Snowed In With You.

Falling For Real.

(Jackie’s POV)

I woke up still wrapped in the giant fuzzy blanket, the fire now reduced to glowing embers. My side was warm — too warm — and I realized Chris was still asleep next to me, his head tilted just enough to brush my shoulder.

For a second, I just… stayed there.
It felt safe.

But the fire needed more wood, and I figured we could use another blanket from the closet — just in case the temperature dropped overnight.

Carefully, I slipped out from under the blanket. My socked feet made no noise against the wooden floor as I padded toward the closet.

The spare blankets were up on the top shelf. Way up.

I dragged a chair over and climbed onto it, stretching on my toes to grab the edge of the folded quilt. My fingertips caught it — but so did gravity.

Before I could balance, the chair wobbled. Hard.

And then… I wasn’t standing anymore.

---

(Chris’s POV)

A loud thud ripped me out of sleep.

“Jackie?”

I scrambled up and spotted her on the floor by the closet, clutching her ankle. The chair was tipped over beside her, the blanket she’d been reaching for crumpled at her side.

I was across the room in seconds.

“What happened?” I crouched beside her, scanning for blood before realizing she was holding her ankle like it was on fire.

“I was trying to… get the blanket,” she said through clenched teeth. “Chair tipped.”

I gently moved her hands away, my palms warm against her chilled skin. “Can you move it?”

She tried. The sharp inhale she made was enough to tell me not to ask again.

“Okay, don’t,” I said quickly. “It’s probably a sprain.”

Her eyes were glassy — from pain or from trying not to cry, I couldn’t tell.

Without thinking, I slid an arm under her knees and another behind her back, lifting her off the floor.

Her arms looped around my neck instantly. “Chris—”

“You’re not walking on that,” I said firmly. “Not while I’m here.”

---

(Jackie’s POV)

He carried me to the couch like I weighed nothing.
His hoodie sleeve brushed my cheek when he lowered me down gently, tucking the fuzzy blanket back around me.

The whole time, he didn’t let go of my hand.

And honestly… I wasn’t sure if that made my heart race more than the kiss from earlier.