by B. G. Thomas
“Fuck. No power!”
It didn’t make any difference how good those space heaters were. Their ability to heat worked only as well as their access to electricity.
Maybe they had blown the circuit in the middle of the night? There was enough light coming in through the blinds that he could find his little LED flashlight. He always brought a flashlight to Camp and hadn’t even thought about the fact that the cabins had electricity. Of course, they didn’t now. His at least.
But there was the thought in his mind already, as he opened his door and went to the little closet in the foyer to check the fuse box, that this was no isolated thing. The camp’s power lines must be down. And he was going to need heat.
Just as he confirmed his suspicion that the problem wasn’t the fuse box and everything was in order there, there was a knock on the door that made him jump. When he peeked past the door-window’s shade, he saw Gryphon standing there all bundled up. Gryphon waved a big gloved hand.
Kevin, conscious he was wearing only socks and his long underwear, opened the door partially. I need to get dressed before I freeze!
“Hey, Hodor…. Not sure if you’ve figured this out yet but—”
“—the power lines are down?” Kevin finished.
“Yup! And it is going to take me quite a while to deal with all this. We got somewhere over two feet last night. I’m thinking three.”
“So much for the weather forecasters.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve always thought the weatherman was a demon from the seventh pit of hell,” Gryphon said with a laugh. “In the meantime I’ve cleared a path with my blower up to your cabin. I’m going to go as far as Wyatt’s, because like it or not, he’s going to have to share.”
Kevin’s stomach jumped. Share with Wyatt? But he wanted to be alone. “Didn’t he want to be by himself? Maybe I should leave.”
Gryphon shook his head. “No. You aren’t getting it, are you? We are snowed in. At least for a couple days.”
“Main road too,” Kevin realized out loud. “Shit.”
“Luckily some farmer will take care of it. He usually does. But for me to get the parking lot cleared and then a path down to the main road? That’s going to take me most of the day at the very least. Luckily it stopped snowing. There’s no call for more.”
“Of course, there was no call for more than two or three inches,” Kevin said with a smirk.
“Tell me about it!” Gryphon laughed. “But look, realistically I don’t see you leaving before tomorrow. It’s only thirty degrees out here. And Saff and I don’t have room for you. Wyatt’s going to have to share his cabin. He’s got the wood-burning stove. I’m sure he can stay an extra day or two if he really needs to.”
Kevin nodded. There really was no way for him to stay in this cabin. He nodded again. Looked north. Wyatt. His heart skipped a beat.
“Why don’t you get ready,” Gryphon said. “And I’ll get back to work. I think I can clear us a path in under an hour. A narrow one anyway.”
Which would be a lot of work. The man could be working on the hill out of Camp instead. “I can probably wade my way through,” Kevin offered.
Gryphon shrugged. “But do you want to get your clothes covered in snow?”
“Not really,” he admitted.
“Okay, then. I’ll come back when I’ve got the path made.”
“Thanks,” said Kevin and then shut the door. Now he was freezing.
And as he got dressed he saw Wyatt in his mind’s eye. Adorable little bear Wyatt.
Sorry, he thought. I hope you don’t mind too much.
Especially because, as far as Kevin was concerned, he didn’t mind one bit.
He could mourn Cauley another day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
WYATT HEARD the snowblower getting closer and closer as he dressed and then made his breakfast. When the loud roaring shut off, he wasn’t entirely surprised when he heard a knock on his door.
He looked through the window in the door to see Gryphon standing there. He’d had to open all the shades to let in light. It was a lovely light. The sun had risen in an amazingly blue sky.
Wyatt went to the door and opened it, then had to shield his eyes from all the light. The sun was reflecting off the snow, and he was momentarily blinded. There was a shadow in the shape of Gryphon floating before his eyes.
“Good morning, Wyatt.”
“Morning, Gryph!” He grinned, blinking.
“I guess you’ve figured out the power lines are down.”
“And we got a little bit more snow than we were supposed to get.”
“Supposed to get!” Gryphon laughed. “I always get a chuckle out of supposed to get. Like someone ordered a specified amount and someone else messed up when what we get is different than what we’re told.”
Wyatt nodded, starting to get his vision back. “You think it was that ridge thing, whatever it is, that had something to do with it?”
“People call it ‘the split,’” Gryphon said. “It used to be relied on more, but there is really little talk of it since a tornado went right through town in May of 2000. Since then even the locals brush off the term like an urban legend or something they read about in the Onion.”
“Oh.” He didn’t even know what to say about that. So the ridge—split—was just an old wives’ tale? Boy, did he feel dumb.
“And we’re snowed in. Hope you’ve got some polar bear in you.”
“As long as I have plenty of wood.” Wyatt squinted and peeked over Gryphon’s shoulder. “How snowed in are we?”
“I don’t imagine anyone is getting out of here until at least tomorrow. That’s if luck is with us.”
Which wasn’t bad. He had food. He had wood. He had at least some music, and it could last that long.
“But I have some possibly bad news for you.”
Wyatt rubbed his eyes. “Bad news?” Bad news? As the wicked witch said in The Wiz, he didn’t want “no bad news.”
“You know that Kevin Owens is staying down in North One—”
“Who?” Kevin Owens? Who the hell was that?
Gryphon rolled his eyes. “Sorry. Hodor.”
“Hodor.” Wyatt’s heart jumped. “Is he okay?”
“Mostly. But he’s going to be a Hodorsicle soon.”
“Oh…. Oh!” Of course. Gods. He hadn’t even thought about the fact that Hodor wouldn’t have heat. The poor man must be freezing. He couldn’t stay in his cabin. For one second Wyatt’s heart sank. There went his determination to stay secluded. But the feeling lasted only a second. “How stupid….”
“I’m sorry?” asked Gryphon, a strange look on his face.
“Me!” Wyatt sighed. “I’m stupid. Fuck! I didn’t even think of what poor Hodor must be going through.” Which wasn’t entirely true, was it? He’d thought about him all night. And just now he was remembering the dream…. He closed his eyes for a second. Saw bear feet. Felt that mouth on his.
“Look, I know you reserved this cabin, and you were wanting to be alone, but Kevin can’t stay in N1 without heat—”
Wyatt jerked and opened his eyes. “No, of course not.” He glanced to his left. Out the window. Toward Hodor’s cabin. His heart began to speed up. Hodor. Hodor needed to stay here? With him? How crazy! What were the odds that it would snow so heavily—when every weather forecaster had predicted mere inches of snow? That the power lines would go down, and they would be forced to share a cabin. He glanced at the double bed—the only real bed in Camp. All the others were those cot things. Narrow. Plastic-covered mats.
He pictured himself and Hodor in that bed. Snuggling would keep them warm.
“He doesn’t have to sleep with you, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Gryphon said.
Wyatt blushed.
“D-do you guys need help getting his stuff here?”
Gryphon smiled. “No, thanks, Wyatt. You don’t need to do that. And Camp will make this cockup up to you. I’ll give you a free weekend sometime. In fact, we’re not charging
you for this week.”
Wyatt shook his head. “No. That’s not fair. I’m using your wood and—”
Gryphon threw back his head and laughed. “Don’t know if you noticed, but we live in a forest here, Wyatt. There’s plenty of wood. It’s decided. Don’t argue with me. And”—he raised an eyebrow—“you can use our toilet anytime you want.”
Wyatt smiled. “Thanks.” That he wouldn’t argue with. “Now, really. Could you guys use my help?”
Gryphon shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt.”
KEVIN WAS getting cold. He was surprised how fast. He was fully dressed, wearing a coat, and had a blanket wrapped around him. He needed to get warm. But the whole idea of how that was going to happen was making his stomach get all tied in knots. Getting warm meant staying with Wyatt. And what would that mean?
When he heard the knock on the door, he practically leapt to his feet, nearly getting tangled in the blankets and falling on his face in the process.
And who should be standing on his porch with Gryphon? Well, Wyatt. Looking adorable.
Stop acting like a teenager!
He opened the door.
“You ready?” Gryphon asked.
“S-sure,” Kevin said, stumbling over that one word. He turned to Wyatt. “Hey, Little Bear. Thanks for this. I know you were on some kind of sabbatical or something….”
“Don’t be silly,” Wyatt said. “I can’t let you freeze to death.”
Wyatt was wearing a big thick coat that seemed almost ridiculously large on him, along with a big hat that was—yes! (Kevin smiled)—a teddy bear’s head. Its eyes were just above Wyatt’s own, the ears where Wyatt’s would be, and it even included a scarf with big bear paws on the end. He couldn’t help but smile. It was all so… Wyatt.
Quite suddenly he wanted to kiss him.
Don’t be silly.
But he couldn’t help it.
“So let’s get your stuff over to my cabin,” Wyatt said. “It’s freezing balls.”
Kevin laughed nervously. “Okay.”
So they gathered his belongings. He’d gotten most of it ready except for the blankets, and between the three of them, they got it all in one trip. And oh, how nice and warm Wyatt’s cabin was!
“You two going to be all right?” Gryphon asked.
“W-we’ll be fine,” Kevin replied.
“Okay, then.” He smiled. “I’ll check in on you both later.”
“Sounds good,” Wyatt said.
And then they were alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“WOULD YOU like some breakfast?” Wyatt asked Hodor, because he had to say something. For some reason he was incredibly nervous. “I just made some eggs a bit ago, and cleaning the pan is going to be a bitch without water, so why don’t I just make a few more? I got ’em.”
“Sure,” Hodor said. “If it won’t be any trouble.”
“No trouble at all!” Wyatt turned around and practically dashed over to a big blue cooler in the corner of the room. He pulled out the half container of eggs and a plastic bag of preshredded cheese. “Want some cheese with yours?”
“Sounds good.” Kevin sat down on the end of the big bed. Then jumped up. Moved over to one of the other cot-like beds. Prison beds. Then: “I-I can sleep on this one.”
You could sleep with me, Wyatt almost said. He said, “Okay,” instead and then turned to the stove.
Gods! His heart was pounding. Why? It wasn’t like he’d never been alone with a man before. A gay man. A hulking, hot man. So why was he acting silly? Wearing that stupid hat! Offering to make breakfast. And what had he almost done? Told Hodor that there was room in the bed for both of them? He looked at Hodor again—all six foot something, and those huge arms and that giant chest and those sexy eyes (oh those eyes)—and he wondered if there would be room for the both of them. They would have to get awfully close.
Wyatt shivered.
Okay. Now you’re being silly.
Why was he acting like this?
Then he looked up at Hodor, and he knew why.
Gods. He is so damned sexy. So sweet. And…. His eyes widened.
“Hodor! You talked.”
Hodor smiled (was he blushing?).
“I do talk, Little Bear.”
And then for some reason, Wyatt realized he didn’t want to be called by his Faerie name. He wanted this man to use his real name. “Wyatt,” he said. “That’s my name.”
Hodor nodded. “I know. I’ve always liked your real name.”
You have? “You have?” He likes my real name?
“But your Faerie name is perfect too. Such a sweet little bear…. Just right.”
Wyatt blushed. “Gosh, Hodor—”
“Kevin.”
Huh? “What?”
“Kevin. My name. It’s Kevin. Wyatt… I would really like it if you would call me Kevin.”
Oh! “Of course. Gryphon told me. I never knew.” Kevin. Gosh. He hoped in his airheadedness he didn’t forget his real name. Kevin.
“It’s on my registration,” Kevin said. “You usually meet me at the gate at Festival. I figured you knew.”
“I guess I didn’t look at that part. The off-site registrar puts our camp names up on the top.” He paused. “You’re talking,” Wyatt said. “I think I’ve heard you say more in the last few minutes than I’ve ever heard you say.”
The big man shrugged. Kevin. His name was Kevin. Wyatt smiled foolishly. He looked like a Kevin, didn’t he?
How does a Kevin look?
Big and tall and hunky. That’s how. To Wyatt’s surprise he felt a stirring in his jeans.
“I do talk. Just not much. To people I know. And I know you.”
He has such a nice voice.
Do something. You’re staring!
“I was going to make you breakfast.” Wyatt went back to the half carton of eggs. “I only have two left. Is two okay?”
“You really don’t have to make me breakfast.”
His name is Kevin. This wasn’t going to be easy. He’d called the man Hodor for as long as he could remember. Six years. Seven? Eight?
“Don’t give me the last of your food.”
Wyatt gave a little chuckle. “It’s not the last of my food. Don’t worry. Scrambled okay? I don’t guarantee I won’t break the yolks if you want them fried. Sit at the table.”
“Scrambled is fine,” Kevin told him. “I like scrambled eggs. This is awfully nice of you, Wyatt.”
For some reason Wyatt trembled. It was the way Kevin said his name. The way it rolled off his tongue. Strong. “It-it’s no trouble,” he managed. “It’s nice making breakfast for a man again. Although it’s the first time I didn’t sleep with him first.” He cringed. What the fuck had made him say that? “Sorry.”
“Sorry?” Kevin asked.
“Ah… sorry I don’t have any coffee,” he replied, hoping it was recovery enough. “But I can give you a cola. It’s not Coke, only Sam’s. But it’s got caffeine.”
“Sure. That’s fine.”
Wyatt got it for him and then went back to making the eggs. He grabbed the can of Pam and began spraying again. “I hope butter-flavored spray is enough. I didn’t bring any butter or anything….”
“Wyatt, I appreciate anything. And I’ll make dinner, okay?”
“It’s a deal,” Wyatt replied. “Now sit at the table.”
Kevin did as bid, and Wyatt flipped a slice of bread in the pan. It didn’t take long to brown, and a moment later Wyatt was placing a paper plate with steaming cheesy scrambled eggs and a piece of toast in front of his guest. “Want two pieces?”
“One slice is enough,” Kevin answered and dug in. Suddenly he was wolfing the food down. “These are great.”
He scraped up the last bites. Looked at Wyatt. Wyatt found himself smiling. “You really like?” he asked.
Kevin nodded enthusiastically. “The eggs really are delicious.”
And then they were staring at each other for what seemed like forever. There were all
kinds of things swimming in Kevin’s eyes. Wyatt didn’t know whether to be turned on or go racing out the door into the snow.
Then suddenly: “So, Wyatt…. What do you think about this snow? Is this a son of a bitch or not?”
Weather? They were going to talk about the weather? He glanced out the window and realized it really wasn’t such a stupid thing to talk about. “Yeah. Pretty crazy. Although I don’t think Snedronningen would appreciate being called a bitch.”
“Who is… Snod-rah—”
“Snid-ronn-gen,” Wyatt corrected. “I think. Hope I don’t piss her off mispronouncing her name. She’s the Snow Queen. From Hans Christian Andersen’s story.”
Kevin smiled. “You would know that, Wyatt.”
Wyatt’s face heated. Was Kevin making fun of him?
“It’s part of what I like so much about you.”
Now Wyatt smiled. He pulled out a chair and sat next to Kevin. “I like that kind of stuff.”
“Me too,” Kevin said.
“The movie… Frozen? It’s nothing like the story. She’s a pretty bad bi…. Oops.” He laughed and blushed. “I almost said ‘bitch.’”
“So she doesn’t sing that song that was so popular a while back?” Kevin asked.
Wyatt shook his head. “But I have to admit, I like the Disney version. The original story is kind of dark.”
“Unhappy ending?” Kevin rested his chin in his upraised palm. “Like ‘The Little Mermaid’?”
Wyatt laughed. “Oh my gosh, no! There’s a happy ending. But you know that ‘The Little Mermaid’ had an unhappy ending!”
“I like that kind of stuff,” Kevin said.
Wyatt leaned his elbow on the table and dropped his chin in his own hand. It put their faces pretty close together. Close enough that he could see how beautiful Kevin’s eyes really were. He’d thought they were brown. But up close? They were hazel. With a bit of amber and dark honey. Swirled. Gorgeous.
Gods! I’m staring!
He leaned back. “Yeah! What about that snow!”
“A whole hell of a lot more than we were supposed to get.”
Which reminded Wyatt of something Gryphon had said. “Gryphon had something to say about that. He says he’s always thought it was funny when we say we’re supposed to get a certain kind of weather.”