Freezing Season

Emilia

Her neighbor consumed her thoughts as she straightened out the bent branches of her tree. She’d known he was handsome, but up close?

He was beautiful from the depths of his autumnal eyes to the raspy expressions of his voice. All the times she tried to engage him in conversation flipped through her mind.

Had she noticed it then?

She wasn’t sure.

Usually, when she saw him, she was in a hurry or on her way back from work. And he kept odd hours at his job. What his career was, she didn’t know. But he came and went at random times, so she assumed he worked for himself or was on shifts.

He was already here when she moved in last summer, but she didn’t meet him until a week later. He’d been away and looked exhausted as she left for work just as he returned. And she forgot to ask his name.

Time wore on. They occasionally ran into each other and it was too awkward to ask what it was. She took to calling him the silent shadow in her head instead. Work took up much of her day.

Courting clients to entice them to hire her company took many evening hours from her. She usually spent her time off with Mel and her boyfriend Drake. Her social life was spotty in this tiny town, but she liked it.

It had a certain charm that she had felt nowhere else she’d lived. Shoving thoughts of her pretty neighbor aside, she stepped back to assess the Christmas tree.

With a satisfied nod, Emilia deemed it acceptable. Realizing she hadn’t yet brought the decorations up, she sighed, grabbed her jacket, and made to leave her cozy home again.

As she opened the door, she glanced down and immediately turned to look at Luke’s. A warmth spread under her skin as she bent to retrieve the bags he’d gone out of his way to collect and bring to her.

She wanted to knock on his door. Thank him. See if she could make him talk to her, but she wasn’t sure how he’d react.

This was new ground, and it was shaky. She took them inside and kicked the door shut with a bang so he knew she had them. How lovely of him. 

Her smile was almost permanent as she turned on some music. Lighting a few candles as the daylight outside dimmed, and began dressing the sorry-looking tree.

By the time she was done, it looked like a bunch of elves had thrown up copious amounts of glitter and baubles. She grabbed a stool to place the star on top. It sat crooked, but she didn’t care.

Luke’s thoughtfulness charmed her too deeply. She’d worry about it crashing down while she slept later.

The only gifts she put under it were those she bought for her loved ones, and a little something she purchased for herself. She and Mel would buy one another a gift, something fun, silly, or scandalous. A tradition they had since they were kids.

They used to buy each other toys and books. When they were older, it was makeup or a spa trip. Now that they had grown up, they continued the tradition and tried to outdo the year before, seeing who could mortify the other most.

They leaned toward the sexual side. She was itching to open it. Luckily, they had both sent them before their plans went down the proverbial toilet. So she would have something to open on the day.

Not feeling like cooking, she headed to her tiny kitchen and searched through the freezer for something she could heat in the microwave while singing along to the Christmas song playing on her phone.

She fished out a frozen lasagne and followed its directions. Grabbing a plate fork and pouring a drink while it cooked. Sloppy.

It slid onto the plate with a whimper she echoed. She ate it on the couch and watched cheesy Christmas movies, sipping her wine between bites.

Night had fallen along with at least four feet of snow. It showed no signs of slowing as she shivered and rose to turn the heating higher.

She dragged her hand over the radiator in the hall, frowning when it was stone cold. She bolted for the thermostat.

“No, no, no,” she said under her breath as she ran to the thermostat and saw the temp dropping fast. It seemed to speed-run as she scowled at it and pressed all the buttons.

Failing to get it working, she searched online for ways to fix it. Every article told her it needed to be looked at by a professional. Her heart fell to the floor as she cursed her terrible luck.

The wind outside howled, sending snow flurries to cake her windows. She paced and fretted, chewing her thumbnail, feeling the warmth bleeding out of her as she fought with herself.

Luke said to call for him if she needed help, but what could he do? She very much doubted he knew how to fix it, and he’d already rescued her earlier.

It chafed at her pride to know she couldn’t sort this issue herself. Grumbling to herself, she stared and stared out the window.

Through the gaps between snowflakes, all she saw was white. It was as if the snow was intensifying with her worrying.

Then she tried to call her landlord and, when that failed, any handyman she could find, she was met with disdain.

No one could make it through the storm to help her, and she was told to bundle up, wait it out, and they’d be there as soon as the roads were clear.

Her eyes prickled as she hung up again. She would freeze before they got to her. It wouldn’t be long before the power went off.

It always did during heavy storms, and she would be fucked when it happened, and not in the way she typically liked.

A growl slipped free of her teeth. She huffed and gave in, gathering all her steely strength to knock on Luke’s door.

She didn’t bother locking hers behind her as she jogged to it and battered her fist against the gelid wood.

Her pulse thudded in her ears. A flush crept up her neck as she heard the clatter of his dog’s nails as it ran to the door and barked so loudly she jumped back in fright.

“Storm! Back to bed.” Luke’s muffled voice clipped as a key turned, and he opened the door.

Storm?

That made sense for him, she decided, and she took a deep breath as his eyes ran over her, catching her twisting her hands as she couldn’t make her mouth work.

Luke arched a brow and spoke in a soothing tone.

“She won’t hurt you. She’s inside. Is everythin’ okay?”

She nodded and babbled. “She just shocked me, sorry. I don’t think you can help me, but I have to try anyway. My heating isn’t working, and no one will agree to fix it. It’s already getting too cold, and the snow is getting worse, and I—I didn’t know what to do.”

Luke scratched at his bearded jaw as his gaze softened. Such pretty eyes, she thought. She clasped her hands together to keep from fidgeting.

“I’ll have a look, but you’re right. I don’t know how to fix it if it’s broken,” He said.

She knew that when she came to him, but her stomach still became a nest of snakes as she nodded.

“I know. Thank you. I’m sorry for disturbing you.” She said, waiting for him to slip his shoes on and letting him follow her inside her apartment.

“You’re alright. I said I’d help if I could,” Luke replied, and she had no response, too aware of him walking mere inches behind her.

Like a current was pushing against her lower back as his steps fell in line with hers.

As she showed him to the thermostat, he brushed by her. The slight contact was akin to static crawling along her arm as he squinted at the display, showing the temp had dropped even lower in the time it took for her to get him inside.

His scent was warm and comforting somehow. She hovered at his side, gaze flicking between his unreadable expression and her broken heating.

“How long has it been like this?” He said, watching her out of the corner of his eye as she shrugged.

“I’m not sure. I only noticed when I got cold and went to turn it up.”

His sigh as he shook his head and raked a hand through his tousled hair was forlorn. What little hope she had in him fixing it frittered away as he looked her in the eye.

Apologies shone in his earthen eyes.

“It must be the storm. Mine is working for now, but it’s gone down before. Do you have anywhere you can go?” He said, and it was the most she’d heard from him, and she hated it wasn’t something interesting.

“No. I was supposed to visit my friends, but the snow put a stop to that. I never planned to be here over the Holidays,” She admitted as he straightened and leaned against the wall.

“It’s supposed to last for days. By the time someone can get here...” He didn’t finish the thought, and she wanted to stomp her foot and scream at the sky, her temper sparking as she broke eye contact and crossed her arms.

“I’ll be a popsicle. Lovely,” she muttered, catching him smothering a smirk as she narrowed her eyes on him.

Her emotions swirled within her, anger, frustration, and sorrow battling it out as she swore to jet off to somewhere sunny next year. Fuck this mess. Snow. Horrible stuff.

“Do you talk to any of our other neighbors?” He asked, seeming to understand she was one wrong word away from either crying or throwing something at the wall.

“Only to say hello. I don’t know their names.”

Understanding crossed his face, and she doubted he spoke to anyone else either.

“It’s fine. Thank you for trying, Luke. I’ll just have to deal with it,” she said, forcing a smile as she waited for him to leave.

Part of her wished she could offer him a drink and get to know him a little better, but his house was nice and warm. Hers was turning into an icebox. He didn’t have to suffer with her just because she wanted to talk to him.

He shoved away from the wall, stepping closer as she fought the urge to tuck her hair behind her ear. Why he wasn’t leaving?!

She felt his eyes on her as she stared over his shoulder, internally panicking and trying to recall where she put the blankets her mom insisted she needed despite Emilia’ scoffing.

If she had to wrap herself in sixteen layers of fleece and wool to brave out the storm, she would do it. Then she’d hope to the useless Gods it would be enough. Luke still wasn’t leaving.

Silence screamed. A strange fey energy filled her bones as she shifted from foot to foot.

One look at him, and she knew what he would suggest before he voiced it.

“You could stay with me. At least until the storm passes,” He said, making her go rigid as her head shook so hard she feared her neck would crack.

Scurrying to put words to her hasty reaction as it deepened the crease between his brows.

“No, no need to put yourself out for me. I’ll manage.”

He crossed his arms again, observing the tremor in her hands as the chill grew more intense. They both were well aware it would only get worse. She was an idiot. 

But she couldn’t stay with him. She had only just learned his name. The voice in her head told her she never worried about that when she went home with someone after a night out.

It was rare when she did, but it was true, and it annoyed her that even her mind was against her.

“Emilia, it’s only to get worse. Your pride won’t keep you warm.”

Her hackles lifted, her reliable temper flaring as he smirked at her and waited for her response.

She swallowed down the mouthful of angry words and plastered on a false smile. Pride? No. Stupidity, more like it. She stubbornly ignored the fluttering in her belly at the way he said her name.

“No, it won’t, but I still can’t accept. Thank you, though,” She said and steeled her spine.

Luke looked likely to argue, mouth thinning and jaw clenched before his expression cleared. She was almost disappointed when he didn’t push it.

“Alright. Suit yourself. Just knock if you change your mind.”

He turned, and she followed him to the open door. Her thoughts were a tangled snare as she saw him out.

Part of her was sad to see him go, but the more significant part of her wanted to sob her despair at how terribly wrong her plans had gone.

She couldn’t even enjoy getting wine drunk while watching cringy soap operas now she was doomed to frostbite.

He glanced back at her before he slipped inside his flat. She resisted the urge to slam her door, leaning her back against it once it was closed and sliding to the floor as she bemoaned her terrible luck.

It wasn’t long before the cold really set in; her toes were chilly despite her thick socks. It forced her to search every cupboard and drawer for the blankets.