Snowbound With My Grumpy Ex (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

2. Chapter 2

Chapter two

Devon

I killed the engine, plunging the world into silence. My breath fogged the windshield, obscuring the view of my so-called sanctuary—some sanctuary—more like a tomb of buried memories.

I shoved the truck door open and stepped out into knee-deep snow—the cold bit through my jeans. I welcomed the sting. Anything was better than the emotions threatening to surface.

Dad’s face when I didn’t qualify for the Olympics. The disappointment in his eyes. The way he tried to hide it, clapping me on the back with a gruff, “There’s always next time, son.” But we both knew there wouldn’t be.

I slammed the truck door with more force than necessary. If only I could shut out the past as easily.

Trick skiing was supposed to be my second chance—a way to stay connected to the sport I loved and prove that I still had what it takes. But now? Now, I had to worry about likes, shares, and viral videos. One mistake, and suddenly I was a flippin’ meme, my failures immortalized for the world’s entertainment.

The pressure squeezed my chest, making it hard to breathe. I thought nothing could be worse than failing to make the Olympic team. But this constant scrutiny, having to be “on” all the time? It was slowly crushing me.

A sharp bark pierced the air, shattering my thoughts.

I froze mid-step. “What was that?”

Another bark. My frown deepened as I peered through the pre-dawn darkness. Was someone staying here? Without my permission? Anger ignited in my chest, momentarily overpowering the funk I’d been wallowing in for days.

I stomped towards the porch. The last thing I needed to deal with when I finally decided to sell this place was a squatter.

“This ought to be good,” I grumbled, reaching for the doorknob. I yanked the door open, ready to unleash my frustration on whoever had the audacity to break into my guesthouse. But before I could utter a word, something whistled through the air— thwack .

I ducked instinctively, feeling the rush of air as an object sailed over my head. “Whoa!” My heart raced as I straightened up, eyes widening in disbelief.

There, in the middle of the living room, stood Arabella Sterling. Her face was flushed, auburn hair escaping from a messy bun, and she clutched a broom like it was Excalibur. For a moment, I wondered if I was hallucinating.

“Bella? What the—what are you doing here?”

My mind reeled, memories I thought I’d buried surging to the surface. The last time I’d seen her... had it been seven years ago? She looked different now—older, more confident, but with that same spark in her green eyes that used to drive me crazy.

Bella lowered the broom. Her face went from shock to relief and to shock again. “Devon? I... I thought you were a burglar or something!”

“A burglar? With a key?” I scoffed, crossing my arms to contain the frustration I wanted to unleash. “What are you doing in my guesthouse?”

She bit her lip, a habit I remembered all too well. “Oh! Right. I was on my way back to Serenity Falls for a big design project, and then the storm hit, and I, um... my car skidded off the road. I remembered this place, and... I’m so sorry, but—“

“Whoa, slow down.” I held up a hand, trying to process the rapid-fire explanation. “You’re back in Serenity Falls? For how long?”

“Indefinitely, actually. I got this amazing opportunity to redesign the old Hartley Lodge. It’s a big deal for my career.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And of all the places your car could break down, it just happened to be near my guesthouse?”

Bella’s cheeks flushed. “Pure coincidence, I swear! I didn’t know what to do. I thought maybe...”

“You thought you’d just break in and make yourself at home?” I finished, unable to keep the edge out of my voice.

“I didn’t break in!” she protested. “I remembered you always left a key out. And I was desperate, Devon. It was either this or freeze to death in my car.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. The logical part of my brain knew she was right, but having her here, now, after everything... it was too much.

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore how my heart hammered. “You can’t stay here,” I said, the words coming out harsher than I’d intended.

Bella’s eyes widened, a flicker of hurt crossing her features before she squared her shoulders. “Right. Of course. I’ll just...” She glanced towards the window, where the storm raged on, unabated. “See if a tow truck can make it out here.”

I followed her gaze, a war raging inside me. The part of me that had been avoiding home, avoiding confronting my failures, screamed to kick her out. But another part—the part I’d been trying to silence for years—couldn’t bear the thought of sending her out into that blizzard.

“You need to leave,” I repeated, my voice lacking conviction. “As soon as it’s safe.”

“Well, you obviously don’t want me here,” Bella replied, her voice shaky. She yanked at her suitcase, struggling to close it. “Come on, Maple, let’s go freeze on the porch.”

I watched, dumbfounded, as she tugged her luggage towards the door. She couldn’t seriously be considering—

Bella’s foot hit the icy step, and suddenly she was airborne. Time seemed to slow as I watched her flail, arms windmilling before she landed hard on her back with a sickening thud.

“Ow...” she groaned. Oblivious to her owner’s predicament, Maple ran excited circles around Bella’s flattened form, licking her face.

I sighed deeply, shaking my head. This woman was going to be the death of me. Guilt and concern battled with my desire to maintain distance as I watched her struggle to sit up.

“For crying out loud,” I muttered, striding over to help her. My hands gripped her arms, steadying her as she wobbled to her feet. The warmth of her skin seeped through her jacket, an unwelcome reminder of a past I’d tried hard to forget.

I released her quickly, stepping back. “Why do you have to be so stubborn? I said you can stay until it’s safe,” I grumbled, glancing at the worsening storm. “I barely made it here myself.”

“I’ll stay out of your way,” she said curtly as she brushed past me. “We won’t be any trouble.”

I looked at Maple, who was now sniffing around the porch with far too much interest. The dog wagged her tail, clearly wondering if she could con me out of ear scratches. Fat chance. “Right. No trouble at all.”

Grabbing Bella’s suitcase, I hauled it back inside, trying to ignore how my heart raced at her proximity. The power was still out, leaving the interior dim and chilly.

“The breaker needs to be flipped to get the power back on,” I said, desperate for an excuse to escape the sudden tension in the room. “I’ll take care of it.”

Without waiting for a response, I ducked back outside. How could she still punch right through my defenses after all these years?

My phone vibrated in my pocket as I trudged through the deepening snow towards the breaker box. I pulled it out, groaning at the name on the screen. Coach Eddie Frost. Just what I needed.

I considered letting it go to voicemail, but I knew that would only make things worse. Sighing, I answered, “Hey, Coach.”

“Where are you, Montgomery?” Eddie’s gruff voice crackled through the speaker. “You’ve got a competition coming up and you’re missing training! You can’t just disappear!”

I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I just needed a break, Eddie,” I replied, my teeth clenched so tight I thought they might crack.

“A break? Now? With the qualifier—“

“I know, I know,” I cut him off, staring at the swirling snow. “I’ll be back soon. I just... I need to clear my head.”

Eddie’s frustrated sigh echoed through the phone. “Fine. But you better be back in top form, you hear me? We can’t afford any more... incidents.”

The call ended, leaving me alone with the howling wind and the memory of my latest crash replaying in my mind. I stood there for a second, letting the cold numb more than just my fingers.

I stepped back into the guesthouse, and the scent hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. A soft floral smell. Bella’s scent. Suddenly, I was sixteen again, fumbling with my tie before prom, my heart racing as I waited for her to descend the stairs. I blinked hard, shoving the memory away. Ancient history. No use dwelling on it now.

“Power’s back,” I grunted, flipping the switch. The sudden brightness made me squint.

“I, uh, had some snacks left from my last food run,” Bella said, gesturing to the table. She had laid out some hodgepodge of nuts, a couple of Twinkies, and some sad excuse for a gas station sandwich.

I slouched into the chair across from her, the wood creaking under my weight. The silence grew, filling the space between us with everything we weren’t saying. I focused on unwrapping my sandwich, desperate for something to do with my hands.

Bella cleared her throat. “So... how’s life treating you? Apart from your newfound internet fame, that is.”

I nearly choked on my first bite. “Oh, you know,” I managed once I could breathe again. “Living the dream. Who doesn’t want to be a human meme?”

Her lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Ah, there’s the Devon charm. Good to see some things never change.”

I swallowed, fighting the urge to smile. It was so easy, so familiar, but dangerous. I squashed the feeling, reminding myself why I was here: solitude, recovery, selling the house, not... whatever this was.

“Listen, Bella,” I started, setting down my half-eaten sandwich. “This isn’t—“

A golden streak interrupted me, followed by the distinct sound of something being dragged across the floor. My eyes locked onto the object dangling from Maple’s mouth—a snowflake hanging from a lanyard.

“Maple, no!” I lunged out of my chair, nearly toppling it. The furry menace darted away, my lucky charm dangling from her mouth like some prized toy.

I scrambled after her, my socks sliding on the hardwood floor. “Hey! Drop it!”

Bella’s voice echoed behind me, “Maple, bad girl! Come here!”

Great. I came here to sulk and lick my wounds. A two-person dog chase was not how I wanted to spend my afternoon.

Maple zipped into the bedroom, leaping onto the unmade bed. I dove for her, but she was quicker. My face met a mouthful of duvet instead.

“Got her!” Bella called out triumphantly. I lifted my head just in time to see Maple wriggle free, shooting between Bella’s legs like a furry bullet.

I pushed myself up, blowing hair out of my eyes. “Stellar dog training there.”

Bella shot me a glare. “She’s still a puppy, you know. And maybe if you weren’t chasing her like a madman—“

“Oh, so it’s my fault your dog’s a kleptomaniac?”

Before Bella could retort, Maple zoomed past, heading for the living room.

I cornered Maple behind the couch, her tail wagging like this was all a big game. To her, it probably was.

“Drop it,” I commanded in a no-nonsense tone. To my surprise, Maple obeyed, letting the charm fall from her mouth. I snatched it up, checking for damage.

“That important, huh?” Bella’s voice was soft, curious.

I shrugged, uncomfortable with the sudden attention. “It was my dad’s,” I mumbled, slipping the cord over my head. “Gave it to me before my Olympic tryout.”

The silence that followed felt heavy. I could practically feel Bella’s sympathy radiating towards me. It made my skin itch.

“Just... keep her away from my stuff, okay?” I needed space, needed to think. “I’m gonna get my room situated,” I announced abruptly.

I grabbed my bags, still sitting by the front door, and marched into the bedroom. Once in my room, I sank onto the edge of the bed, pulling out my phone. My thumb hovered over the video that had been haunting me for days. With a deep breath, I pressed “play”.

There I was, carving down the slope with the precision I’d spent years honing. Then, in a heartbeat, everything went wrong. My edges caught, sending me into a spectacular wipeout that had gone viral within hours.

I watched myself tumble over and over, my heart sinking with each replay. This wasn’t just a crash. This was my career, my future, hanging in the balance. First, the Olympics, now this. How many more hits could I take?

The snowflake charm felt heavy against my chest as I stared at the frozen image of myself sprawled in the snow. What would my father say if he could see me now?

I flopped back onto the bed, phone still clutched in my hand. The ceiling offered no answers, just more questions. Where do I go from here? How do I come back from this?

And most pressingly, how the heck am I going to survive being stuck here with Bella?