Elise Gilmore
“It’s really coming down out there,” my best friend says as he walks back into the kitchen, his brows pinched together. “You shouldn’t have stayed to help clean up.”
I shake my head at him. “Chris, I was the one who asked you to host this dinner party. I wasn’t about to leave you all alone with the dishes.” I pull the towel off my shoulder and dry my hands, then walk over to the windows to look for myself. “I’m sure I’ll be fine….”
Behind the curtains, millions of white flakes slice through the night. More snow than I’ve ever seen before. I bite my bottom lip. “See.” I shrug with fake bravado. “That’s just a few inches.”
“No way, Hazel. You are not driving home. My mom would kill me if she heard I let you leave in this weather. It had just started when the others left, but now…” He walks up behind me, leaning close and gesturing toward the blizzard raging outside.
I shiver in response to his proximity. Then, I take a deep breath and push down the flurry of feelings for him blown out of proportion by his concern for my safety. Thankfully, Chris doesn’t seem to notice.
I drop the curtain and take a step back. “What are you saying?”
His eyes bounce around the living room for a minute before he answers. “I’m saying…” He runs his hand through his dark hair, leaving it mussed and adorable. “I’m saying you’re staying here tonight,” he says firmly. His eyes finally find mine and hold my gaze. I’m mesmerized by this protective side of him.
“But I’m sleeping on the couch.” His face colors as he drops his eyes to the floor.
I feel my face heat up as well. Despite being best friends all throughout high school and college, we’ve never stayed at each other’s places. That was a firm boundary. One that is now being obliterated by a snowstorm.
We both stand there for a moment, avoiding eye contact.
“Should we watch a movie or something?” I ask, breaking the awkward silence. “It seems a little early to turn in.”
“Yes. A movie.” His excitement surprises me. “I know just the one. Will you make popcorn?”
I nod, reeling at his sudden change in energy. I’ll bet he’s over there putting on his favorite action flick.
A few minutes later, I step back into the living room, popcorn in hand. My mouth drops open when I see the title of my favorite movie plastered across the screen. Chris grins up at me from the couch.
“You’re finally going to watch it with me?” I rush over to the couch and plop down beside him. “I’m so excited!” I snatch the remote out of his hand, quickly pressing play before he can change his mind. “You’re going to love it,” I promise.
I place the popcorn between us and grab a handful. A few minutes later, my hand brushes his as I reach for more.
He pulls his hand back. “Sorry, you go ahead.”
The next time it happens, he doesn’t move away and neither do I.
About halfway through the movie, Chris places the empty popcorn bowl on the coffee table and steals the remote out of my hands. “Hold on a minute.” He pauses the movie. “I’m confused. This part didn’t happen this way in the book.”
I gasp in surprise. “You’ve read the book?”
He leans closer and gives me a sheepish smile. “I’ve read it every year since you told me it was your favorite.”
My mind goes into overdrive, attempting to calculate how many times Chris has read this book possibly while thinking about me. “But why?”
“I think you know why.” He pins me in place with his gaze.
The intensity of his attention renders me speechless as he leans a little closer. My entire body buzzes in anticipation.
“Hazel, I’ve had feelings for you since high school. That’s why I read your favorite book every year.” He cautiously reaches out and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “To be honest, a part of me can’t believe this” —he motions between us— “is finally happening,” he whispers.
“I can’t believe you’ve liked me for that long and didn’t say anything.”
He shrugs. “I wasn’t sure you were interested. Not until recently.”
I smile and bat my eyes at him dramatically. “What gave me away?”
He chuckles and his eyes drop to my lips for a moment. “Let’s just say I’ve noticed you blushing more than usual lately whenever you’re around me.”
“Maybe it was from the cold,” I tease.
“Perhaps…” He moves his face closer to mine.
I scooch toward him. “Or maybe it was because I finally realized how handsome you are.” I interlace my fingers behind his neck and pull him a little closer. “I always knew you were amazing. But lately…”
Chris cuts me off by closing the last inch of space between us and claiming my lips with his own. For a few minutes, we’re lost in one another’s arms. Chris places a final soft kiss on my lips before leaning back and grinning at me.
He tugs on my hand, pulling me close to his side. I melt into him as he restarts the movie, grateful for the snowstorm that pushed us to finally be honest about our feelings.
And it’s no surprise as the credits roll an hour later that I have a new favorite story. Ours.
In addition to short stories, she is currently working on her first novel inspired by the summers she spent working at a camp on a barrier island off the Carolina coast.
She lives in South Carolina with her husband and two boys. When she isn’t writing or reading, you might find her drinking tea or kombucha, obsessing about Pride and Prejudice, or singing and dancing around her house.
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