#Chapter 121 – Heat

Victor finally shuts down his computer, letting out a big breath. Finally, finished for the day. He picks up his phone, intending to text Evelyn to see if he can bring something down to the house for dinner, but he’s surprised to see a text there already waiting.

Evelyn: When you come down, bring your parka. Heat’s out.

Victor scowls and runs a hand through his hair. How is this possible? He had the heater replaced against just this possibility months ago when they had the security updated in the cottage.

He heads upstairs to change into warmer clothes and then pulls on his snow boots, heading across the property to Evelyn’s house. On the way, he asks two Betas to ensure that Evelyn’s house is fully stocked with firewood that some space heaters be brought down.

When he opens the back door to Evelyn’s cottage, Victor is pleased to feel that the air in the house isn’t icy – just a bit nippier than usual.

He’s greeted by a very pleasant sight, though – a giant blanket fort, in the living room, built before a roaring fire. Inside of it, he can hear the boys laughing.

Evelyn comes down the stairs, then, wrapped up in a cozy sweater and scarf. “Oh, hello!” she says, rubbing her hands together and smiling.

“Hello,” he says, watching her come down the stairs towards him, her cheeks and the tip of her nose flushed with cold. “What are you doing in all of these layers?” He asks, curious, unable to help himself from imagining her body beneath them. “It doesn’t seem so bad in here.”

“Not in here,” she says, laughing and gesturing towards the fire. “This room is fine. So is the boys’, really, as they’re right above it. But my room is ice.”

Victor frowns again and she laughs at him. “Don’t be so upset,” she scolds. “The Betas have already called the repair man, he’s going to come tomorrow to fix it.”

“Yeah!” Alvin says, sticking his head out of the fort. “And until then, we get to have an adventure! Pretend we live in an igloo!”

“Igloo’s are very interesting!” Ian calls, his voice echoing from inside the fort. “Mom gave us a book!”

Victor shakes his head at the three of them, “you guys certainly know how to look at the bright side of a situation.”

Evelyn smiles at him slowly. “Well, it’s all brighter once you’re here.” She bites her lip a bit, watching him take off his coat, enjoying the way that his muscles move beneath his sweater.

her throat, coming back to herself.

drink, but leans forward to grab her hand as she passes. “You really should have told me sooner,

looks at her hand in his for just a moment, and then drags her eyes up to his, not pulling her hand away. “We didn’t want to bother you,

you three,” he responds, letting her slowly take her hand from his and move over to fill the tea kettle.

as she twists the knob on the stove to ignite the flame. “What is

confused and

this morning,” he clarifies. “You said you wanted

quick look at the blanket fort. “It can wait,” she says. She bends down, staring at the grate beneath the kettle. It continues to click,

she might want to talk about with him that she wouldn’t want

I just remembered that the gas stove is controlled by the broken gas as the heat, I don’t think there’s much you

Evelyn casts her eyes at him, surprising him by blushing again. He smiles at this. She’s not usually so

that embrace the cold. When imaginary Igloo gets boring, they pretend they are pioneers in the American West, living in a log cabin at the first frost. When

next, mama,” Alvin says, crawling onto the couch where Evelyn’s shoulder just barely touches Victor’s, though both pretend not to

hand to brush his cheek. “Mama

his eyes as he sits before the fire. “I think I just want to be

be warm and cozy by now,” he says. Betas had

“Yes,” Alvin says, yawning.

on the couch where he had just been sitting. “Come on, you two. Upstairs, I’ll tuck

into the fire. He leans his shoulder against the entryway, looking at her, watching the

says softly. “Are

them put all the heaters in the boys’ room so that they’re warm enough. I’ll just stay down here by the fire, where it’s

in to make room for Victor next to her on the couch. She c***s her head towards the empty space, a silent invitation. He accepts, sitting and draping his arm over the back of the couch so he

quite deliberately, places a hand on her calf, rubbing it softly, massaging it, moving

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