Jackson Pearce - Cold Spell

Ginny was about to comment on the rings when someone knocked on the front door. She sat up straight, looking from Ella to Lucas. Flannery arched her back over the couch to spy down the foyer; a grin spread across her face, confirming who had arrived.

“Go on,” Lucas said. “We’ll be in the kitchen eating cake.”

“We haven’t eaten dinner!” Ella said.

“We’re adults. We’re allowed to have cake for dinner,” Lucas answered, rising. They filed into the kitchen while Ginny licked her lips and hurried to the foyer.

Through the door’s decorative glass, he looked like a collection of features. Dark hair. Gold eyes. Olive skin and an angular, willowy stature, as if he was animated rather than born. He was wearing a coat, though Ginny knew he didn’t need it—Kai didn’t feel the cold now; he hadn’t ever since Mora. Ginny’s face spread into a grin, and she rushed forward and opened the door.

The cold didn’t have a chance to touch her—Kai moved in first, wrapped his arms around her, and enveloped her, pulling his head to his shoulder, burying his face against her neck. He smelled like cinnamon and soap, and she pushed her full weight into him, until he lifted her from the ground, kissing her temple as he did so.

“You’re late,” she whispered as he put her down, smiling.

“Delayed due to ice,” he said, raising his eyebrows at the irony. “But I’m here now.” Ginny rested her head against his chest for a moment, listening to his heart beat as he held her.

“Maybe I should ditch New York after all. Go back to Portland with you,” he murmured against her hair.

“You say that every time we’re together, you know. But if you’re expecting me to argue, you’re going to be disappointed,” she said, smiling as she lifted to her toes and drew his lips to hers. Her head flooded with heat as they kissed, and he held her tightly, as if he couldn’t be close enough.

“You’re missing the cake!” Flannery yelled from the kitchen. They broke away, laughing at the sound of the others shushing Flannery. Kai kissed Ginny’s forehead quickly, and they walked to the kitchen holding hands. The others were sitting at the table around a deck of cards that Callum and Flannery were using to teach the other two Widow’s Lover. They greeted Kai enthusiastically; Callum moved over a chair so he and Ginny could sit beside each other while Ella cut him a ridiculously large slice of cake.

They played for hours—Ella won frequently, since she worked out how to count the cards—and then drifted away one at a time toward bedrooms on the upper floors. Flannery was the last to leave, giving Ginny a wry smile as she flicked the kitchen lights off on her way out of the room. The Christmas lights outside glowed, a sea of color and illumination that shone bright enough to light the way as Ginny and Kai rose and walked to the window to look out over the yard. Kai stood behind Ginny, put his arms around her, and rested his chin on her head.

Ginny looked down at Kai’s hands and ran her fingers across his knuckles. “You know I’m in love with you, right?” she asked.

“I know,” he answered. “I’ve always known. Since we were little kids.” He opened his mouth as if he was going to say more, but then he stopped and lifted a hand to point. “Look. It’s snowing.”

Fat snowflakes, gentle and scattered, barely enough to dust the ground. Ginny could feel Kai tense behind her; she knew what memories were running through his head. She turned and ran her hand along his cheek. He sighed, relaxed, and kissed her palm.

“Ginny?” he said. “Let’s go to sleep.” She smiled, turned, and took his hand. Together they retreated upstairs, leaving the snow to fall.

There were plenty of reasons to love the winter, and this moment was one of them.