A Snowstorm Forces Ethan to Give Riley a Ride
1014 Words
The first flakes had started falling while Riley was still leaving the grocery store. By the time she reached the cracked parking lot, the sky had opened up, dumping heavy snow that blanketed everything in minutes.
The wind whipped against her jacket, sharp and biting, and she muttered under her breath.
“This is just perfect.
Her car sat stubbornly at the edge of the lot, already half-covered. She tried the ignition twice, but the engine groaned and refused to catch.
Slamming her hands against the steering wheel, she muttered again, “Of course. Of course tonight.
Headlights cut through the storm, sliding to a stop beside her. She squinted through the falling snow, and her stomach dropped when she recognized the familiar truck.
Ethan rolled down the window, snowflakes clinging to his hair. “Need a ride?
Riley shook her head quickly. “No. I’ll figure it out.
He gave her a look that landed somewhere between amused and annoyed.
“Really? You’re going to figure it out in a blizzard with a dead car?
She lifted her chin. “I’ve handled worse.
“Not tonight, you haven’t,” Ethan said firmly. “Come on, Riley. Get in.
Her instinct was to resist, to tell him no and walk back to the garage on her own two feet.
But the wind cut across her face again, sharp as glass, and her car looked less like transportation and more like a coffin. She sighed heavily.
“Fine. Just a ride.
Ethan grinned faintly. “I wouldn't dream of anything else.
She opened the door and climbed in, brushing snow off her jacket. The heat blasting from the vents hit her cheeks, and she hated the way relief washed over her.
“Where to?” Ethan asked, pulling back onto the road slowly.
“Garage,” she answered quickly.
He glanced at her, “You sure you don’t want to go home?
She gave him a pointed look, “The garage is home.
Ethan’s hands tightened on the wheel, but he said nothing for a moment. The snow kept pounding the windshield, wipers struggling to keep up.
Finally, he said, “You know, you don’t have to pretend with me. I saw you at the rink. I know there’s more to you than the club.
Riley shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “You don’t know anything.
“I know you were smiling,” he countered. “And not the forced kind I’ve seen you wear around the Vipers. It was real. You were alive out there.
She crossed her arms. “Don’t start. Just because you saw one side of me doesn’t mean you understand my life.
“I don’t need to understand all of it,” Ethan said quietly. “I just know you deserve better than freezing in a parking lot, tied to people who’ll never let you breathe.
Her jaw tightened. “You don’t get it. The Vipers are family. They might drive me crazy, but they’re all I’ve got.
He glanced at her again, snowflakes glowing in the light between them. “What about me?
The words hit harder than she expected. She turned to the window, watching the storm blur the world outside. Her voice came out low. “You left, Ethan. You left years ago.
He sighed. “I didn’t leave you. I left Silver Ridge because I had to. But if I had known you’d still be stuck here, maybe I would have stayed.
Her head snapped back toward him. “Don’t say that. Don’t make it sound like it was my fault.
His eyes softened. “It wasn’t your fault. I just… I wish I had done more.
The silence stretched thick between them as the truck crawled down icy streets.
After a long pause, Riley whispered, “Sometimes I wish I could just drive away. Just keep going until I don’t recognize the road anymore.
Ethan’s lips curved into a small smile. “Then maybe tonight’s the night. Storm or not, we could just keep driving.
She let out a sharp laugh. “Yeah, right. You think Caleb and the others would just let me vanish?
“Maybe they don’t have to know,” he said, his voice teasing but edged with something real.
Her laughter faded, and for a second, the truck felt too small, the storm too quiet.
“Stop. Don’t put ideas in my head.
“Too late,” he murmured.
The truck jolted slightly over a patch of ice, breaking the tension. Riley grabbed the dash, scowling.
“Careful.
Ethan chuckled. “Relax. I’ve got you.
Her heart thumped at the words, though she tried to ignore it. She stared out the window again, whispering so softly she hoped he wouldn’t hear, “That’s what I’m afraid of.
But he heard. His fingers tightened on the wheel, and his voice dropped low. “Maybe being afraid is better than being numb.
Neither spoke after that. The storm raged outside, snow piling higher, but inside the truck it was warmer, heavier with words left unsaid.
When they finally pulled up to the garage, Riley exhaled slowly. She reached for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride.
Ethan nodded. “Anytime.
She hesitated, hand still on the handle. Then she looked at him, eyes searching his face. “You can’t keep doing this.
“Doing what?” he asked.
“Showing up,” she said. “Making me think there’s a choice when there isn’t one.
Ethan leaned closer, his voice steady. “There’s always a choice, Riley. You just have to be brave enough to take it.
Her chest tightened, words stuck in her throat. She shoved the door open and climbed out, the cold wind immediately biting at her skin.
She slammed the door, pulled her jacket tighter, and stormed toward the garage without looking back.
But Ethan stayed parked there for a long while, watching her disappear inside, the snow piling on his windshield.
He whispered into the storm, “You’ll see it someday. You’ll see you can be free.
- Writer
