Snowflakes & Fire Escapes (14 page)

“Gracie, Gracie, Gracie,” he chants, one hand resting on my back while the other settles on my head, holding me against him, whispering just my name.

We stand there for a lifetime.

Forever passes in just a blink.

I’m shivering, and shaking, crying, and clinging, and it’s Cody who keeps me warm. It’s Cody who keeps me on my feet, Cody who keeps me from falling when my knees get weak. It’s always him, and I hate myself for doubting it for even a second, but that was that other girl, I tell myself … the other girl who didn’t know herself, much less know him. But right here, right now, it’s just us. Just Cody and I, the way it was always meant to be.

I feel like I’m home, even though I have nothing that belongs to me, because Cody gives me roots and makes me want to grow and grow and grow again.

“I’ll be damned, Gracie,” he says quietly. “We made it snow.”

I pull away from him, glancing up, unexpected laughter escaping through my tears when I see the snowflakes. It’s actually snowing in Snowflake. Spinning around, I start to call out for Holden, amused he’d been telling the truth, but the highway is empty.

The Charger is gone, with it Holden.

I hadn’t heard him leave.

Hadn’t seen his headlights.

He said not a word to me.

I didn’t get to say goodbye.

I stare at the spot where the car had been parked before my eyes drift toward the city limits sign. The man climbs from the front of the van, clearing his throat as he introduces himself. Inspector something, I don’t know. I don’t care. I look away from Snowflake, at the van, a van I know I’ll be leaving in.

I don’t put up a fight.

It doesn’t matter where I’m going.

Not as long as where I’m going, I have
him
.

Maybe, I think, wishing isn’t for fools.

Because sometimes, when you least expect it, they find a way to come true.