The Dead of Winter (Seasons of Jefferson: Book 2) (31 page)

I’M LYING OUT ON THE
couch re-checking my phone, when everyone comes back into the living room.

“Hey, Caden.”
Ugh, Brody.
I’m still mad at him for the way he teamed up against me with my sister.
Jerk.

I can’t help but lash out at him with my response. “What do you want?”

He pauses and looks at me apologetically. “Listen, can we just forget about what happened back there? I’m sorry for butting in like that. I should’ve stayed out of it.”

Now I’m listening.

“Anyway, my cousin just messaged me. Seems the grandparents are asleep, and he wants to go check out his new snowboard. He wants to know if we’d be up for it.”

“It’s Christmas. Did you ask my parents?”

“They’re cool with it. Said they wanted to go hang out with Jenna’s parents.

I look down at my phone for the twentieth time in twenty minutes.
Still no text. I blew it. I know it. She thinks I like Jessie May.
“Not sure I’m in the mood.”

“Oh, come on, Caden.” Kaitlyn steps out from behind Brody. “Look, I’m sorry I told Mom and Dad. You’ll thank me later. I know you will. Just come with us. Jenna’s going. You’re not mad at her, are you?”

How could I be mad at Jenna? She really didn’t do anything. Well, except for rub Peyton’s gift in my face.
“Where do you plan on going?” I grumble.

“We’re thinking Ashland. It’s a little less crowded than Mount Shasta on Christmas day. You in?”

I guess it’s better than sitting here looking at my phone all day, waiting for a text that isn’t going to come. I’d better try one more time.
I pick up my phone and give it one more go.

ME: You girls do want to go to the party, don’t you?

JESSIE MAY: YES! Sorry I didn’t text back earlier. I was dealing with some family stuff. But, yes. I plan on going.

Phew. They got my text. But still no Tangles.
“Okay, I’m in. When are we leaving?”

“Well, that depends on when we can find a truck that will make it over the Siskiyous. There’s chain control right now … unless you have a four wheel drive. Does anyone here have a four wheel drive?” Brody’s devious smirk bores into me. “If we come up with a vehicle, I can drive.”

I shake my head. Incredulously, I ask, “You want to drive my brand new truck? The one I just got this morning? Like before I do?”

Oh, this boy has some balls.

“Well, someone’s got to drive it.” I hear Brody’s comment under his breath.

He thinks he’s going to drive my truck before I do? Yeah, I don’t think so. I’ll just take it around the block when nobody’s looking. I can at least do that. I have to be the first one behind the wheel. I have to.

“Well, go get your stuff together. We can take my rig. I’ll be ready in a half hour.”

While the gang goes to their houses to grab their gear, I decide to bite the bullet.
I’m going to do this.
I don’t know how far I’ll get, but I’m going to take my new truck for a spin. I grab the keys off the key hook and step into the cool winter air. Snow is coming down lightly. Except for a few snowmen standing in various yards, there’s no one to be seen. Silence fills the air.

I grab my snowboard out of the garage, and slowly walk toward the truck.
It’s me versus you, big boy.
I stare it down, like I’m ready to step into the ring with Mike Tyson. I swear I hear the engine roar at me. I bring the remote up to unlock the doors.
Click
. The sound rings through the quiet street. I flinch as it echoes out around me. I take a step back and survey the neighborhood once more.
Nope. Nobody’s out here.
Again, I step toward the truck. This time, I lift my hand to the handle. When I pull back, it’s locked.
Crap. I must’ve taken too long.
It’s already re-locked itself. Again, I unlock the door with the remote.
Just do it.
I work to convince myself.

When I finally get up the nerve to open the door and jump inside, I jam the key in the ignition.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
I wince again. The alarm has me on edge. Something about that sound freaks me out. I pull the door closed and turn the key. My blood begins fighting its way through my veins the second I hear the engine roar to life. Trying to calm myself, I take in a deep breath and blow it out.

As I sit there, contemplating whether to shift into first, I recoil when out of nowhere, slush flies up and pelts the window.
I can’t do this.
My heart is racing. My pulse is so strong it hurts. The window is beginning to fog up from my panicked breathing.
You have to do this.

I push in on the brake and pull down on the lever.
Clunk. Clunk. Clunk.
I feel the shifter hitch into different gears as I move it down slowly. No movement.
You’ve got to take your foot off the brake, dumbass.
I decide to give it a go. Slowly, I release my foot from the brake and start to pull out into the road. Hhhhooooonnnnk.
Oh my God. Oh my God.
I breathe in and out. In and out.
I forgot to check the mirrors. I can’t do this. I can’t.
I lay my head down on the steering wheel, trying to make my heart slow down. I can feel my pulse in my throat. This is a nightmare.
Okay, back to the basics. Pretend you're fifteen. Learning to drive. Nothing bad has ever happened to you. Get your head back in the game.

A wave of courage comes over me. I check the mirrors this time.
All clear.
Finally, I release my foot from the brake and gently step on the gas. I look at the speedometer. I’m only driving six miles an hour, but everything I pass is making me dizzy. It reminds me of the first time I ever drove. I was nine, and everything was so big. So fast. Larger than life. I increase my speed to fifteen. It feels like the neighbors’ houses are zooming by at warp speed.

I feel a bead of sweat trickle from my forehead. I start to hyperventilate, as I round the first corner and make my way up the next street. This road is pretty steep.
Glad this is an automatic, or I’d probably start rolling backward. Oh man. I sure hope Schuler’s not home. He’d flick me so much crap if he saw the way I’m driving.

By the time I make it to the top of Georgia Way, I have cramps in my calves and thighs. My back and neck have knots from stress.
Just one more corner and you’ll be heading home.
Both sides of the narrow street are completely lined with cars. I watch a grey CRV come toward me.
This truck is wide. The road is narrow. What should I do?
I try to pull in as close as I can to the car parked on the side of the road. I step on the brakes and close my eyes, as I hear the sound of the car drive past. When I open my eyes, the road is clear again.
That was a close one.

I’m certain it’s taken me a half hour to round our large block.
Everyone’s probably back at the house, ready to go. I have to get there first. I can’t let them know that I actually drove, or they’ll expect me to do it again. Probably all the way to Ashland. You’ve got to get home, Caden. Now.
I press down a little more firmly on the gas. I accelerate to an uncomfortable level. I’ve got to slow down. Panicked, I stomp on the brake, and find myself skidding. Right through the stop sign. A family of deer try to make a run for it. I feel a thump. I watch his hooves spin out from beneath him. He rolls to the ground, but jumps back up and bounds off.

When I pull over and get out to look at my bumper I’m relieved that
there’s no dent.
I must’ve just tapped it.
Thank God.
I can’t imagine messing up my front end on the maiden voyage. I jump back in the truck, hoping to make it home before my friends get back. I round the corner, and take the road up to my house, just in the nick of time. Jenna pulls up behind me.

I open my door and step out. She’s already beside me. “You drove?”

I can’t answer her. I’m still sweating and out of breath.

“Oh man, you look like a ghost. Are you okay?”

I shake my head, no. “It’s too much. Too soon. I can’t do it. One block and I almost died three times. There were cars everywhere. And deer. Don’t tell them. I don’t want to do it again.”

“I’ve got your back. Here, give me your keys.”

“Why?”

“I’ve got to put your truck back. You didn’t park up far enough. I can still see the tracks in the snow. They’ll know you moved it.”

I hand Jenna my keys. She jumps in and moves the truck forward about six feet. That’s when Kaitlyn, Brody, and Mason pull up behind her.

Jenna jumps out, making kind of a big deal. “Great truck, Caden. Thanks for letting me take it for a spin.”

I know she’s doing it for Brody’s benefit. She’s such a great friend.

“What? You let her drive it first?” I can tell by his face that Brody’s messing with me. He really doesn’t care about stuff like that. He shakes his head. “Wow, dude.”

I smile and wink, trying to play off my near nervous breakdown. “You guys all ready? I’m kind of excited. I haven’t been up to Ashland this season.”

“Yep, let’s load up.”

“You want me to drive?” Brody asks once more, just to check and see if I’ve changed my mind.

“Uh, if you don’t mind. I have a few things I’d like to take care of.” I hold up my phone.

“Oh, the new
thing
you were talking about?” Kaitlyn questions playfully. “Any hints on who this new person might be?”

“No hints. I don’t want to jinx it.”

“Fair enough.” Jenna smiles. “I’m glad you’re moving on. Makes me really happy.”

Curly hair and sparkly brown eyes cross my mind. “Me too.” I look back down at my phone.
Nothing.
“I just hope it works out.”

“T. Go ahead and sit with Brody. I’ll take the back with Jenna and Mason. You okay with the middle, Jenna?” I look at Jenna, who’s wildly tapping away at her phone.

“Oh yeah, sure. I want to spend some time texting Ty anyway,” she says as we get in and close the doors. “He was going to come, but Aiden was released from the hospital this morning.”

Brody starts the engine and begins to pull away from the curb. I clench my nervous muscles and look around the cab, trying to keep myself distracted from the road and weather conditions around me.

“This really is cute.” Kaitlyn holds her arm up in the air, dangling her new charms into the back seat.

“Yeah.” I roll my eyes.

Jenna begins picking at hers. “This little castle is cute. I’ve never seen another charm like it.”

For the love of Pete, will they stop carrying on about those charms? This is so stupid.
I huff loudly, knowing that they might just recognize my disgust and stop glorifying Peyton’s gifts right in front of me.

“Sorry.”

I look down at my empty phone screen and glance up into the rearview mirror. Anything to distract me. I notice a sports car with tinted windows. It seems a little close.

“Some people are such assholes.”

“What are you talking about? I’m sorry about the bracelet thing.” Jenna sounds disappointed in herself. “I wasn’t thinking.”

“Not you. There’s a car riding our ass. It’s so rude.”

“Well, it won’t be for long. He’ll have to stop to chain up in about a mile,” Brody snickers, watching me through the rearview mirror.

“Want me to lose him?”

“Yeah.” I forget about my new fear of speed when Brody steps on the gas and pulls out into the middle lane.

I find myself grabbing onto the handle on one side and Jenna’s leg on the other.

“Ouch.” Jenna whispers, “Are you okay?”

“I will be as soon as we’re at the park.”

“You look green. Do you need to pull over?”

I feel my stomach begin to churn. My cheeks quiver and sweat starts seeping from my forehead. “I think I’m going to puke.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. We’d better pull over.”

“Hey Brody.” Jenna pats our fearless driver on the shoulder. “We need to pull over.”

Brody slows and pulls off to the side of the road. I throw open the door and lean over the side. Quiche and cinnamon rolls splatter all over the ground beneath me.

I can hear my sister gag in response to the sound of vomit hitting the road. “Is he okay? Do you think he has the flu? Oh my gosh. We’d better take him home.”

“It’s not the flu, T. The back seat makes me sick … especially the way this guy drives.” I laugh, just so Brody knows I’m messing with him.

“Let me trade you places. The park’s only about ten minutes away.”

When I get out to exchange seats, I notice the little sports car making its way back up the mountain.
Hmm. That was quick. He must have those easy cables.
I get back in the truck. “Sorry about the delay. Let’s go.”

Within fifteen minutes, my stomach has settled, and we’re up at the ski park. I clear my mind of all distractions and hike the hill, ready to conquer another mountain.

THE RUNS ARE UNBELIEVABLE. THE
powder is so thick, it’s darn near up to my thighs. The girls are having a tough time keeping up. It takes a lot of strength to jump through this stuff. Kaitlyn’s skis keep popping off, so she decides she wants to hit a different run. One that’s been recently groomed.

“How about if we hook up in about forty-five minutes? That should give us all enough time to get a few good runs in.” I look down at my phone to check the time. I have to admit, I’m pretty bummed that there’s still no text from Avery.
Guess she’s just not that into me.