. Last year, I heard Lane and Trenton dared him to jump off of his second story balcony into his swimming pool. Little did he know, they figured out how to fill it with jello first. Besides snapping his collar bone, I guess he was digging slime out of every hole in his body for a week.”

My stomach flips when I think of flying teenagers, wild animals, and tow ropes.
Crap. They’re planning to run down to the city park and try out the merry-go-round dare this year. I hope she doesn’t get herself killed doing something stupid.
“Do me a favor. Stay with Brody, will you? And don’t lose your head. I think they’re planning to do some outrageous stunts this year.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be safe. But what about you? Who is this mystery girl, anyway? I’d really like to get a thorough background check on this one.”

I know Kaitlyn is still ruffled over how my relationship with Peyton turned out. I need to reassure her that I’m going to be okay.
Sound casual.
“You don’t know her. She doesn’t live up here. And, she’s pretty cool. I think you’d really like her. She’s cute, feisty, and country to the core.”

“Really? How do you know her well enough to get that kind of info? Especially if she doesn’t even live here?”

“Well, she was at the snowmobile park that one day. Then, I’ve run into her a few times at ski practice. And, I already told you, she was my teammate for the Dash to the Pole.”

“Ah, the elusive snow princess. Always present, but never seen. I kind of want to meet this girl. Any chance you’ll be bringing her home?”

“I’m working on it.” I can’t help but smile when I imagine my family seeing Tangles for the first time. She’s like nobody they’ve ever met before. “Let’s see how tonight goes first.”

Kaitlyn looks down at her watch. “Well, you’d better get a move on it. Otherwise you’ll only be spending half the night with her.”

“Ty should be here any minute. He’s probably double checking his pits. He hasn’t had a date for a while, and he doesn’t want to mess this one up. He’s totally stoked to be going with the
hotties from the lift
, as he calls them.” I air quote
hotties from the lift
.

Kaitlyn laughs, “That kid. He’s so girl crazy.”

“Yeah, he chased one of them all over the ski park the other day. I’m not sure he even realizes it’s the same girl.” I have to laugh at the thought that he may not know his date is shiny, blue suit. “It’ll be worth the extra deodorant. She is pretty damn cute.”

The doorbell rings. “Oh, here, let me fix you really quick. Stay right there.” She runs into the bathroom and comes back in with a glop of green stuff on her hand.

“What are you doing?” I squint and pull back from the attacking blob.

“Trust me. She’s gonna love it.”

I close my eyes, and feel the cool jelly ooze into my scalp. She’s tugging at the ends of my hair.
Is she spiking it? Seriously?
“T, this is how I used to do my hair when I was nine. Please don’t do this to me. She already calls me a city boy.”

“Well, it’s too late to wash it out now. Take your chances. If she doesn’t like it, it’s only one night.”

“Yeah, like the most important night of my life. I don’t want to mess this up, T.”

A funny look crosses her face. It’s almost a look of amusement.

“What?”

“Oh nothing. It’s just, I like what I’m seeing here.” She stands away from me, smiling and nodding with approval. “You’re moving on. You actually care about this girl, don’t you?”

I hadn’t really thought about it that way.
Moving on.
When I’m around her it feels good. It feels right. I’m excited about going on a date with Tangles. I try to bite the side of my cheek to hold back the smile, but it pulls itself away from my clenched jaw. I have to chuckle.

“You can’t hide it, can you?” she giggles. “Well, it’s good to see she’s putting a little life back into you. That’s quite a feat, you know … bringing something back to life in the dead of winter. She must be doing something right.”

This is getting too deep. I can’t think like this right now.
I just want to have some fun with a pretty, funny girl.
“Alright, alright. Thanks for your approval. But I gotta go.” I throw my head back toward the door. “Ty’s waiting, remember?”

“Be safe, big brother.”

“You too.”

My hand is shaky as I pull the handle to release the door.
I can do this. I can do this.
I have to convince myself to keep going. My legs are shaky, but not only from the fear of the ride in the blustery snow. I’m a bundle of nerves. I’ve been clenching my muscles for an entire hour, trying to stop the insane butterflies from pounding an escape through the very core of my body.
Why does the icy air always seem to make them intensify?

I can’t believe I’m going on an actual date with her.
I can’t focus. I look up toward the glowing lodge, surrounded by fiery torches and twinkling lights. I see silhouettes of sleekly dressed ladies popping through the windows.
I wonder if she’s already up there.
She’s supposed to meet me at the Mountain Shop to get her ticket.
I look down at my watch.
7:15, crap. We’re late.
She’s still got to be outside. Waiting for me.
I rush to slide out of Ty’s monster rig, nearly losing my footing. Luckily, I find the truck bed, just before my feet completely slide out from beneath me.

“You okay there, buddy?” Ty laughs as he pats me on the back. “I’ve never seen you so fidgety before. You were bouncing around like a jackhammer the whole way here. Reminds me of kindergarten, when we were all in the dugout, and you had to go to the bathroom. The coach wouldn’t let you, remember?”

“How could I forget? I peed my pants right there on the first baseman’s shoe. Most embarrassing moment of my life.”

“Hey, but she still let you kiss her inside the jungle gym after the game. She must not have been too traumatized by it.”

“That’s a rumor, dude. A big fat rumor. It never happened.”
I hope that sounds convincing.

“Mmmhmm. Yep. Whatever you say. By the way, I was there.”

I’ll never live that damn story down. Change of subject.
“It’s hot out here.” I pull off my jacket and toss it in the truck, then begin tugging at my button-up collar. I’ve already released a button, but I feel like I’m suffocating inside of this thing.
I hope I wore enough deodorant.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ty looks up in the sky and opens his mouth to catch a snowflake. “You can’t be that hot. It’s cold enough to snow. You’ve got it pretty bad, don’t you?”

“Wait til you see who’s waiting up there for you. She’s gonna warm you up real fast too. I guarantee it.”

“Really? Well, now I’m intrigued.”

We’re interrupted by a text alert on my phone. I reach down and pull it out of my pocket.

TANGLES: Slow again. Should’ve expected that. Where are you?

ME: In the parking lot. Almost there. Are you always this impatient?

TANGLES: Only when I really want something.

My face heats up. It’s hard to swallow. My manly bullets are pinging all over my body.

ME: And what is it you want?

TANGLES: Hurry your ass up here and find out!

Gulp.
A new rush of blood finds its way to my face. I can hear my pulse beating in my ears. This girl’s going to kill me, and I haven’t even seen her yet. “Hurry, Ty. They’re waiting for us.” I walk faster. I’m sure I look like I’m trying to walk on a conveyor belt as my feet slip beneath me over and over again, trying to find traction on the icy surface.

We finally reach the corner of the building. I re-button my collar, run my fingers through my hair, and straighten my tie one more time before we round the corner.

“You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

In the distance, I spot it right away. That curly, brown hair. From here, she looks dainty. She’s dressed in a black peacoat, huddled next to little Jessie May. She’s got to have the prettiest backside I’ve ever seen. From her shapely legs to her fancy boots, I can’t take my eyes off of her. I take a deep breath and let it out. “There they are.” I point.

“Where?” Ty asks as we get closer.

“Right there. Next to the shop. Black and blue coats.”

I watch Tyler’s face change as he squints to see them better. “Holy…” He looks at me, mouth agape. “Is that?” He looks again. “I get shiny, blue suit?”

I proudly nod, “Yep,” popping my “p” with gusto.

“How the hell did you make this happen? I chased that girl all over the mountain the other night and never even got close.”

I watch Tyler’s face flush red. “How’s the temperature now?” He doesn’t answer, but I know when he loosens his collar, that we are both in trouble tonight.

I look back down at my phone to check the time. There it is, staring up at me, her last text.

TANGLES: Hurry your ass up here and find out!

When we finally reach them, the girls are huddled close. They look like they’re freezing. I wish I could offer her my jacket right now, but I left it in the truck.
Guess that’s what I get for having manly hot flashes.
“Tangles, Jessie May, right behind you.”

Slowly the girls turn toward me. I can’t be quite sure, but I think Tyler gasps just as loud as I do at the sight before us. Shocked by our lack of self-control, we grimace toward each other. Tyler whispers, “Did we just do that?” All I can do is pinch my face and nod.

I look up to see the amusement covering the girls’ faces.
She’s
going to have something to say about this. I can feel it coming.
Wait for it.

“Oh come on. Seriously? You can’t breathe? It wasn’t that far. Time to hit the gym boys.”

And she does it again. Why do I love it when she insults me like that?
Probably because it’s always accompanied by a dimple and a smile. Putting that kind of thought into me is her way of flirting. I know it. And I know she knows I know it. Time to knock her off guard.

“It wasn’t the run that took my breath away,” I wink and double click my tongue.

I study her reaction.
Did I just see her flinch?
She quickly wraps her arms around her waist. I watch as the mauve slowly creeps its way across her cheeks. Her jaw is clenched tight, but I swear, I can still hear her teeth chattering.
Either she’s extremely cold, or
I just made her nervous
. She takes a deep breath that audibly quivers on the way out.
Holy shit, she’s not cold. I
g
ot her.

Jessie May laughs. “I can’t believe it! I’m standing in the presence of the first boys to ever stun my cousin into silence. Well done, boys. Well done.” She nods, looking back at Tangles. “Well, since she doesn’t know how to talk anymore, allow me to introduce myself.” She holds her hand out to Tyler. “I’m Jessie May. We met on the lift the other day. Well, sort of. Okay, not really. But thanks for coming.”

“My pleasure.” Not letting go of her hand, he slowly pulls it to his lips and kisses it.

I watch Tangles turn her head and fake gag. “Alright Prince Charming. Let’s take this show inside.”

“Hey, I just remembered. I ran all the way up here because you wanted something. What was it?”

Tangles holds out her hand. “Those tickets. Hand ‘em over. It’s cold out here.”