Page 10 of Winter’s Teeth

***

I WOKE TO BIRDSONG that had been starkly missing in the evening when I arrived at the cabin. Cheerful cardinals and sweet chickadees busied about outside my window in a tree that had tapped against the glass with every gust of wind throughout the night. Falling asleep had been difficult in a new place, but managing my sister's cousin all evening had left me weary enough that I didn't battle insomnia for long.

A stuffed black bear stood on its back legs in the corner by my bed, and hanging over its paw was my robe, right where I left it when I decided the creepy taxidermy should at least prove useful. Looking creepy wasn't a good enough use, even if being a glorified coat stand wasn't all that much of an upgrade.

"Good morning," I said to the bear as I stretched my arms over my head. "Today's the big day."

Seeing my bridesmaid's dress in the open wardrobe across the room brought a smile to my face that stretched my sleep-lined cheeks.

Fresh eagerness swept over me, and I rushed forward to run my fingers down the soft, emerald velvet. When Everly showed me the dresses she had in mind, I almost wept with gratefulness that it was a dress I actually liked and not some atrocious mauve disaster. (Cousin Kelsey's wedding was still a sore topic for me.)

The dress had long sleeves, a V-neckline, and an appropriate slit up one side to the thigh. To keep warm for any outside parts of the ceremony, we had faux fur wraps, and bless my sister's soul, we didn't have to wear heels. I would be blissfully comfortable in antique-looking leather boots and fleece-lined stockings designed to appear sheer.

Everly was always thoughtful like that. She managed to be kind while maintaining an aesthetic, making her thoughtful and a genius.

After a quick breakfast with the girls and a shower to make taming my mane a simpler task, I slapped on the bare minimum for makeup, focusing on accentuating my eyes and donning a holly-red lipstick at Everly's behest.

Kelsey got her wish when I allowed her to braid small portions of my hair to pull back into a half updo. No balding occurred.

I ended up the first one fully dressed, and since I was too eager to check on how the set up was going, I threw on the fur wrap and raced downstairs, vaulting over the last three without a care.

Voices of men and the scent of a campfire filtered through the front door, but as I swung it open, crisp winter air hit me like a curtain of ice. I basked in the chill and early morning sunlight, closing my eyes for a heartbeat to take it all in. Then I peered into the field where dark green carpets were laid out to make paths atop the ice-crusted snow and benches were being dragged in by the family of workers that ran the venue. I recognized the young man draping the arbor in fresh pine boughs and holly sprigs as the same one who had snuck me a roll before dinner.

I had to hand it to them...they weren't bad decorators. At the rate they were working, the wedding party wouldn't have to do anything.

After making a mental note to tell Everly to tip them well, I bounded down the porch steps to walk around and see what else needed to be done, as well as to scope out the best photoshoot locations.

I had just spied a canopy of low hanging hemlock that were a perfect backdrop to tell the photographer about when a tall figure looming caught the corner of my eye.

I stalled, turning to look up at the man in my way—

I gasped and stumbled back, nearly falling flat on my butt in the snowy gravel before a strong hand shot out to grab me by the forearm, pulling me back up. My dress would have been ruined had Creek Boy Fox not just saved me.

“Y—It's you!"

He grimaced. "And it's you..." he said flatly, sounding less than enthusiastic to see me.

At least he wasn't pretending he didn't know me again. Twice would have been overkill, and I might have shaken him around a bit to release frustration.

Hesitantly, I asked, “Fox?”

At first, he winced, and I braced for him to ignore me again, but in the end, he nodded, letting out a heavy sigh. “Fox Winter. Welcome to Winter’s Teeth.”

Chapter 5

Stop it. Gaping is rude. Don’t be rude like him.

My jaw snapped shut, teeth clicking together, and I gulped before saying, “So...weird coincidence, right?”

His jaw worked overtime, soldering his teeth together like he planned to avoid having to say another word to me beyond the customary greeting he was required to give every guest.

I could have respected that he had no choice in the matter and asked to speak with him later. Instead, I capitalized on the moment and asked, “You have to talk to me, don’t you? You have to be polite and welcoming because my sister and her fiancé are paying you. So...what gives?” I crossed my arms over my chest as the fur wrap slid down my shoulders to the crooks of my elbows.

His teeth came apart easier than I expected. No more goading or baiting required. “What gives?” he said harshly, mocking me. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I saved your life the other day, and I wasn’t looking for any thanks, but you straight up pretended like you didn’t know me when you were on campus.” I planted my hands angrily on my hips, jutting out the one on the left while leveling a gaze of pure steel meant to cage him in.

Fox cast his gaze about, searching for a job or someone in need of help.