A Not So Silent Night

3. Olivia

CHAPTER 3

Olivia

Nick opens the door to the truck and climbs inside before reaching out a hand to help me in. Hesitating for a moment, I spend a second weighing my options. Take the chance with them, or definitely freeze to death on the side of the road. I slide my hand into his and let him hoist me into the truck.

How many serial killers are charming anyway?

Besides Bundy.

“Sorry, Jersey. There are only the two bucket seats,” he smiles as he pulls me onto his lap, “We’re going to have to share.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I respond as he reaches between the two of us and unzips his coat. He pulls it as far around me as he can while wrapping his arms around me. Squeezing them tightly, he pulls me into him and holds me against his chest .

“We’ve got to get you warmed up,” his deep voice against my ear sends chills down my spine unlike any I felt in the cold car. I would argue, but his warmth radiating against me feels amazing.

It’s just a short ride into town. What harm could come of this?

“I see you’ve met Nick,” the other guy climbs into the driver's side of the truck with a smirk on his face, “I’m Kris. Kris Kringle.”

“Olivia,” I chatter back, “Really fucking happy to meet you both.”

Kris reaches for a knob on the dash and cranks the heat to high as Nick’s hands rub over the sleeves of my jacket to warm me.

If they’re going to kill me, at least I’ll be warm before I die.

“Where are you headed in this weather?” Kris’s voice has a tinge of concern to it.

“Into town.”

“Town is the other way,” he replies in a joking yet condescending tone.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious. My tire blew, and I spun out.” I shiver a little less as I continue to talk, “I was just hoping to check into whatever little hotel there is until this storm passes. Can you tow me into town? ”

“I’ve got bad news for you,” Nick sighs from behind me. “The Evergreen Lodge has been full for hours. We’re having some weird influx of Christmas season tourists this year. And a ton of people got stuck here when this storm rolled in.”

“Hilton? Holiday Inn? Super 8? Motel 6?” I question, “I’m not picky. I just need a place to stay until I can get my car fixed.”

“Nope. Just Evergreen Lodge.”

Really? One hotel, and it’s completely booked!

“I’ve got more bad news for you.” Kris shakes his head. “I can’t hook up your car to tow it in this weather. It’s also not a good idea for us to turn around and head back into town. The roads are far too bad to travel that far.”

“Don’t worry. We aren’t going to leave you stranded on the side of the road,” Nick chimes in when he feels my body tense in his arms. “You can come back to our place.”

Home?

Our place?

“We’ve got plenty of food and beer to get us through this storm,” Nick continues, “And it’d be nice to get snowed in with someone other than this guy for a change. ”

Duh, Liv! They’re a couple!

“Okay.” I nod my head, surprising even myself.

One of them is a cop. It’s his job to help and protect people. This is obviously safe.

“We’re only about a mile down the road.” Kris puts the truck into drive. “Once we get there, you can give someone a call and let them know where you are.”

Just as I am starting to get warm, regaining feeling in my fingers and toes, we pull to a stop. Nick releases his tight hold on me and pulls the handle to open the door. The icy wind whips through the crack and blows the door open. Gripping my hand, he helps me hop from the truck.

“Holy shit! It’s deep!” I yelp as my feet hit the ground, the fluffy snow filling my shoes and reaching nearly to my knees. Lifting my feet like I’m marching, I stomp through the snow and onto the porch. Nick and Kris are immediately behind me. Both of them have a significantly easier time making their way toward the house.

When Kris opens the door and guides me inside, I stop to take off my snow-covered Converse. The boys both stomp their boots on the ground and take a moment to remove theirs, too.

“Come on, Jersey. You can use the phone in the kitchen,” Nick ushers me into the adjoining room. As I walk, the little clumps of snow stuck to my leggings fall to the floor.

I dial my mom, but there’s no answer. It’s only when I leave a detailed message about where I am and who I am with that I realize how ridiculous it sounds.

I’m with Kris Kringle and Nick Saint.

Thank God, it’s Pine Glen and not the North Pole because she’d probably think I was drunk.