Snow is falling hard as I get home from work. Home. I shake my head as I turn off the engine and stare at the adorable yellow house where I now reside.
It’s been almost two weeks since I moved in, and it still doesn’t seem real.
Keeping my head down, I jog from the car up the front sidewalk and onto the porch. I stomp my feet on the outdoor rug and then push inside. Warmth greets me with the smell of coffee and sugar.
Everly looks up from the dining room table where she sits with her schoolwork laid out in front of her. “Morning. I just made coffee.”
“Thanks. I grabbed some at the hospital before I left.” I hold up the to-go cup in my right hand, then get out of my snowy coat and hat, and hang them to dry.
She nods and goes back to her schoolwork, and I head to my room. Grace is still sleeping. She’s never up as early as Everly. With my schedule, I tend to only see each of them once or twice a day. Everly is usually up and out in the kitchen in the mornings when I get home from work, and Grace and I have the same lunch break.
They’ve both been so nice and welcoming. They’re really close and spend most of their evenings together in the living room, watching TV. Sometimes Grace’s boyfriend Lane comes over and sometimes the three of them all go out. If I’m around, they always do the polite thing and ask me to join them, but I try to give them space. The three of us don’t have to be besties to live together, and I don’t expect that from them.
By the time I shower and get ready for school, I can hear both of them in the kitchen. They walk to campus together in the mornings. Their first classes are farther away than mine, so I leave a few minutes later.
I’m checking to make sure I have everything I need in my backpack when there’s a knock at the door followed by Grace’s voice. “Bridget?”
“Uhh, yeah, come in.”
She opens the door and sticks in her head. “Hi.”
“Hey.” I smile back at her.
“I know you like to walk by yourself usually, but it’s really coming down out there. Do you want to walk with us today?”
“Oh.” My brows furrow. Something about the way she said I like to walk by myself makes me pause. I guess from my actions that seems true, but really, I just don’t want to impose on their friendship just because we’re roommates now. “No. I’m okay. I still need to grab something to eat.”
“Are you sure?” Her gray eyes widen and her eyebrows disappear under her dark bangs as she waits for my response.
“Yeah. I’m okay, but thanks. I’ll see you at lunch.”
She waits another beat before nodding and then closing the door as she leaves. A few seconds later I hear the front door shut with their departure. I bundle up again and grab my backpack and phone. A blueberry muffin sits on top of a yellow napkin on the counter with my name scribbled on it. With a twinge of sadness, I smile at the considerate gesture.
I wrap it up and stick it in my bag for later and then head out. The snow falls in white flakes so thick I can barely make out my car parked along the curb.
When I get to the sidewalk, a silver truck comes to a stop next to me. I think he’s letting me cross and wave him to go ahead, but then he rolls down the passenger side window and leans over.
I met Everly’s brother one other time when he stopped by to see her, but I’m surprised to see him at this time of day.
“Did Everly already leave?” he asks.
“Yeah. About two minutes ago.”
He nods. “All right. She wasn’t answering her phone.”
“Do you need something? I could try to text her.” I pull out my phone. Snow drops onto the screen as I unlock it.
“No, I was just on my way to the arena and thought I’d swing by and see if you all wanted a ride this morning. It’s really coming down.”
“Wow, that’s so nice. I’ll let Everly know I ran into you.” I put my phone back in my pocket and brush a wet drop off my nose.
Tyler continues to stare at me through the thick blanket of snow. “Are you heading to class now? Do you want a lift?”
“Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t mind the snow.”
His mouth twists into an uncomfortable smile. “Are you sure? It’s nuts out here and I’m going that way anyway.”
I hesitate again as more snow covers my coat and hat. My feet are already icy. “A ride would be great. Thank you.”
He leans over and opens the passenger door. I try to shake off as much snow as possible so I don’t get it in his truck, but he waves me off. “You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“It still smells brand new.” I glance around, and to my chagrin, it also looks brand new.
“I just got it last week.”
“Oh my gosh. I am so sorry. I could walk, seriously.” The only mess in the entire truck is the pool of water and dirt from my shoes on the floor mat.
“Really. It’s fine.” His tone sounds completely genuine, but I am horrified.
I relax back into the seat and do my best to ignore the mess I made in his immaculate new truck as Tyler drives slowly through the snow-covered roads toward campus.
“How’s everything going?” Tyler asks. He and Everly don’t look that much alike. His hair is dark and his features are sharper, but they’ve both been so nice to me.
“Good. Your sister and Grace have been so welcoming, and the house is beautiful. I can hardly believe how well things worked out if I’m honest.”
He lifts his gaze from the road long enough to glance at me and nod. “Everly is really happy it worked out too. She doesn’t let that many people into her inner circle, but she speaks highly of you.”
“We have that in common,” I tell him, then add, “I really like her too.”
The snow doesn’t let up all day. My afternoon classes are cancelled and instead of trudging home for lunch, I grab a salad and find a table in the student center to study while I eat.
I pull out my laptop and glance around. I’m not the only one who decided to hunker down on campus. There’s something serene about sitting inside and watching the snow fall with the buzz of happy conversation and laughter all around.
Groups of friends and couples make up the majority of the tables. Not for the first time since my breakup with Gabe, I wonder how my life would be different if I’d never met him. Would I be here with my friends instead of sitting alone?
I don’t even remember the last time I talked to any of the girls I used to hang out with. When I started seeing Gabe, I stopped going out with them. It wasn’t intentional at first. I was excited about my new relationship and caught up in the excitement of it. Going to parties and bars didn’t have the same appeal.
I guess we weren’t as close as I thought because it didn’t take much time for us to drift apart. By the time I realized what a mess my relationship was, I didn’t feel like we were close enough that I could confide in them. And now? Well, I feel like a different person and not one that they’d understand.
My phone vibrates on the table in front of me, pulling me from my thoughts.
“Speak of the devil,” I mutter quietly as Gabe’s name stares back at me from the screen. Why the hell is he calling me? I’m not curious enough to answer. I send him to voicemail and focus back on my homework.
I’m fully engrossed in biopsychosocial dynamics when I feel his presence. I glance up as Gabe slides into the seat across from me. My pulse speeds up and my stomach clenches.
“What are you doing here?”
Relaxed and cool, Gabe drops one hand on the table. He’s wearing a long dress coat over his suit. His hair is wet from the snow and his cheeks are ruddy. “You’re still sharing your location with me.”
A shot of panic races through me. Since we broke up, he’s known how to find me at any moment. I swallow around the lump forming in my throat.
As if reading my thoughts, he says, “What? It’s not a big deal. I tried to call, but clearly you’re ignoring me.” Anger flashes in his eyes but disappears quickly. “Anyway, I stopped by because I have news and I knew you’d want to hear it.”
He’s wrong. So wrong. I don’t want to hear anything he has to say. “We broke up, Gabe. Go tell someone else. I’m studying.”
“Don’t be like that. I got a new job. It’s big. Really big.”
“I don’t care.” I close my laptop and shove my stuff into my backpack quickly. If he’s not going to leave, I am.
“God, you can really be a bitch sometimes, Bridget. Things are happening for me and I want you by my side.”
“Not happening.”
“Are you really going to throw away the time we spent together over some stupid arguments? We had a good thing.”
I wonder if he really believes the words he says. Does he really think that he wants to be with me? You don’t treat someone like he treated me if you truly care about them. “You and I have a very different accounting of our relationship. It’s not happening. Not now, not ever again.”
“You don’t mean that. You want to make me out as some kind of monster, but you know that’s not me. We were great together. I messed up, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
I stand, uneasy on my feet, and glance at the exit. I need to get away from him. I can’t believe he’s had access to my location all this time. “I mean it, Gabe. Don’t contact me again.”
“Are you fucking someone else? Is that what this is about?” He gets to his feet quickly and walks with me toward the exit. It amazes me how fast he can go from sweet and apologetic to bitter and angry.
“No. And if I was, it wouldn’t be any of your business.”
“You’re wrong, Bridget,” he says, holding the door open for me. “You’ll always be my business.”
I wake up from my late afternoon nap to a voicemail from work that says I’m not needed and should stay home. Whittaker closed campus tomorrow, too, so I have nothing to do for the next twenty-four hours.
Earlier I overheard Everly and Grace talking about watching movies tonight, so I throw on some sweats and a big T-shirt and head out to the living room. After seeing Gabe today, I don’t feel like being alone with my thoughts.
“Hey,” Everly says. She sits in the middle of the couch with a big bowl of popcorn next to her. “I thought you had work?”
“They called me off.”
“You don’t have to go in at all?” Grace asks.
“Nope.” I shake my head and absently tug on the hem of my T-shirt.
“You have to join us for a movie marathon,” Everly says, putting the bowl on her lap and scooting over.
“We just started Dirty Dancing,” Grace adds. “I’ve never seen it and Everly thinks that’s a travesty.”
“Me neither,” I admit. “Well, I’ve seen clips.”
“It is a travesty!” Everly exclaims and pats the couch. “Both of you need to watch it. Classes are canceled tomorrow because of the snow, so it’s the perfect night to stay up late and binge-watch old movies.”
“I love a snow day,” Grace says with a smile. “My psychology test was pushed back to next week.”
“Lucky.” Everly groans. “My philosophy professor sent extra homework by email. I swear the man is evil.”
“Do you want the chair?” Grace asks, looking at me.
I still haven’t moved from where I stand in the space between the hallway and living room. Are they asking me to join them because they feel obligated or do they really want me to join? I decide not to overthink it. They asked. If it sucks or I feel like a third wheel, I’ll duck out after the first movie.
“No, the couch is good.” I take a seat on the opposite side of the blue sectional from Everly. She offers me the popcorn bowl and I take a handful.
“All you’ve missed is Baby’s family driving to the resort for vacation,” Grace says, filling me in as she goes to the kitchen. “Soda, wine, water, or coffee?”
“Coffee with a splash of Bailey’s,” Everly yells, then they both look to me.
“Same.”
“Oh, and grab the leftover muffins.”
A few minutes later, the three of us have mugs of spiked coffee, popcorn, and muffins, and are fully engrossed in the movie.
I forget to feel uncomfortable with these two girls I don’t really know that well. Grace likes to provide commentary on scenes, and Ev shushes her or tosses a pillow when she doesn’t agree. And I smile as I truly relax for the first time with them.
At the end of Dirty Dancing, we’re a little tipsy and highly caffeinated. The three of us open the front door and look out. The snow is still coming down, but not as fast. The roads haven’t been plowed yet and it’s all so still and quiet out.
“Hey, I forgot to tell you. Your brother stopped by this morning to give you a ride,” I say to Everly as we close the front door and retreat back inside our warm house.
“I know. He told me. I wish I had still been here. My feet were so cold by the time I got to class and my jeans were basically soaked.”
“You have to dress for the Minnesota winter,” Grace tells her.
“I know. I know.” Ev smiles. “But my leather boots are so much cuter than the winter ones.”
“It’s your toes.”
As we settle back on the couch, Ev picks up her phone. “Speaking of Ty. He wants to know if we need anything? I swear he thinks I’m helpless without him.
“Pepperoni pizza, two bottles of wine, and a gallon of ice cream,” she says aloud as she types what I assume are those very words to her brother.
“We should watch The Holiday next,” Grace says.
Ev nods, still looking at her phone. “Yeah, I love that one. Bridget?”
“Sure,” I say and then ask, “Is he really going to bring you those things?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I’m just messing with him.”
“He would if she was serious,” Grace clarifies. “Ty is the sweetest. Although not as sweet as Declan.”
“Declan?”
“One of my brother’s teammates.”
“Oh, did you used to date him or something?”
“No. He just used to look out for me a lot.” Everly looks to me. “I came to live with Tyler the second semester of my high school senior year after being expelled.” Her face feigns innocence over what I’m guessing is a very interesting story.
“They all looked out for you,” Grace says. “Still do, you just make it harder for them.”
“Like you’re any better with your dad.”
“My dad thinks I’m an angel who never has and never will date or kiss boys. He’s completely delusional about me growing up. At least Tyler and his teammates let you be you.”
“Let me be me?” Ev scoffs. “Do you remember the time they rolled up into theater practice and threatened Jacob Matthews that he’d better be nice to me and spread the word?”
I don’t cover my laugh in time. “Tyler did that?”
“All of them. Ty, Declan, Jack, and Ash.”
My heart flutters at his name. True to Everly’s word, she hasn’t mentioned Ash or tried to play matchmaker since I moved in. Not that I’ve given her a lot of opportunities.
“It was so great. Hands down the coolest moment of senior year.” Grace beams at the memory.
“I was mortified.” Ev looks at me as she speaks. “It was bad enough being the new kid, but once people found out Ty was my brother and I was living with Ash, it was mayhem.”
My brain snags on the last part of that sentence. “You lived with Ash?”
“Mhmm.” She smiles and nods. “When I came to live with Tyler, he had this tiny little one-bedroom apartment and Ash offered to let us move in with him.”
“That’s really nice.”
“It was. Ash is great.”
Grace’s phone starts ringing. “That’s Lane. Five minutes. Don’t start the movie without me.” She hurries down the hallway as she answers.
A comfortable silence falls between me and Everly.
I break the quiet first. “Thank you for inviting me to hang tonight.”
“Are you kidding? We’re so glad you finally said yes.”
“Really? I was afraid you were only asking because you felt like you should. It’s been a while since I had roommates, or friends for that matter. I was dating this guy and sort of lost touch with all my girlfriends.”
“Ah, yeah. Easy to do when you’re in love.”
I don’t like thinking about Gabe and love in the same thought. If that was love, I don’t ever want it again.
“What happened with the guy?”
“We broke up a couple of months ago. Right after I met Ash at the game.”
“Because of Ash?”
“No, no, no. Things hadn’t been that great for a while.” I clear my throat and avoid eye contact. “How’s his shoulder? Is he back to playing?”
Everly’s smile widens. “I’m not sure I can say.”
At my confusion, she adds, “When he asked me about you, I told him I wasn’t going to give him any details and that he should ask you himself.”
“He asked about me?”
“Yeah, I saw him last night after the game.” Her head bounces from side to side, the blonde locks catching on the light. “And since it’s public knowledge, I guess I can tell you that he hasn’t been cleared to play yet, but he is practicing with the team again.”
“That’s good. I’m glad.”
She studies me a little too long. “You should come to a game with us sometime. There’s one this weekend. Saturday night. I have good seats, and Tyler always hooks us up with drink and food tickets.”
“I’m back. Sorry.” Grace drops onto the chair. “What’d I miss?”
“I’m trying to convince Bridget that she should come with us to the game this weekend.”
“Oh yeah. The games are so fun.”
“I’m not sure,” I say, biting at the corner of my lip.
“Worried about running into Ash?”
“No,” I say too quickly, then amend my answer. “I guess a little.”
“He’ll probably be playing Saturday anyway, so the only way he’ll see you is if he looks up from the ice and spots you in the crowd.”
They both laugh, but Ash spotting me in a crowd is exactly how this all started.
