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10. Scarlett

Chapter 10

Scarlett

Stepping outside feels like plunging into a frozen, twinkling wonderland where every tree branch is draped in powdery white like in some kind of snow globe. The air is brisk, nipping at my cheeks, but I can’t help but bounce on my feet a little, excitement bubbling up.

Noah stands beside me, bundled up in a hefty jacket that only seems to emphasize how solid his frame is. The wind tousles his dark hair, and he looks at me with a grin that suggests he knows a bit of trouble is just waiting to unfold. “Ready for some real fun?” he asks, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Only if you’re ready to lose!” I scoff back, knowing snowball fights are serious business.

With a quick pivot, Noah picks up a handful of snow, shapes it into a perfect ball, and before I can react, he launches it at me. I see the white projectile flying through the air, but I don’t have time to duck.

Splat ! It hits me square in the chest, and I burst out laughing, the shock of the icy impact jolting through me. “Oh, it’s on!” I shout, gathering snow in my own gloved hands, my competitive spirit igniting like a spark in a dry forest.

Almost immediately, I return fire, and we become two competing snow warriors, arms moving like tennis champions as we dart around the backyard, desperately trying to dodge incoming projectiles while launching our own. I can hear Noah’s laughter ringing out over the whirling wind.

Minnie, ever the aloof queen, watches from the window, her eyes wide with a mix of disdain and curiosity, as if baffled by our chaotic antics. I catch her gaze, feeling a little guilty that she’s stuck inside while we’re out here causing a ruckus.

As we continue to pelt snow at each other, the wet snow begins to seep through my gloves and heavy jacket.

“This is your last chance to surrender!” I shout, grabbing another handful of snow to fashion into a ball for my next attack.

“Never! I shall fight to my last snowball!” Noah’s theatrical response has me giggling as he crouches low behind a mound, clearly plotting, his eyes narrowing with playful determination.

I can feel my cheeks turning a brilliant shade of crimson, and the thrill of the snowball fight suddenly clashes with the realness of the cold. “Okay, okay, I think I’m starting to lose all feeling in my face! Maybe we should take five?” I shout, holding my hands up in surrender, or at least negotiating for some much-needed warmth.

He appears around the corner just then, eyebrows raised and a satisfied smile curling his lips. “Definitely can’t have you freezing.” Noah grins and steps closer, the heat of his presence washing over me and warming my frozen body from the inside out.

The storm finally breaks, releasing its icy hold on the world outside. Each day, the winds calm and the sun punches through, revealing more of the landscape as the snow melts away, transforming the ferocious winter wonderland into a serene, postcard-perfect scene.

Over the past few days, Noah and I have settled into a pretty normal routine. We read, check work emails, and keep the wheels turning on the work bus. We’ve also watched more holiday movies than I thought humanly possible. Plus, our snowball fights have become the stuff of legend. But today feels different.

“You ready to conquer the last of this snow, cowboy?” I ask, leaning against the kitchen counter with a playful challenge in my tone. The prospect of getting into town bristles with my excitement.

“Are you kidding? I was born ready!” he replies, a wide grin spreading across his face like sunshine after a long winter.

The plan is to make a supply run to the little grocery store in the small town a few miles away. We’re running low on essentials for us, and chicken, eggs, and tuna fish to feed my picky cat. Besides, it seems like a good excuse to take Noah’s trusty rusty, old, four-wheel-drive pickup truck for a spin.

It’s not so much a truck as it is a hunk of metal magically patched together.

After shuffling through the large selection of winter gear, we both emerge into the crisp morning, laughing, wrapped in our several mismatched layers.

As we approach the truck, I can’t help but chuckle. “It’s a classic! A real beauty.”

“Don’t underestimate her,” Noah responds with mock seriousness. “She’s reliable. Even with a few character flaws, she’s got spirit!”

When he finally opens the door, a loud creak fills the air. I hop in, sliding into the surprisingly comfortable, well-worn seat.

Noah joins me and turns the key. I’m a little shocked when the engine sputters to life.

“Let’s go, old girl,” Noah mutters to the dashboard, encouraging the truck.

We jolt forward, inching onto the road. The ride through the remnants of snow and melting ice is bumpy, but Noah easily navigates the deserted road.

When we finally arrive in town, Noah parks behind the small grocery store. I’m kind of shocked to see several other cars in the lot. “I can’t believe it’s this busy.”

“I’m pretty sure every resident in town is at the grocery store right now,” Noah jokes as we step inside, the bell above the door ringing softly to announce our arrival.

A sleepy woman behind the counter greets us, her smile wide and warm, the essence of small-town charm. “Welcome in. Let me know if you need any help.”

“Thank you,” I say, grinning at her as I grab a cart, the wheels squeaking like they’ve seen better days.

Noah and I wander through the aisles, grabbing all the essentials we’ll need for the next few days. “Okay. We have bread, eggs, ground meat, chicken, and potato chips, so all the basic food groups are represented,” I tease.

As we approach the pet aisle, Noah suddenly stops, as if struck by divine inspiration. “Hold on a second,” he says, darting down the cat food aisle with purpose. I roll my eyes but follow him, curiosity piqued.

“What's going on?” I ask, watching him scour the shelves like a kid on a treasure hunt.

“I just need to take care of something,” he says and begins to grab several cans of expensive cat food.

“Seriously?” I chuckle, amused as he throws in another can of something that’s labeled like it’s fine dining for felines. “Are we stocking the cat buffet here or what?”

“This is serious business, Scarlett,” he replies with an exaggerated seriousness while tossing in more cans. “If I want to win over Minnie, I’ve got to come armed with the good stuff.”

“Noah Blackwood, you’re trying to bribe my cat,” I tease, stepping back slightly to survey his haul.

“Duh. I just admitted as much.” He tosses in two bags of fancy cat treats in sparkling packaging, and I can’t help but burst into laughter. “Hey, don’t judge me! Fun treats are an essential part of cat happiness. Besides, I have to repair the damage done when I whisked her human away from her precious sleep sanctuary.”

“Alright, what else?” I ask, still laughing at the sheer volume of cat paraphernalia he seems determined to amass. He checks a shelf filled with glittering toys.

“Definitely need a couple of cat toys. You know, to distract her when I want a little alone time with you,” he adds with a cheeky smile, grabbing a feather wand and a crinkly mouse adorned with bells.

At this point, the cart has transformed into a hodgepodge of cat-related wonders alongside our grocery essentials.

After checking out, Noah leans against the cart, a satisfied gleam in his eye. “Mission accomplished! Minnie is going to be the happiest cat in the world.”

I can’t stop smiling as I wheel the cart toward the exit. “How about we get back to the cabin before she thinks we’ve abandoned her, and you have to buy even more cat toys?”

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