“Not going to happen, because I just keep going back there to clear it away. Plus, I have a little dog to keep me company. We’re keeping each other warm.”
“What dog?”
“Thecutest little honey-colored cairn terrier. He was trapped in the snow and freezing, so I helped him.”
“You got stuck in the snow because you were trying to save a dog?”
“Listen, Emmalee. He was so scared and cold that he was trembling!”
“Our apartment doesn’t even allow pets!”
“Oh, he already has an owner. He’s got a collar with one of those tags where there’s a chip and they can scan it to see who the owner is. So I can’t call them to say I have their dog. But Emmalee, he was lost in the snow! He probably belongs to a family with kids. Come morning, they’re going to get a call saying that their dog was found and it’s going to be the best Christmas present ever.
“If I didn’t save him, then they were going to wake up Christmas morning to find out that their dog died.On Christmas Day. They’d be scarred for life. I had to save him. I don’t know what his name is, but I decided to call him Biscuit.”
Emmalee was quiet for a moment, then said, “I probably would’ve done the same.” She paused a moment, then added, “When I said ‘the same,’ I meant rescuing him. I would’ve named him Zamboni.”
“Of course you would have.”
“Okay, then, we need to get both you and Biscuit rescued. Call your parents! They might know someone with a snowmobile or even a Sno-cat.”
“It’s the middle of the night— I’m not going to call them. Especially because I made such a stink about not wanting help.”
“Katie.”
“And if I did, they’d have to call around for help. Again: middle of the night. And not just that, but the middle of the night on Christmas Eve.”
“Then call Connor.”
“When I left, things weren’t exactly going well between us. He told me that he had already asked his agent about putting in a trade request and his agent was just waiting on him to say when.” She rubbed Biscuit’s fur by his ears, and the dog laid his head in her lap, closing his eyes.
Emmalee gasped. “He did not.”
“He did. Here I am, completely falling for him and thinking that he feels the same about me. But if he was consideringaskingto leave, then he wasn’t. I don’t think he cares about us nearly as much as I thought he did.”
“How is that even possible? The man made bridesmaid bouquets for you! Are you so heartbroken right now?”
“I am. I really thought he was the one.”
“I can’t believe he would just send you out into a storm, though, and not even care.”
“Oh, he cared.” She was getting really cold again, so she turned the car on to let the heater run for a bit and ran the windshield wipers a couple of times so she could see.
There was a slight pause before Emmalee said, “He offered to drive you home or follow you to make sure you made it, but you told him no.”
“Something like that.” It was stupid. She had just been bugged by everyone offering to help with things she could do herself. And then when she found out that Connor wanted to leave, it was just too much, and her agitation made her react in a way that she’d known had been stupid at the time. Still, though, she did it.
“Did he at least ask you to text him when you made it home?”
“Yep. And when I didn’t and he texted to ask if I made it, I told him I was snuggled up all nice and warm.”
“Youliedto him?!”
“It wasn’t a lie! I was snuggled up all nice and warm with Biscuit.”
“Did you purposely make him believe something that wasn’t true?”
“Okay, fine, I lied and it was a really stupid choice. Listen, Emmalee. I didn’t call to worry you or make you feel like you needed to solve this. I just called to see if you would commiserate with me. So… commiserate with me?”
