Misty

Most people experience the four seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Unfortunately, Michigan has fall, winter, spring, and construction season. Fall and spring last maybe a month at the most because the temperature is either volcanic or the ice age. We don't have a summer since there's always the never-ending road construction. Right now, we skipped easing into the cold temperatures and landed smack dab into the ice age.

I wore thermals, sweatpants, a hoodie, and warm fuzzy socks while covered with a thick blanket. Nash will never see me naked until we thaw in about five months.

The front door opened, smacking me with a frigid breeze before closing. I looked at the Stay Puff Marshmallow man and giggled. Nash tossed off his hood, removed his coat, and hung up his jacket before kicking off his shoes. He hurried toward me and dove under the blanket with me on the couch.

"Cold?" I asked.

"Freezing." His teeth chattered, trying to warm up. "Why didn't you come to my house?"

"We always hang out at your house. I wanted a change of scenery."

"The houses are identical in appearance." Nash arched his brow.

"There are slight differences." I shrugged.

"Where?"

"We have different furniture."

"That's it?" He lifted a brow.

"It's enough." I shrugged again.

The cousins and girls hurried into the house, trying to warm themselves.

"I thought you were hanging out next door," I told Kat.

"We were until Aiden and Emilio caused a power outage. No power. No furnace. No heat. I prefer not to freeze to death," Kat said.

"What did Aiden and Emilio do?" Nash asked.

"Those two idiots plugged in three space heaters in the garage and kept popping a breaker until they fried a breaker," Nathan said.

"And they fried the electrical to the furnace," Noah added.

"Great," Nash said, pulling out his phone and calling his dad. He explained to Val what happened with the space heaters and talked to his dad before hanging up.

"What did Uncle Val say?" Nolan asked.

"He's getting ahold of Owen and Dexter to fix the electrical and furnace, but they won't arrive until tomorrow."

"How come your dad didn't come?" Nixon asked.

"Dad doesn't have his HVAC certification or master electrician's license yet. He's been taking classes to earn both."

"At least Val won't cause the house to explode," Diego said.

"How come you're not helping Aiden and Emilio?"

"I'm no fool. It's bitching cold outside. More power to them if they want to freeze their nuts off. I want to have kids someday. I can't do that without my boys."

We chuckled because Diego was more intelligent than the average bear. Our phones chimed with an email notification. We checked our email to find that Dean Weston had canceled classes for a few days because of frozen pipes. Thank the Lord! I can sleep in.

******
Valentino

Between the weather, Aiden and Emilio, and canceled classes, we had to crash at the girls' house for the night. No offense, but I'm not part of the Polar Bear Club. I prefer the warm weather.

"Did you hear Grandpa Gabe is having Thanksgiving at the restaurant this year?" Diego asked us.

"Why?" Nixon asked.

"More room."

"Makes sense since our family is so damn huge," Nathan said.

"That's not including the extended family," Noah said.

"I gave up trying to figure out our family tree," Nolan said, walking into the kitchen.

"While you're in the kitchen, brew a pot of coffee!" Nix yelled to Nolan.

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Don't make me beat your ass!"

"Then make your damn coffee! I'm not your damn servant!"

I chuckled as Nix got up and stomped into the kitchen. Nathan got up and headed for the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Noah asked.

"I'm getting hot cocoa."

"Sounds good to me." Noah got up and followed Nathan into the kitchen.

"Bring us a hot beverage!" Macey yelled to them.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Nathan yelled back.

Mags and I snickered as Macey rolled her eyes.

"It surprises you're not with Aiden," Mags mentioned to Eden.

"Screw turning into a human popsicle. I prefer to feel my fingers and toes," Eden said, wiggling her fingers and toes.

We laughed.

"Who taught you to make coffee?" Nix yelled from the kitchen.

"My dad did," Nolan said.

"No one wants to drink mud!"

"Then you make it!"

I got up and headed to the kitchen before Nix and Nolan threw down in the kitchen over coffee. I walked over to the coffee pot and prepped coffee before turning it on. Then, I grabbed several mugs from the kitchen cabinet. "Take everyone's orders," I told the others.

They nodded and left the kitchen to get everyone's orders. I grabbed the hot cocoa packs and tossed them on the counter before filling a kettle with water and heating it on the stove. The others returned and told me who wanted coffee and hot cocoa. I separated the mugs into two piles.

Once the coffee brewed, I poured it into mugs before brewing another pot. I set the mugs on a tray with creamer and sugar. Nix grabbed the tray and took it to the living room. When the kettle whistled, I poured hot water into the mugs with hot cocoa before filling it with water again. I stirred the hot cocoa and squirted whipped cream into the mugs. Nathan grabbed the tray and took it to the living room.

I poured coffee and hot water into the remaining mugs before adding whipped cream to the hot cocoa. When Aiden and Emilio entered, I grabbed the tray and carried it into the living room. I handed them a mug before grabbing my coffee and joining Mags on the couch.

"Damn, Nash. You acted like you did when you ran the bakery," Nathan said, sipping his hot cocoa.

"It's better than listening to people argue." I shrugged.

The others nodded in agreement. When I ran the bakery, the customers received their beverages and food in a timely manner. It kept them happy. I couldn't wait to dive back into the bakery again.

"You found your direction when you opened the bakery," Nix mentioned.

"No, I found my direction when I almost lost Mags. The bakery was a bonus," I said.

Mags snuggled into me while drinking her coffee. No matter what happened, I wouldn't let anything happen to her. That was a promise.

"Can we address the elephant in the room? Do you think Trixie conceded?" Nathan asked.

"Nope. I think the twit is lying low," Nix said.

"Shouldn't we figure out a plan before the snake strikes?" Noah asked.

"What do you think?" Nix smirked.

I drank my coffee and kept quiet.

******
Misty

Listening to the cousins conspire seemed like old times. Whatever they plotted would give us the advantage. I'm good as long as I don't get hit in the face again.

While the cousins plotted, we ordered pizza for everyone. Of course, Nash and the cousins got a large pizza piece since they were growing boys and had appetites like those of the bottomless pit. You would think they would be five hundred pounds with all the food they consumed. Nope, not them.

The pizza arrived to cheers. I swear my friends and family were comedians. Nash helped me carry the pizza boxes to the living room. We placed them on the coffee table and dove into them. Ah, the life of a college student. If you weren't eating Ramon noodles, it was junk food. Luckily, most of us could cook. That was a plus.

I bit into a slice of pepperoni, mushroom, and green pepper pizza and pulled the melted cheese from the piece. I chewed and swallowed before taking another bite. Nash ate his meat lover's pizza.

"How the hell can you eat pineapple on pizza?" Nathan asked Noah.

"I like pineapple on my pizza." Noah shrugged.

"It's unnatural."

"Says you. It's better than eating anchovies."

We looked at Nolan while he picked an anchovy from his pizza and dropped it into his mouth. We screwed up our faces in disgust. Noah and Nolan were the only abnormal ones who liked gross stuff on their pizza. I shuddered at the idea.

Nash finished his slice and grabbed another one until he finished half of the pizza before anyone finished their second slice.

"You might want to slow down, Nash," Nixon suggested.

"I'm hungry." Nash grabbed another slice and bit into it.

"When's the last time you expelled energy?"

"It's been a minute." He shrugged.

We exchanged glances, knowing Nash was getting ready to expel energy.

"Perhaps you could find a way to expel energy that doesn't require leaving the house," Nixon said.

"I'm fine," Nash said.

Why didn't I believe Nash?

******
Nash expelled energy, alright, and he picked me as tribute. At least we stayed warm on this cold ass night since Mother Nature was at it again. I'll be happy when the deep thaw happens. I'm so ready for warm weather.