Page 5 of Unwrapping Ember
As the evening unfolds, Bella and I find ourselves wrapped in laughter and conversation, now sipping our water as if no time has passed since we last shared these moments together. It's as if we've traveled back to a simpler time, before everything turned upside down. I begin to unwind, the tension in my body easing away. But as I finish packing, a nagging thought strikes me: I need to make sure to keep my secret from my mother, who has an uncanny knack for sensing when I'm not being entirely honest.
I glance over at Bella, who has succumbed to sleep on the couch, and I can’t help but smile at the thought of how much I’ll miss her, even if I'll only be gone for a couple of weeks. When the moment comes for me to leave, I gently wake her, fully aware that she’d be upset if I slipped away without a word.
“Did you call your mom to tell her you’re leaving?” She asks, a hint of concern lacing her voice.
“Yes, I did,” I reply, rolling my eyes, even though I secretly cherish her caring nature. “She knows I’m coming.”
“Have a safe trip, and I’ll see you after break,” she yawns, pulling me into a massive hug that takes the breath right out of me.
I wave goodbye and make my way downstairs, dragging my suitcase behind me. Once everything is stowed away in the car, I turn on my favorite playlist and head out, squinting through the thick curtain offalling snow. The roads are worse than I anticipated, and I can only hope to reach my destination safely.
Sipping my large coffee from Dunkin, I drift into a daydream, haunted by the same nightmare that has plagued me for months. No matter how hard I try, I can’t escape the clutches of that dark memory. But I remind myself that I need to forget about it, especially since I’ll be at my mother’s soon, and one look at me, she’ll be able to tell that I’m hiding something.
Suddenly, my phone buzzes, jolting me from my thoughts. It’s Bella.
“Hey, be careful out there. The weather looks really bad,” she warns, concern evident in her tone.
“I will; don’t worry. Talk to you soon,” I assure her before ending the call, not wanting to be on the phone while driving in these conditions.
As I continue to drive, the snow becomes even more relentless. Yet, I keep my focus on the road, determined to reach my destination. But before long, the snow’s coming down with such ferocity that driving becomes nearly impossible. Recognizing where I am, I realize that my stepbrother's house is nearby. I take the next exit, my palms growing clammy around the steering wheel as nerves begin to take hold at the thought of stopping by unannounced.
It has been years since I last saw him, and uncertainty gnaws at me—how will he react to me showing up? With him and his friends now in their thirties, do they even want a younger sister barging into their lives? Yet, with the storm escalating outside, I feel I have no other choice.
Will he be angry if I drop by? Will he send me away even amidst such a fierce storm? The barrage of questions threatens to make me second-guess my decision, but I summon every ounce of courage and drive to his house regardless, holding my breath the entire time it seems.
Upon arriving, I take a deep breath, steeling myself for whatever awaits. I approach the door and knock, hoping he’ll be home. Moments later, I hear his voice from the Ring doorbell, sounding surprised yet welcoming.
Koda opens the door with a warm smile, instantly putting me at ease after all this time. His dark hair, tousled and piled loosely atop his head, accentuates the vibrant green of his eyes, which are framed by long, dark lashes. The soft light above casts gentle shadows across his chiseled jaw and defined cheekbones, which are barely covered by a rough layer of stubble from a missed shave.
Even dressed in a long-sleeve shirt, it’s clear just how strong he is as the fabric clings to his physique. Standing tall, towering over my petite five-foot frame, I feel an overwhelming urge to wrap myself around him, as if he were a comforting tower I could cling to forever.
“Wow, baby sis. You’ve grown up,” he laughs, stepping aside to allow me entry into his home without asking questions.
“I’m not a baby, Koda. I’m about to turn twenty-two—I’m an adult,” I retort playfully, a hint of flirtation in my tone. I flip my lavender hair over my shoulder, shaking off the last of the snowflakes that have settled there.
“Yeah, well, when you’re more than ten years younger than me, you’re still a baby.” He envelops me in a hug before I can step further inside, and I take a moment to savor the comforting embrace that I’ve missed for so long. “The guys are here too; I hope that’s okay,” he adds, taking my bags from me.
As I step into the living room, I notice Baine and Everest lounging on the couch. Baine glances up from his phone, a playful grin spreading across his face, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to drop by.” He winks, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Everest, with his impeccably styled black hair and piercing blue eyes, flashes a smile while chewing on the hoop embedded in his thick bottom lip. His imposing six-foot frame, adorned with muscles and tattoos, nods in agreement, and I can't help but smile at the familiarity of their presence. They’ve all changed dramatically, though in the best possibleways; the years have molded them into even more striking versions of themselves that I remember.
“I’ve missed you guys,” I say, warmth bubbling in my chest as I meet their familiar gazes, fighting to keep my emotions in check.
Koda sets my bags down and places a firm hand on my shoulder. “We’ve missed you too, little sis.” His voice is low and smooth, eliciting an unfamiliar thrill within me.
I settle between Everest and Baine as conversation flows effortlessly, catching up on each other's lives as if no time has passed since our last reunion.
Being back home with my brothers—even just for a little while—feels right. The familiar atmosphere washes over me like a warm embrace, easing my nerves and making me believe nothing has changed between us—almost as if Koda had never vanished from my life without an explanation.
Of course he did. And I need to know why.
“So, what brings you here unexpectedly?” Koda finally asks, sipping his Bud Light as his gaze drifts over me, making my skin tingle.
“I was heading home for Christmas, but the snow is absolutely furious,” I admit, catching the unmistakable traces of my Boston accent—the sound of home that I thought I had lost but which stays tucked away after all these years. The flicker in Koda’s green eyes sends a chill down my spine, a reminder of the place he has tried so hard to forget.
“You’re not going anywhere, Baby Girl,” he replies, his tone casual but heavy with gravity.