Snowed In

“We thought you left. We thought we lost you.”

I slid my arm around him and hugged him tight. “No way.”

“Maybe we lost you to him at least,” said Shane. He nodded in Boone’s direction. “We thought we—”

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh no?” Shane’s tired eyes held the promise of a challenge, but at the same time, also a resignation. “Then what’s it like?”

Yeah Morgan. What’s it like?

I sank my chin to my chest. I honestly didn’t even know. There was no good way to respond. Nothing I could say that would appease or assuage him, or even explain what the hell was going through the whirlwind of my mind.

“This place is nice at least,” said Shane, slipping from my grasp. He stood up without me, his expression blank and emotionless. “You should be happy down here.”

Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away. There were a thousand things I wanted to say, but none of them seemed to fit. Besides, he was already walking away.

“C’mon,” Shane said to Jeremy, without looking back. “Let’s go get that fire roaring.”

Thirty-Three

MORGAN

Never in my life had I been more attracted to anyone… much less three men at once. And never had I been this wanton about it. This shameless.

At the same time, I’d never felt such an immediate emotional attachment as I did when falling for Shane.

Or the bond I felt with Jeremy.

Or the primal, instinctual lust I felt for Boone.

Fuck, Morgan!

The truth was, I’d never been more conflicted about anything. Never been in a more miserable position, while simultaneously being drawn in three different happy directions.

It was incredible. It was amazing.

It absolutely sucked.

“So what’s it gonna be?”

Shane stood with his hands on his hips, being careful not to make a fist with his injured hand. Jeremy was looking back at me as well. Boone just stood there with his arms crossed.

“I… I don’t know.”

Shane yawned. “Well you’d better decide soon, because I’m about to fall asleep standing up.” He pointed downward, to the mess of sleeping bags scattered before the roaring fireplace. “We’re sleeping right here. He’s sleeping down there.”

He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of the staircase. My shoulders slumped.

“Pick one.”

Boone uncrossed his big arms and locked eyes with me. He gave me a look that seemed to say: ‘It’s okay, just do whatever you want’. Then he walked away, ducking beneath the archway.

Shit.

I was heartbroken and torn. No matter what I did I was wrong. I’d put everyone in a position to resent me, regardless of my choice, and I was bound to disappoint somebody either way.

Then something else happened, and my path became a lot more clear.