Far From Home

She released a soft chuckle that formed small wrinkles along the corners of her eyes. “It won’t be that bad, I promise.

I could even hold your hand.”

I like the sound of that. “Anything else?”

“You’re hoping I’ll give you something easier to do, aren’t you?” She cocked an eyebrow at me, completely calling me out.

“Again, I’m not scared, and I realize it isn’t hard, but…

yes.” I released a long breath. There was no sense in denying it. We still had another forty minutes until we reached my folks’ place, and I knew she’d bring it up again if I tried to change the subject now.

Sam paused a moment, almost as if to consider it, then said, “Even if it doesn’t happen until the day we head back to

campus, I’m going to get you out on the ice.”

I shivered. “And knowing me, I’ll make you wait that long.”

She shrugged, then went back to watching out the window.

“Considering the amount of snow you said we’re supposed to get this winter, I’m sure it won’t take too long.”

She sounded so sure of herself. As for me, I was too busy white-knuckling the steering wheel to do anything else. It wasn’t so much a fear of skating or even falling on my ass, but more a fear of the ice breaking and me not being able to get back to the surface. It almost happened once before.

I swallowed hard but didn’t say anything else. Sam didn’t need to know that. No one did.

But if you go to an ice rink, it won’t be as bad.

It wouldn’t be a pond. We’d be in a place where they actually made the ice themselves, possibly several feet thick.

There was no way I’d be able to fall through the ice then.

However, if that were true, why was my stomach in knots?

I flinched when Sam cleared her throat.

“Light’s green,” she said with an apologetic smile.

Nodding, I took a breath to ease the tightness in my chest.

“It won’t be long now. I hope you’re a hugger.”

“Is your family big on affection?” She sounded surprised.

“Oh yeah. Not the kissing on the cheek kind, but we’re pretty big when it comes to hugs. And it doesn’t matter if you’re family or not. As soon as you step into that house, you’re fair game. Oh, during meals, grab what you can. We tend to have a bit of a feeding frenzy, so if you don’t grab what you want while it’s there, it will probably be gone once you go back for seconds.”

“Sounds like my family.” There was an edge to her voice.

“Are you okay?” I asked, casting her a sideways glance so I could still watch the road.

“Yeah, just thinking about home. I bet Uncle Charlie’s already at the house. He’s always the first to arrive and the last to leave.”

“I’ll make you a deal. If you survive this holiday with my folks, I can go back to England with you during spring or summer break.”

Unless she’s dating someone by then. I winced. I’d never seen her with anyone, but the first thing she’d told me after we met was that she was gay. It was why I kept bunking with anyone I could.

As soon as school started, we clicked. I realized I could talk to Sam about anything. Or almost anything, that is. She didn’t judge me or tease me for my shortcomings. She simply smiled, offered her support, then would change the subject if she thought something made me uncomfortable.

No one else had ever done that for me, and while it might sound like a small thing, it made me enjoy her company even more.