“Because you want to avoid this?” There was no judgment in her voice. If anything, she was concerned.
“Mostly, yeah.”
“But it’s the normal progression of a relationship.” She counted off a list, pointing at her fingers as she did. “The first date is usually so you can get to know one another, the second is to make sure things feel right, the third is so you can share a few personal secrets, and the others are part family introduction and part interrogation. It’s completely natural.”
“But you met my family first,” I told her. “We’ve skipped at least three of your steps.” Ones I would’ve loved to experience for myself.
She shrugged. “So what?” ‘Besides, we aren’t dating,’ I could almost hear her say. “I haven’t run away,” she said with a shy smile, “so the worst part of today is over. Well, aside from the bear that might still be lurking around. That could be a problem.”
“So none of this freaks you out?” Not me, my family, or our strange initiations?
The way she smiled at me then forced even more butterflies into my stomach. “My family is even worse.”
“You’re just saying that to be nice.” Sam was way too polite.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see once we go back to England.”
“I suppose I will.”
Chapter Seven
Sam
After getting sent back to the cabin with enough food to feed an army, Taylor and I hobbled through the snow that had fallen while we were away. Unable to feel my toes and shivering along the way, none of it mattered so long as I was with her. A cloud of vapors slipped past her lips into the chilly air as she shoved her hands in her pockets. Considering her bunched shoulders, I had a feeling she was just as cold as I was but pushed forward anyway.
No doubt her folks would’ve let us stay overnight, but I also remembered what Taylor had said we when first arrived at the cabin. It’s a way to detox. Funny thing is, it seemed as though she needed it more than I did.
Meet
ing her family, especially her uncle, wasn’t as bad as she made it sound, though I bet she spent most of the afternoon worrying about what someone might say if they happened to get me alone.
With a box of art supplies in my arms, I made sure to take my time navigating through the snow. Taylor wasn’t doing any better, growling under her breath when a bag of store-bought rolls fell to the ground.
“You could’ve said no,” I said with a laugh as she picked them up.
“You never say no to my mom. She’ll just pile on even more food if you do,” Taylor said, righting herself before continuing down the footpath.
“You know what we need? A wagon. One of those red ones.”
“And pull it through the snow?” Taylor was already shaking her head before she could finish. “I’ll stick with carrying the box, thanks.”
“It is nice out here,” I admitted. The snow was falling in large clumps now, adding on to the snow that already covered
the branches around us.
“This is only the beginning,” Taylor warned. “It’ll get a lot worse later on tonight, which was why we left when we did. I need to make sure we have everything we need before the next storm rolls in.”
“You know, we could’ve just stayed with your folks. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”
“And risk getting asked even more questions?”
“I suppose you’re right, though it would’ve saved us this walk and I’d still be able to feel my toes.”
It didn’t matter if the snow was only a few inches deep.
The snow had already soaked through my shoes. Granted, I really didn’t bring the right footwear for this. If I’d known about Taylor’s cabin… nope. I still would’ve brought the same things.
“Once we get inside and have the fire going, it’ll be worth it.”