Page 91 of PS: I Hate You
If it weren’t for the risk of getting entombed in the rental car by fast-falling snow, I would’ve sat in stunned silence for another hour.
“You’re all I see.”
That’s what Dom said. Aboutme.
Then he says, “Get out of the car, Maddie. You’re not allowed to freeze to death.”
Slightly less life-altering than the former statement.
Dom climbs out from behind the wheel, then circles around to my door, helping me from the car and holding my hand as we trudge through the steadily growing snowdrifts. If our hike had taken longer, I’m not sure even Dom could have driven us back here. We knock the clinging snow off our boots before pushing into the warm house. There’s a real fire burning in the sitting room that I wish I could hurry over to and soak in the smoky heat.
But I follow Dom to the front desk instead.
“Oh goodness! Did you two get turned around by the storm?” Sandra, a gray-haired white woman with kind blue eyes, gazes at us with concern from her spot behind the desk. She co-owns the B&B with her husband, Alan, a soft-spoken Korean American man with hooded eyes and an easy smile.
“It did.” Dom offers Sandra a rueful smile. “Would we be able to book our rooms for an extra night?”
“Oh, well, those rooms are already claimed, unfortunately.”
My stomach dips as I meet Dom’s eyes.
What are we going to do?
Even driving across town would be treacherous at this point.
“But,” Sandra chirps, “don’t you worry. We’ve got space for you all. The Morning Room—we call it that because it has the best light first thing in the morning—is open. You’ll have to bunk together, but there’s a queen bed and a daybed in there. Plenty of room. How’s that sound?”
Dom and I meet stares again, only I can’t read a single thought on his stoic face.
Together.
Sleeping together.
In aroomtogether, I remind myself.Not sleeping together, exactly.
“Yeah.” I croak the word when I realize Dom is waiting for my final say on the matter. I clear my throat. “That would be great.”
It’s not like we have any other choice.
I accept our key as Dom heads out to the car to grab our bags. Like a moth, I’m drawn toward the fire, standing in the radius of its glow. A moment later Dom joins me, his body giving off almost as much heat as the bare flames dancing near my fingers, despite his having just come in from the snow.
“We might not be able to make it to North Dakota tomorrow, either, if this keeps up,” he murmurs.
I follow his gaze to the window, where the snow continues to fall in a white blur. Wind rattles the windows, and I soak in the ambiance of the place.
“We can see how it is in the morning. If it’s still coming down, maybe Sandra will let us book the Morning Room for another night.”
Another night sleeping in the same room as Dom.
You’re all I see.
My skin flushes, but I easily blame the flames.
He nods and we stand beside each other for a stretch until Sandra peeks her head in the sitting area.
“Getting rough out there. Don’t you worry, though. Alan is making sandwiches and I’ve got soup brewing. You come to the dining room once you get settled, and we’ll feed you.”
“Thank you, Sandra,” Dom says, resting his hand low on my back to guide me away from the fire, as if he thinks I can’t be trusted with it if he leaves the room.