Saved by the Blizzard: A romantic winter thriller (Tellure Hollow Book 2) by Adele Huxley Read Free Book Online Page A

high. Except for a moment or two when Kayla pulled her away, Liz had stuck by me the entire time. I loved how we always found a way to touch, either holding hands or brushing against one another. It was comforting in a way I’d forgotten I missed.
    At first, there’d only been fifteen to twenty people all around the pond, coming and going at various times. Skiers who lived further up the mountain heading down the private slope would stop for a quick drink. Within an hour, the crowd had swelled to over fifty. Kayla was the life of the party, her laugh constantly filling the air. I still wasn’t sure how to handle myself in situations like this. Before the accident when I was cocky and untouchable, I’d be hammered and out on the ice, drumming up a super competitive hockey game. Now, I was more comfortable hanging back, observing, noticing things I never would’ve otherwise.
    For instance, Kayla was trying very hard to appear like she didn’t care that Noah was hanging all over some busty blonde girl. As she mingled through the crowd, she always made sure to place herself in such a way to keep him visible. I thought she was going to crawl out of her skin at one point when the pair disappeared into the small shed on the far side of the pond. A few minutes later when they reemerged, Kayla made a direct line for the girl, her friendship a guise to keeping an eye on her man. As insightful as Liz is, I’m surprised she doesn’t see it , I thought.
    I knew my silence could’ve been misconstrued as antisocial, but with Liz and her bubbly personality at my side, I hoped people would see me only as reserved. After mingling for a bit, we drifted to the edge of the party. With my arm wrapped around her waist, I felt Liz shiver.
    “Want to go play some hockey to warm up?” Even quiet, non-Blizzard Bryan had a competitive streak. It’d been a long time since I’d strapped a pair of skates to my feet.
    “Couldn’t we just go over there?” she said nodding to the right. “I like the idea of cuddling by the fire. We do good things when we cuddle by fires.”
    I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation, pulling her close with a laugh. “Well, I suppose we could,” I said taking her hand and leading the way around the edge of the pond. It was a decent-sized body of water, more than large enough to accommodate the hockey game. Ponds like that get pretty deep in the mountains. Could even be a nice place for a quick swim in the steamy summer months , I thought.
    As soon as I settled into the wooden Adirondack chair, Liz plopped herself down on my lap. With a squeal, she slid back, the steepness of the chair settling her ass directly over my crotch.
    “Well then!” she laughed, looping an arm around my neck. With a little wiggle, we rearranged ourselves so we didn’t look too scandalous. “Isn’t this nice? Oh, come over here!” she called out to another couple. “These are my other roommates, Spencer and Morgan,” she introduced us.
    “Great to meet you,” I said with a wave.
    “Hey,” Morgan said with a broad smile. She had a sweet face and instantly reminded me of every hippie snowboarder I’d ever known. She gave me The Squint and I braced myself, breath catching in my chest.
    “This is Bryan, he was at the party just before Christmas,” Liz said, also noticing Morgan’s attempt to place me.
    “Ah! That’s it! I thought you looked familiar.” She smiled and settled into a chair to my left. Spencer hovered close by, not quite knowing what to do with himself. He glanced at the closest chair and decided it was too far away, dragging it closer to her side. The guy oozed awkward but Morgan didn’t seem to notice or care.
    I let my breath out slowly. Relieved I could avoid confronting the truth a little while longer. I knew it had to come out at some point and apparently, I didn’t have the strength to tell Liz myself yet. The half-truths and partial lies were piling up so high, I didn’t know how I was ever going to