A Beginner's Guide to Starting Over by Gabi Coatsworth

Author:Gabi Coatsworth [Coatsworth, Gabi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Published: 2023-04-22T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

The girls had left to visit friends by the time Nick knocked on the front door, carrying a snow shovel and a long extension ladder. His hair was still damp where it peeked out from a woolen ski hat, but his expression was cheerful enough. He set the ladder against the wall at the side of the house and climbed up, the shovel in one hand.

“Don’t stand there watching me. I’ll be fine. And it’s cold out here.”

She glanced up at the overcast sky—a snow sky, Simon used to call it, and he knew his skies. Molly wasn’t dressed for the outdoors.

“I’ll make you some hot chocolate,” she offered—the least she could do on a day threatening dire weather.

From the kitchen, the sound of a steady push and sweep reached her from somewhere overhead, and when she emerged on the porch, clutching a large mug, fluffy white piles of snow were visible where they’d slid off the roof. But she could make out no sign of him.

“Nick?” she said.

“Up here.” He stood directly above her bedroom. She felt a little queasy as she craned her neck to look up. She’d never intended this. Hadn’t realized just how high he’d be.

“Don’t worry. I grew up in Vermont, so I’ve done this before. It won’t take long, and I’ll come down for the chocolate when I’m finished.”

Molly couldn’t take her eyes off him. He seemed so vulnerable up there.

“Really,” he said, “why don’t you wait inside?”

She hesitated, but as he lifted the shovel and swung it back, she reluctantly started toward the front door. Then a single “fuck” interrupted the scraping sound.

“Nick?” she shouted, running back to where she’d seen him. She stared upward. He had disappeared. Only an ominous silence greeted her as she rounded the corner of the house, where the ladder stood, abandoned.

He must be there somewhere. But Molly’s sight line was obscured by the tall mounds of snow that he’d swept off the roof. The shrubs below them made them even higher. She called his name again.

“Here,” came a subdued voice. She could see him sprawled on top of one of the piles, wincing as he attempted to raise his leg. The azalea bush, flattened beneath him, would never look the same again.

“Don’t move. You might have broken something.”

“That’s exactly why I am moving. To check that everything’s working.” He sounded irritable, and she could tell that he was in no mood to be bossed around.

“Oh, my god. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’ll live.” He spoke through gritted teeth. “I think I can stand if you’ll give me a hand.”

He took off a glove so she could grasp him more securely. Molly extended her hand and seized his icy one. He might be in shock. Nick took a deep breath and began to lever himself up using his other hand to gain momentum. Suddenly, though, he collapsed with a gasp of pain and a stream of impressive curses. She suppressed an illogical urge to laugh. This wasn’t funny.

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