Caleb is fresh from a round of shovelling with Lochlan and they return to the kitchen, both with messy hair, ruddy cheeks and the sort of exhausted camaraderie I like best. Caleb grabs me in a tight bearhug, growling a laugh while Lochlan puts his cold hands on the back of my neck. I shriek and Caleb lets go but Lochlan does not, pulling me in tight, pushing his hands up the back of my sweater until I beg him for mercy.
There will be no mercy here today!
Some tonight then? I smile charmingly at him as he moves his hands to the outside of my sweater again.
He smiles but says nothing. I am spun back to Caleb who tells me if I want mercy tonight I'll have to beg for it, but he's smiling with his eyes when he says it. Was I cold? I'm not cold anymore.
I nod, kind of surprised that their hour of shoveling resulted in such a warm exchange.
What time? He kisses me hard on the mouth.
Ah..
Lochlan pulls me back into his arms, answering for me. Nine. Nine-thirty. He's gazing into my eyes. I nod.
Yeah. If that's not too late.
You decide, Neamhchiontach.
(I thought I did.) Nine-thirty is fine.
Maybe the snow will get heavier. Can you imagine if the point gets snowed-in?
I can't, actually.
Oh, I can. Might be nice to be cut off from the world.
(I thought we were.) True.
Or we could have a self-imposed snow day.
(I think I will.)