Chapter 5 Snow Day Chaos
By late morning, snow drifted past the windows in slow, lazy flakes. I stood there with my coffee cupped in my hands, watching the white build over the trees.
Jake came up beside me, shoulder brushing mine. “Good snowman weather,” he murmured. “You up for beating everyone at something today, Em?”
I smirked. “You’re very confident for someone who hasn’t seen my snow-sculpting abilities.”
“I have faith,” he said, his smile soft. “And if it’s terrible, I’ll call it modern art.”
Behind us, Josh stepped out of the kitchen. “How are you feeling, baby girl?”
“Better,” I said. “Still tired.”
He studied me. “Any dizziness?”
“No. I’m fine.”
He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.
Patrick walked through the living room, glancing at the glass. “Snow’s deep. If we’re going out, now’s the time.”
Jake perked up with a quiet grin. “Snowmen?”
Mike wandered in. “You have fun with that. I’ll supervise with hot chocolate.”
Drew came behind him. “Supervise,” he repeated, amused. “Right.”
Josh took my mug from my hands and set it aside. “Let’s get you bundled up.”
Ten minutes later, I was practically a walking laundry pile of layers. Josh zipped my coat while I glared at him.
“If you add one more thing,” I warned, “I’m going to roll outside instead of walking.”
He kissed my forehead. “You’ll be warm.”
Outside, the cold bit at my cheeks. The snow was higher than it looked. I stepped off the porch and immediately sank to my knees.
“Well,” I said. “This is rude.”
Jake chuckled beside me. “You okay there, Em?”
I tried to yank my leg free. The snow refused. Josh sighed and simply lifted me out of it like I weighed nothing.
“Thanks,” I muttered.
“You’re welcome,” he said, smug.
Jake stepped onto the same patch. The snow barely hit mid-shin. He glanced down at me, amused. “Might be a little short for this terrain.”
“Say that again, and I’ll bury you.”
“I’ll be good.”
We fanned out into the yard. The snow packed easily. Jake rolled a perfect sphere with ridiculous calm. Drew shaped his base with quiet focus. Mike kicked his into place like the snow offended him. Patrick packed his with measured precision.
My own snowball came out crooked, but I was committed.
“That’s cute,” Jake said. “Has personality.”
“It looks like it’s about to faint,” Mike said.
I threw a snowball at his chest. Direct hit.
He blinked. “Did you just throw that at me?”
“You insulted my art,” I said.
Jake’s grin curved slowly and warmly. “Seems fair.”
Before Mike could retaliate, Josh stepped between us. “No one hits her.”
“I can fight my own battles,” I muttered.
He touched my chin lightly. “I know. I prefer helping.”
I stuck twigs into my snowman for arms. It still leaned to one side like it had experienced things.
“She’s cute,” I declared.
“Obviously,” Jake murmured. “Takes after you.”
I pretended not to blush.
Patrick walked over, scanned my snowman, and adjusted one section. “There. It won’t collapse now.”
“Thank you for fixing my child,” I said.
“You’re welcome.”
A snowball smacked Josh’s shoulder.
We all turned.
Mike stood with another snowball ready. “Truce is over.”
Josh raised a brow. “You want to do this?”
“You started it,” Mike said. “She hit me first.”
“Touch her,” Josh warned lightly, “and we’re escalating.”
“Here we go,” Jake murmured under his breath.
It took four seconds for the entire yard to dissolve into chaos. Snowballs flew everywhere. Josh hit Mike. Mike hit Drew. Drew returned fire with sniper accuracy. Patrick moved like he was planning a tactical strike.
I ducked behind my snowman. It wobbled.
Jake slid in beside me, leaning close. “This isn’t great cover, Em.”
“It’s what I have,” I said.
A snowball flew toward us. Jake shifted, letting it hit his shoulder instead of me.
He winced, then laughed. “Guess I deserved that.”
“You kinda did.”
His smile softened. “Still fun though, right?”
“Yeah,” I admitted. “It is.”
We played until my gloves felt stiff and my nose went numb. Drew finally called it.
“She’s cold. Inside.”
“I’m not cold,” I lied.
Josh looked at my hands. “Baby girl.”
Fine. I was cold.
Patrick nodded toward the house. “Inside.”
Jake nudged me playfully. “Come on. I’ll make cocoa. I won’t even burn anything.”
“That’s comforting,” I muttered.
He laughed quietly. “I try.”
Snow clung to my boots as we headed inside. Heat washed over me the second the door closed. Josh tugged my gloves off and gently rubbed my fingers.
“You’re freezing,” he said.
“No, really? I thought that was just emotional.”
He gave me a look.
Drew draped a blanket over my shoulders. “Sit.”
I sat.
Jake brought me cocoa a minute later and settled beside me so our arms touched. “Extra marshmallows,” he said. “I’m very talented.”
I took a sip. “Okay, that’s actually perfect.”
His smile reached his eyes. “Thought so.”
The others drifted in—Patrick by the fire, Mike in the armchair, Drew behind the couch. Josh sat on my other side, warm and steady.
Outside, snow kept piling higher. Inside, it felt soft and warm and safe in a way I still wasn’t used to.
But I liked it.
A lot.