We raced to the car as the storm blew in, we had left the windows open of my beautiful S.U.V.
"Grab the books!" Myka cried out. Her dad had sent her them as an early Christmas present. She was frantic as she pulled open the door to grab her bag. The snow fell around us making it hard to see even a foot behind us.
"I got it!" She shouted triumphantly she grabbed the door and slammed it shut. We ran back to the B&B before we could get hypothermia.
We closed the front door behind us, and Claudia rushed over. "Did you get them?" "Yeah." Myka said with a smile and she handed Claudia a ton of vintage albums. "Sweet!" Claudia said hugging Myka and jumping up and down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She squealed. She ran up the stairs to her room, "You weren't supposed to know about those until Christmas!" Myka called after her.
Leena walked over and handed Myka a glass of hot cocoa. Snowflakes stuck to Myka's unruly hair and long dark eyelashes. I brushed them away with the thumb of my right hand and leaned into kiss her while Leena's back was turned. Myka gave a girly giggle and swatted my hand away. "Not. Now." She said, "Only after we tell them." Myka made her way through the living room and sat next to Leena.
Artie entered the room and sat in one of the vast armchairs. "We're going to be snowed in, probably without cell service and no computers for a couple of days." I winked at Myka behind Arties back and she pointedly looked anywhere but me. Claudia came back down stairs. "Soo…. Who is ready for roast and potatoes" she exclaimed in a singsong voice. "Me and Leena have been working hard all day."
"Try hardly working." Leena retorted with a sly grin. Claudia scoffed and went into the kitchen swinging her ladle dangerously.
"I'll be in the library." Artie sighed and then left walking under the mistletoe that Claudia had set up. "CLAUDIA" he yelled when he realized once again that she had used artifacts to decorate. "Yes, grumps." Claudia said walking in the room. "What is this, I told you no artifacts, no decorations." He said waving his arms around and his face steadily got redder. "Oh relax the real mistletoe is in the other room, were no one really goes, but I'm not telling anyone where." She said with a wink and went back in to the kitchen. Artie sighed and reluctantly left, leaving me and Myka alone in the Living room. I bounced onto the couch next to her and gave her an eyebrow wiggle as I said, "So what do you want to do now?"
"No Pete I told you no." she pushed my shoulder so my whole body swayed away from her and she stood up of the couch and walked up to the hall between our bedrooms. I followed her up the stairs and grabbed her wrist to twirl her around to face me. "Come on just a quickie?" I said as I leaned in to kiss her again. "No." she pulled out of my hands and ran to her door and shut it in my face. "Myka." I complained. "Not until we tell them." She whispered. "When are we going to tell them?" I whispered back.
"Dinner!" Claudia called before she could answer and I ran down the stairs at full speed. I could smell the roast and gravy wafting up the stairs. The table was set with candles and the table cloth, and everyone but me and Myka was seated. I sat down and reached for the closest food dish I could find. "You really do eat everything don't you?" Myka asked as she seated herself across from me. I brushed her foot with my own; she tried her best to keep a straight face but the corners of her lips pulled into that half smile that I couldn't live without.
"Don't eat all the potatoes Pete." Leena scolded. I shot her a pained look and Claudia giggled. I spent the rest of dinner cracking jokes and trying to play footsy with Myka without getting caught. The table was cleared and dishes were washed then Artie went to bed early. "Leena, movie marathon?" Claudia asked holding up two chick flicks I couldn't identify. "Oh yeah," Leena said, "I love this movie let me go get my jamies." Leena ran off to her room and we could hear the rustle of her drawers. "Hey Myka?" Claudia said shaking the movie.
Myka shook her head, "No Claudia, not tonight, I'm really tired." She hugged Claudia and then made her way slowly upstairs. I watched her leave and then let out a sigh. "Hey Claud, I'm really not into braiding each other's hair and painting toenails." Claudia giggled, "Just go."
I walked up the stairs and shut the door behind me. I switched from my jeans to come comfy fleece plaid pants. Turned on the soft lamp I kept on my desk, and pulled the extra blankets from my closet. I had just laid down when I heard a soft knock on my door. The door opened with a soft squeak "Pete?" Myka asked softly. "yeah." Myka slipped in to the room and shut the door softly behind her. She wore her dark blue tank top and her black shorts. She pulled her comforter in as well "Pete why is it so damn cold?" " I don't know but I can think of one thing to keep us warm" I winked at her and she punched me playfully in the arm. I patted the bed next to me and Myka climbed under the covers and rested her head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and kissed the top of her head. "Good night Pete." "Good night Mykes."