Ten Below Zero(65)

“Here,” Everett said, handing her the camera from under the table. I didn’t know he’d brought it with him.

Bridget set her fork down and wiped her hands on her napkin before grabbing the camera greedily. I watched her start to scroll through the photos. She stopped and looked up at Everett for a second before focusing again on the camera. I hadn’t realized Everett had taken more than one photo.

“Ah,” she said. She looked up at us both. She seemed to want to say something, but stubbornly set her lips in a line before handing the camera back to Everett.

“I want to see,” I said, reaching an arm out to intercept the camera. Everett tried to take it from me but I yanked it away. I stared down at the screen on the back of the camera. I saw the arch, and I saw Everett leaning towards me, an arm wrapped around me. His face was facing mine, his lips at my ear. The expression on my face could have been described as serene. I couldn’t help but close my eyes, remembering.



“Everyone who sees this photo will see us under the arch. But when you see this photo, you’ll see the canyon and the water and all the beauty in front of us. Remember that, Parker. When you look at this photo, remember looking at purgatory with me. While everyone else was looking at the arch, we were looking at that.”



I opened my eyes and looked at Everett for the first time since he’d left the table. He was staring at me with feeling. I wasn’t sure what the feeling was, but I knew it was likely the same thing I felt. I licked my lips, unable to look away.

“I already took care of the check. Clark has soccer practice, so I have to get going.” Bridget’s voice interrupted the haze I was in while staring at Everett.

“We’ll walk you out,” Everett said, reaching a hand to pull me out. There he was again, tugging me. I followed.

When we got to the parking lot, I let go of Everett’s hand, lagging back so he could visit with his sister a bit. Clark ran ahead to the car while Everett and his sister talked.

“I wish you’d come to dinner with us tonight,” Everett said, putting an arm around her shoulders. I watched her look at him wistfully. “It’s my shift tonight, and I can’t get anyone to cover. And besides, you know how dad is. I’d rather not watch him embarrass himself or attempt to embarrass me.”

Everett nodded, sighed, and then ran a hand through his hair. They both turned to look back at me and I turned away, trying to pretend I hadn’t heard.

“She’s good, you know?” Bridget said, still looking at me.

My skin itched.

“Yeah, I know she is,” Everett replied.

My stomach burned. Everett reached down, hugged her. I turned my body completely away from him.

“What’s this?” Bridget said. I kept my back to them, feeling uncomfortable witnessing their exchange. There was silence, and then I heard her say. “They say that’s bad luck.”

Curiosity was whispering in my head to look, to see what they were talking about. But I was stubborn, and kept my back to them.

“I’ll take my chances,” Everett replied, laughing. I turned around and Everett was hugging Bridget again. I watched her face go from happy to sad the moment she had her arms around him. Her arms were so tight that she shook. I turned my face away again, not wanting to see this moment between Everett and his sister. Too much.

“Parker,” she said. I opened my eyes and looked at her. She had her arms out for me. Reluctantly, I walked the few feet towards her and let her wrap her arms around me. My own arms felt awkward, like sludge, so I lifted them up and self-consciously patted her back. I looked at Everett while she hugged me, curious by the way he was staring at us.

“I hope to see you again,” she said, pulling away and looking me in the eyes. It was a loaded goodbye. I didn’t know how to answer so I just watched her walk away towards her car.

“Have you been hugged often?”

I shook my head and looked at Everett. “What?”

“It’s a simple question. Has anyone hugged you? Growing up, did your foster parents hug you? Did your teachers? Boyfriends?”

I didn’t need to think about it. “No.”

Everett nodded as if he expected that answer. “Not even your boyfriends?”

I thought of my boyfriends. I’d never had an emotional connection with any of them. It was never about that. So we didn’t hold hands, hug, or be affectionate unless it was a prequel to the main event.

“No.”

“That’s a damn shame.”

“No it’s not.”

He stepped closer to me. I took a step back. “Don’t run,” he whispered, his eyes engaged with mine.

“I’m not.”

“You want to.”

He wasn’t wrong. He reached his hand for mine and I placed mine in his with a little apprehension. “Let’s go,” he said, breaking the spell he’d had me under.

I let him lead me towards the Jeep. He walked me to the passenger door but before he opened the door, he pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me.

My heart fell, landing in the pit of my stomach. I closed my eyes, felt his lips at my ear. “You haven’t be hugged enough, my precious.” His joking nickname for me didn’t feel like a joke this time. He squeezed his arms tighter, so tight I couldn’t move. But it was comforting. And warm. I wanted to live, really live, in this moment. So with my eyes closed, I committed this moment to my memory. His cool water scent. The muscles of his back under my fingertips. His breath at my ear. When he pushed his lips to my hair, my heart was volleyed from my stomach to my throat.