Page 18 of Cabin Fever Baby

I had only been out to my brother Callum's house once. But I was fully invested in getting to my parents’ place at this point.

My only choice was to inch along Lakeview Drive. The sky was that weird iridescent orange that told me there was much more snow to come. There had to be well over a foot already since I'd gotten out of the airport. That was a staggering amount for the two hours I had been white-knuckling it to Crescent Lake.

And I was the only idiot on the road.

Even seasoned Cove residents were staying in on this ridiculous night. I felt as if I'd been in the middle of a freaking snow globe for hours.

The conditions were near white-out now that I was right on the water. I didn't know what else to do but keep moving. Hell, I could barelyseethe lake at this point. Just weird lumps with lights under them that had to be some sort of holiday decoration.

I turned off the radio. The odd insulation of snow made for an absolute lack of sound. Just the wipers trying like hell to keep up with the fat flakes and my tires squeaking over the packed-down snow.

My back tire kicked out as I hit the bend around the lake, and I wrestled the wheel so as to not spin out into a ditch. No onewould freaking find me out here. The car shuddered and righted itself, and I slowed to a stop.

Maybe I should pull off, but I'd probably freaking freeze.

I glanced down at the gas gauge and saw I had less than half a tank available to me, which would not last through the night. Maybe until a plow went by, but with how my luck had been, the driver wouldn’t stop, anyway.

Who knew if the plows would even bother with this road until morning?

If I had my way, I’d be home next to a fire, that was for sure.

I patted Hilda. We were now officially in a relationship. "We got this." I pressed on the gas and resumed my painstaking route to Callum's place. My parents were next door, I was pretty sure, so at least I'd land somewhere close even if I had to trudge my way up to their house.

Not that I was dressed for snow.

I'd taken the time to stop off at my apartment and packed two weeks’ worth of clothes. Luckily, I’d had the forethought to send all my gifts to my parents’ house weeks ago. Jeans, trainers, and a sweatshirt were just fine for a plane ride, but not for this bullshit.

That was a problem for when I got there. Right now, I had to get to the house first.

I finally got around the bend and a massive cabin came into view. The white lights peeked out of the trees caked in snow like buttercream on a gingerbread house.

Picture perfect in a snowstorm. I wouldn't mind being inside of that idyllic, warm house about now.

Though warmth wasn’t a problem at the moment. I had the fan blowing cool air to combat my hot ass breath in this tin can.

My tires skidded.

"I didn't mean it, Hilda. I promise." I gripped the steering wheel. "I'll even buy you out of your contract with the mean rental car people if you just get me home."

The wheels shuddered again. Snow had probably built up under the wheel well.

“Shit.” I gripped the wheel.

Just then, a massive truck came around the bend—the kind with two slicing plow monstrosities that were at least double the height of my damn car, pushing a metric ton of snow at me.

The driver tried to divert it, but there was no stopping the wall of snow.

Bracing myself, I did something I hadn’t done in a damn long time.

I prayed.

SIX

6 Days til Christmas

This idea was definitely becomingone of my more expensive ones.

Sure, Ocean, buy a twelve-foot tree without thinking about the logistics of trimming said tree.