Snowed In

“Time to work!” Brenna said as they entered the resort. The two always carpooled with each other since they lived rather close to each other. Elsie nodded as they started down the halls, dodging people as they hurriedly walked around. “I’ll see you later!” she waved and smiled, which the other girl returned.

Once she reached the store, she let out a sigh. It had been freezing outside, and she was grateful to be inside the resort where there was warmth instead of outside like the ski instructors were. She offered a small smile in her co-workers’ direction as they exited the store, while she took their place. As she slipped the scarf off, and she settled her hat on top of the counter, the door bells chimed as someone entered.

“You’re cute with a red nose,” the boy smiled slightly as he came over to poke her nose. Elsie could feel her cheeks heat up just a bit more, but she darted her face to the side as she went to shuffle some paperwork into a neat pile. She easily blushed when a compliment was tossed her way, and Louis always knew what to say if he wanted to make her as red as a tomato.

She licked her lips gently before she muttered back, “You’re always cute.” She couldn’t help but smile just a bit wider than usual before she felt arms wrap around her. She went to slap them away as she slipped out of them and started around the shop to clean up. “No PDA while working,” she said as she picked up gloves and arranged them in an orderly fashion. Louis always brought a braver side to her, and that was one of the things she liked about him. She was just comfortable around him, unlike her last relationship, which ended in complete disaster.

She heard an exaggerated sigh behind her, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him. “El,” he groaned as he approached her, “stop being so worky work!” He crossed his arms childishly, and she couldn’t help but laugh as she passed him, gently kissing him on the cheek. “No PDA while working,” he said as he quoted her. They had only been dating for a short amount of time, but he had worked up to the relationship so hard. It took a million times before she actually went out on a date with the boy, but she just wasn’t sure. It made her glad that he could wait for her.

“Worky is not a word,” she told him, and she received another whine in response. She laughed gently at how childish he was. That was another thing she liked about him. He was so funny and immature, and she liked that he was able to make her smile with a simple grin in her direction.

As Louis went to respond, the door was opened, and a few people came into the store. “May I help you?” she asked as she came up to them with a small smile on her face, and her hands clasped behind her back. Louis went to help the other customers. As she helped a woman find a new jacket, she couldn’t help but overhear a conversation to her right where two men were discussing.

“Have you heard?” one man with balding grey hair and a bit of a tummy said as he leaned against the wall. “People are saying a blizzard is coming, so I think we should get out of here now, while we have the chance,” he told his friend, and she could see his friend nod in her peripheral vision. As she flashed another smile towards her customer, she went to go ring up the jacket. Once the place was cleared once more, she sighed and went to lean against the counter.

“People are saying a blizzard is coming,” Louis came up beside her.

“You heard too?” she questioned as she glanced over at him. “It has been snowing quite a bit,” she nodded as she ran a hand through her brown hair. “Maybe it will, but that means the resort will have to clear out quickly on short notice,” she told him.

Louis nodded as he reached for her hand, linking them together. She didn’t say anything as she looked off in a different direction, but a small smile formed on her lips. Of course, she couldn’t help but remember her ex with the mocha skin and deep brown eyes that always attracted her. His grip on her hand was a bit softer. While Louis’s grip on her hand was strong and nice, his was careful and soft. Elsie always compared the two relationships she had, and she knew it was wrong. She simply couldn’t help it.

“I think we should go out for dinner later on,” she glanced up at her current boyfriend, only zoning into the conversation.

“I think we should order pizza and stay inside,” she replied as she leaned into him just a bit. “It’s too cold to go out,” she murmured. The shop seemed to be having a slow day, and she wondered if it was because of the “blizzard” that was coming. She wasn’t sure if that was definitely happening or not, but she was very aware of it, and she couldn’t help but slightly worry over it.