Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

COLE

My girl stirs in my arms from under the throw blanket I draped across us. Cuddling has never felt so goddamn perfect. It’s so quiet down here and we have no idea what’s going on outside, but I know I need to get her up to bed so we can get some rest and head out first thing tomorrow to get supplies.

“You okay?” I ask huskily, as she wipes her eyes with the backs of her hands and tilts her head to check on Fudge; he’s in the same spot next to us on the couch.

“I’m good,” she says sleepily.

I grin. “I gotta see if I can find some tools.” I kiss the top of her head. “Not that I mind about being trapped down here with you, but we may need to eat at some stage.”

She laughs quietly in the stillness surrounding us as I pad over toward the back cupboard to fish around. Somewhere between our sexy romp the power went out.

“You got a torch?” I should’ve looked for it before now, but we were kinda distracted.

“Uh, yeah, there’s an old tool box next to the washing machine.”

I rummage around in the dark, then I find it. Luckily, it comes on and I shine the light in the back of the cupboard. First, I see some gardening tools and an old hammer. Behind that, I see a wrench. It’s small and looks kind of old, but it might just do the trick. “Found something,” I announce.

“It must be bad if the power’s out.” She sounds worried.

“It’ll be okay,” I reassure her. “The power usually goes out when a storm is bad.”

“Have you done this before?” she asks.

“I’m not exactly known around here for breaking and entering,” I joke, giving her a devilish grin as she appears beside me. Fudge finally stirs, shaking himself out and having a stretch at our feet.

“I guess not.”

I nip her chin. “Come hold the torch for me.” We mount the stairs and spend a few minutes wiggling the wrench and fiddling with the lock until I finally hear the much anticipated click. My hand grabs the handle and I turn the knob to open it. I even surprise myself with how quick that was.

“Yay!” Ainsley gives me a little clap, and I laugh again.

“See, babe, I told ya I’m not without skills.”

She steps to safety cradling Fudge, and I follow behind them. “You did good. I’ll check again with the realtor when it will be fixed,” she says as I walk over to the kitchen window and glance outside. I can’t see much, but we can certainly hear the wind whipping around the house and who knows how much snowfall we’ve already gotten. There’s a good chance the ground is going to be absolutely covered by morning. “It’s thick out there,” I say.

“I hope my mom’s okay.” She snuggles Fudge closer, nuzzling her face into his fur.

“As soon as we can leave before the storm gets any worse, we will. S he’s safe at the hospital. We can try to stock up on supplies.” I tap the torch as it flickers. It’s tiny, she needs better equipment than this. “We’ll stop at the hardware first.”

She nods and smiles. “We should get some sleep. A nice warm body to cuddle up to sounds nice.”

My grin is a mile wide and despite the snowstorm rapidly increasing, my life feels fucking perfect right now. “Let’s cuddle.” She passes over Fudge and we head to bed for some much needed rest.

**

I wake up early in the morning, the power came back on overnight. Dawn is just breaking, but from the moment I look out the window, I see how dull and dreary it is out there. I know today is gonna be crazy.

I also know that town is going to be busy with everyone stocking up for the weekend. According to the early morning news on my phone, last night was just a mere taste of what’s to come.

Rolling my body over to Ainsley, I check my girl. A glance over her still little body and I hear the even stillness of her breath as she lays sleeping. As tempting as it is, I decide not to wake her. I throw on my sweater and sweatpants and head out to her kitchen to put some coffee on, instead.

As I walk around, I notice Fudge isn’t anywhere in sight. He was curled up on the bed with us last night. The cat bed in the kitchen is empty, too. I call out to him the way I always do, and he usually comes running in, his little bell alerting me to his presence. I pull out a bag of his favorite treats and jiggle them, but there’s nothing .

I figure he must’ve gone outside.

I switch the kettle on and quickly check the weather again on my phone while I find my socks and shoes. Nothing has changed with the snowfall coming in. In fact, we’ve gotten even more snow overnight. We weren’t even joking about being snowed under because it’s only going to get worse.

When Fudge still hasn’t emerged, I decide to go over to my place quickly and see if he’s gone over there. He’s not an outdoor cat, and we both forgot to lock the cat flap last night, so he could’ve gotten out on his own.

I assume he’s gone outside to do his business, or to my place to use his litter box, but with the conditions outside, a mild panic rises in my chest. I don’t see why else he would have gone over to my place, or why he wouldn’t be here.

I run a hand over my face as I step outside into the freezing morning air, rubbing my hands together as I curse. “Fudge,” I call out as I walk. “You out here, Fudgey?”

I cup my hands over my mouth and call out for him all the way back to my place. But he’s nowhere to be found there, either. I check all of his hiding spots. Where the fuck is he?

I run around to the front and see if I can see anything. The snowfall is covering any footprints that he would have left imprinted if he came out early this morning.

Fuck. Double fuck.

“Fudge!” I call louder. “Where are you?”

I decide to quickly make my way back to Ainsley’s to let her know I need to search the street when I hear the faint meow by the side of the house, right where our fences separate. Stopping in my tracks, I listen hard to where the noise is coming from, and edge closer to the bushes. I’ve still no idea what he’s doing out here. Fudge isn’t the type to stray, especially with snow like this, he hates the cold.

It’s between the bushes that line the length of the fence line that I see a ginger tail moving. My heart jolts into my throat as Fudge comes padding out of the thin covering of snow on the path. His little bell tinkering, his coat wet and dark. “There you are!” I bend to scoop him up and pull him into my arms. He’s cold and very wet, but instead of snuggling into my body like he usually does, he meows and tries to wriggle free. I almost lose my footing as he practically springs out of my grasp and meows again, looking up at me, then turns his head in the direction of the bushes. Something other than me has clearly caught his attention. Hopefully not a dead rodent. I follow him back over to the fence, as he seems quite insistent on whatever he’s trying to tell me. I’m about to pick him up again and get back inside before we both freeze to death, when I hear another faint noise from behind the shrub. Another meow? Huh?

I bend down onto one knee as Fudge paws at the area, flicking up the snow with his front legs. Something I’ve never seen him do, other than on his scratching post. “Alright, Dad’s checking,” I tell him, patting him on the head as I look between the bushes to where the tiny little murmur is coming from.

It’s then I see something shift, a ball of fluff disguised as a little animal that appears to be stuck. I peer closely as the snow continues to fall relentlessly on both me and Fudge. Pulling back a handful of branches, it’s then I see two wary eyes staring into mine, belonging to a tiny, shivering kitten. Oh, double fuck.

I reach my hand into the small space as the kitten lets out a mewl and I pull him or her out of the shrub and into my chest. It’s tiny, but still alive, at least. But the poor little fur ball is a tired, weak little wet bundle of dark orange fluff and it’s meowing like crazy. “Let’s get you inside,” I say, quickly checking along the fence line to make sure there’s no other little kitties stranded. Then I bend to pick up Fudge again and hurry to Ainsley’s back door. “Good work, Fudgey.” I kiss him on the head as I nudge the door open and place him back on the ground, securing the cat flap behind me this time. I grab the nearest thing I can find, being Ainsley’s Christmas sweater, and wrap the shivering little guy up in it while I dash up the hallway to wake her.

She’s just stirring as I come barreling in. She’s rubbing her hands over her eyes. “Cole! What the…” Her eyes grow wide as I come over to the bed holding the little kitten.

“Fudge was missing,” I say in a rush. “I just found him outside. He was trying to help this little guy, I swear to God this cat thinks he’s a sniffer dog. I need to get him to Presley’s and dry off Fudge. He’s soaking, too.”

“Oh, my god.” Ainsley springs the covers back and leaps over toward me, throwing on my hoodie as she moves. Reaching out, I carefully pass her the kitten and she holds it in the crook of her arm close to her chest, still wrapped in her sweater. “I can’t believe this.”

“I know. We gotta keep it warm. I’ll get help.”

“I’ll call Pres,” she says. “Is Fudgey okay?”

“Yeah, he’s just wet and cold. I’ll grab a towel.”

“I have some spare ones under the sink in the bathroom,” she calls after me.

“Thanks.” I push off the bed to do just that as she quickly reaches for her phone, and I race back to dry off Fudge and wrap a blanket around him to keep him warm, too. He’s shaking like a leaf, God knows how long he was out here. I kiss his head again. “I’m so prou d of you.”

A quick phone call to Presley is all it takes and we’re on our way to Piney Paws.

**

Ainsley

My heart is racing ten to the dozen. I’m holding the little kitten the whole way there while Cole drives slowly, the entire street is slick with ice and snow. Its eyes keep opening and closing. Sweet, trusting little eyes blink up at me. I hope the little dude makes it.

God knows how long the kitten has been out there, it seems to be growing weaker by the minute. I just hope we’re not too late.

Cole finally gets into town, the snow hasn’t stopped all night but there’s still time to get supplies before it gets worse. Thank goodness for snow tires. As soon as he parks, we rush him into Presley’s clinic. Fudge is with us in his pet carrier for a check up as Pres greets us at reception, and quickly takes the little kitten into her consulting room while we fill her in on the details.

“I’ll check him over, get him warm and do everything I can,” she says, taking him out of my arms, still wrapped in my sweater. “You might have found him just in the nick of time.”

Tears well in my eyes. I’ve only held the kitten for the drive over here and I’m already beside myself. I don’t know what I’ll do if he dies.

Cole wraps an arm around me. “He’s in the best hands, Ains — wait, did you just say him ?” Cole eyes Pres. “With all the commotion, we didn’t have time to check.”

She gives us a little smile, despite the situation. “He’s a he,” she confirm s. “Leave him with me. I’ll check on Fudge, too. You’re welcome to wait, or I’ll call you both soon with an update.”

We head out to the waiting room, trying to figure out what to do next while we anxiously wait. “I think one of us should stay here,” I say, “and one of us should go get some supplies for the weekend. I also need to call my mom.”

“That’s a good idea,” Cole says. “I’m happy to run errands while you stay?”

I shake my head. “It’s okay. I can walk up to Chip’s market now, it’s a few minutes away. You stay with Fudge and the little fella.”

He dips his forehead to press mine and for those few seconds; I enjoy his warmth. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ll just grab the basics and call my mom on the way. Maybe we can quickly stop by after we leave here.”

Cole thinks for a moment, tapping his fingers on his chin. I can see he’s worried about the little kitten and it’s so darned sweet. “Alright, but call me when you’re done at Chip’s and let me know what the hospital says. We can head over there after this.”

“Okay.” I rock onto my tippy toes to reach up and kiss him. When his lips softly press to mine, it makes me believe that everything is going to be okay. I just hope the little kitten survives. He wasn’t looking too good in the car. But he’s in the best place now.

“Be careful,” he says.

“I will.” We kiss again. The waiting room hasn’t even opened for business yet, so we’re the only ones here. “Call me if there’s any update.”

Cole nods and squeezes my hand as he watches me leave .

I zip up my puffer jacket as soon as I’m out in the cold air and shove my mitten clad hands into my pockets. I cross the street to make my way down to Chip’s market, just past the Town Hall on the corner. My smile is a weak one at best as I look up to Frosty. He’s covered in snow but still standing, the same for the Christmas tree towering boldly just a few feet away. I hope they both survive with the excessive snowfall we’re going to get tonight. Every year it seems to get worse.

I stop to look up at the giant structure, wondering how the heck Travis, Cole and the guys even got him up in the air. It’s then I feel someone approach behind me and I turn to look.

My breath catches in my throat as I see Drake walking up behind me.

Freaking Drake! I immediately step away, backing up toward Frosty and trying to get over the shock of seeing him here. What the heck? Has he been following me? It’s too late to try and run away from him. He’s right in front of me.

“Drake,” I warn as he stops right in my path. I have no reason to be afraid of him. He’s never been violent, but the look on his face right now… he’s not happy, and his nose looks awful from where Cole punched him. Serves him right.

“You think that was funny the other night when your new boyfriend socked me in the face?” he launches straight into a tirade which startles me.

“Go away!” I hiss as I push off Frosty and quickly take a step to the side, getting around him and trying to run. But he’s too fast and grabs me by the arm. I yelp as he pulls me back.

“You’r e going to talk to me whether you like it or not!” The grip of his arm is strong and he’s not letting go.

“Ow, Drake! You’re hurting me!”

He snickers. “You should have thought about that before you shacked up with lover boy. ” He tugs me towards the side of the Town Hall, away from the view of the street.

“Let go of me!” I yelp, struggling against him. But he keeps a firm grasp on me as he pulls me along to the side wall off the main street. “I’ll scream, Drake, don’t think I won’t.”

“Scream all you want. It’s still early, there’s no one around.”

I manage to swing out of his grasp, but he still backs me against the wall. “You’re acting crazy,” I pant, bewildered by his behavior. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

“Ask your dumbass boyfriend. Do you honestly think he will be faithful to you?” he sneers. “He’s the town fuck boy, everyone knows it. You won’t be enough for him. No one can love you like I do.”

It’s my turn to laugh without humor when all I want to do is spit in his face. “Love me?” I shake my head. “You don’t love anyone but yourself. And I am enough for him! Cole isn’t a cheater like you, so I’ve no doubt he will be faithful. You couldn’t lie straight in bed.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it,” he spits. “I told you once and I’ll tell you a million times, I’m sorry I strayed. We’d been together so long, I needed to spread my wings. It was a mistake.”

His words make me sick to my stomach. Not one thing about his demeanor now, or ever, has been sorry about what he did. His eyes are wild, and his face fierce. He looks like he hasn’t slept in a week. Or he’s strung out. Maybe both .

“I don’t want to hear it. You’re disgusting. You should have broken up with me before you hooked up with that other woman. Now, you need to get out of my way or I will?—”

He presses me into the wall with more force and my heart accelerates. What the hell is Drake doing? “You’ll what?”

I hear my phone buzzing in my bag. It could be Cole, the hospital… There’s been a lot going on this morning. I have places I need to be and more important shit than standing out here freezing in a showdown with Drake. And quite frankly, he’s scaring the shit out of me.