“Let’s go,” Kirby said, pulling me to stand. “I think we all need to be outside for a while.”

We walked downstairs and stood next to Taylor’s truck, watching the snow fall in thick flakes.

“Snow doesn’t look like this in Illinois.” Taylor held out his hand, letting the frozen white bits melt against his palm. He rubbed his hands together, zipped up his coat, and then popped a cigarette into his mouth.

“I wish we could go to Cowboys,” Kirby said, joining Gunnar on the tailgate of Taylor’s truck. She swung her feet for warmth.

“You’re not twenty-one yet, are you?” Taylor took a deep drag and blew out a puff of thick white smoke. “I could probably get you in.”

Gunnar shook his head. “I can’t.”

Kirby patted his middle. “Not going to chance getting caught, are we?”

“Nope,” Gunnar said, pulling her to his side.

Taylor shrugged and continued to smoke. Once he was finished, he pinched off the cherry, rubbed the end along the top edge of his truck bed, and then put the cigarette butt into his pocket. He pulled his knit cap further down to cover his ears, and then he crossed his arms, tucking his hands under them.

“Your nose is red,” I said, playfully nudging him.

He only offered a contrived smile, staring down Tejon Street.

Kirby and Gunnar were having their own conversation in the background, and Taylor was lost in thought. I stood next to him, feeling left out of my own party.

“You’re being unusually pensive,” I said.

Taylor puffed out a laugh. “You know I hate the big words, Ivy League.”

“You haven’t called me that in a while,” I said.

His lips pressed together, making a hard line. “I hate missing you. I hate it more every day.”

“I don’t like it either.”

He turned to me. “Then let’s do something about it. Let’s figure out a solution.”

“You mean, one that includes me moving into your condo.”

He sighed. “Okay. We’ll talk about it during the week. I don’t want to fight.”

Gunnar and Kirby’s conversation seemed forced, and they made sure not to look in our direction, probably in an effort not to eavesdrop.

“Who’s fighting?” I asked. “Just because I’m not giving in to what you want …”

He craned his neck at me. “That’s not it, and you know it.”

“It’s a big deal, Taylor. We need to think about it.”

“Oh. So, it is the moving-in-together part. You’re freaking out about it.”

“I’m not freaking out. But if I were, it’s not an unreasonable emotion to feel.”

“No, you’re right. I’m just a little more than irritated that you were all fate and meant-to-be in Eakins, and now, you’re acting like we’re moving too fast.”