Page 7 of Wrapped in Winter
I laugh at her and reply.
Me: Your wish is my command.
I open the door just in time to see the headlights of my best friend’s 4x4 pull in my driveway. Courtney parks and jumps out, running onto my front porch and through the open door I’m standing behind. I close it behind her, leaving the cold outside.
“Lily asleep?” she whispers as she quietly steps out of her boots and shrugs out of her puffy winter jacket.
“Yes, for about twenty minutes now. She’s done for the night. Come on in.”
“Lucky you. Joey never went to bed early. And now with Jack home, he begs to stay up late every night. I think he’s afraid Jack won’t be there in the morning if he goes to sleep.”
Jack used to spend most of his time working and not with his family. It led to Courtney leaving him in New York and taking Joey with her. Jack eventually woke up and came back to Montana for them, winning Courtney back, but they’re still adjusting.
We walk into my kitchen and I pull out the wine bottle, pouring her a glass. “I get that. He’s been without him for so long, he doesn’t want to miss anything.”
“It’s sad too. I don’t want him living with that anxiety thinking dad’s going to leave again.”
“I’ll talk to him and let him know that if his dad eventhinksabout going away for the weekend, Aunt January will cut his balls off.”
Courtney snickers. “I’m sure that will do the trick.”
We head into the living room where we collapse onto the couch together, sharing a blanket. Courtney has been my best friend since we were kids, and she’s the only one who hasn’t judged me despite me being a complete asshole to her at times. Not long after starting high school, we had a great idea to leave Montana and never look back. We said we wanted more than just a small-town life and needed to see what the world had to offer.
I’ll never forget my dad saying to all of us,‘Just be happy wherever you end up.’He was always so supportive of whatever us kids wanted to do and encouraged us to dream big, even when we had no idea what those dreams were. After hearing Courtney and I planning a great escape, he sat me down and we talked.
“January, I know you’re not happy here.”
“It’s not that I’m not happy, Dad, but I'm bored.”
He smiles. “I get that. Small towns can be boring for a kid. But big cities aren’t all they’re made out to be either. I’m not saying you're not ready for that, but you've never been to one. Moving to one would be a big change.”
I shrug. “I’m willing to risk it.”
“Promise me you'll finish high school first, then tour the world. And remember you can always come home. You’re my daughter, I’ll always be here for you, waiting for you to come back with story upon story of the big world.”
I shake my head to clear the memory. Guess you got your way in the end, right, Dad?
I grab the remote and turn up the fireplace. “Funny how you hate this thing but you’re always making sure it’s on when you come over.”
She waves her hand around and takes a sip before placing her glass on the table and facing me. “Tell me what's going on with you. I know something happened.”
I shrug. “And here I thought you missed me. Turns out, you’re just being nosey.”
“I always miss you! You forget, we went four years without living in the same town together. I need to make up for lost time. You’re my best friend, I shouldn’t have to be nosey. Now talk to me. Since the night us girls went out to the Range Bar and Grill, you’ve been off. Don’t think I didn't notice you disappeared for a short time.” She gives me a knowing look.
“Nothing happened.”
“January Nilsson, you stop lying right this instant!”
“Your mom voice doesn't work on me. I’m a mom too,” I remind her.
She snuggles up to me, practically climbing into my lap, and wraps her arms around me. “What are you doing?”
“I’m softening you up. I’m your bestie. Now, tell your bestie everything.”
I laugh at her and she snickers as I roll her to the side of me.
“Ok I’ll tell you but plea–”