Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3682

Footsteps approached from behind, and a heavy coat was draped over her shoulders.

Marina turned her head and saw Carson stepping up beside her. He rested his forearms casually against the railing, staring out at the falling snow. His voice was low. "Is this the heavy snow you were hoping for? Do you want to drag George down to the courtyard for a snowball fight?"

Marina let out a scoff. "Three fully grown adults, going downstairs to throw snowballs?"

Carson raised an eyebrow. "So what? As long as we're having fun, who cares what anyone else thinks?"

Marina shook her head slowly. "Once you outgrow a certain phase of your life, your mindset changes. Even if we stood out there right now, it would never feel the same as it did back then."

"How do you know if you can't go back unless you try?" Carson countered softly.

Her voice remained stubborn. "I don't want to try."

Carson looked at her intently. "Why not?"

Marina turned to face him. Her eyes were sharp and clear like ice. She shrugged the coat off her shoulders and shoved it hard against his chest.

"Because I fell hard the first time, and I refuse to fall a second time!"

With that, she turned and walked back into the living room.

Carson stood there, clutching the coat. Feeling the lingering heat of her fiery temper, an ambiguous, calculating smirk slowly curved his lips. He looked out into the blizzard and let out a soft, low laugh.

Since George was staying in the guest room, Marina waited until the timing felt appropriate before saying her goodbyes and heading back to her own apartment.

Once she was gone, George looked at Carson. "When I come back next year, am I going to see you two back together?"

Carson looked supremely confident. "Absolutely."

He tapped his glass against George's. "And when you come back, you better bring your girl with you!"

George wiggled his eyebrows. "We'll both do our best!"

Carson tipped his head back and drained his glass in one shot.

*

Back in her apartment, Marina stood by the window, watching the heavy snow continue to fall. Struck by a sudden, irrational impulse, she grabbed her puffer jacket and walked out the door.

Because the opposing team had children, Marina held back, trying not to throw too hard. As a result, she was getting absolutely decimated. Her jacket was caked in white, and clumps of snow had fallen down the collar of her coat, melting and trickling freezing water down her spine.

But the biting cold only made the adrenaline rush that much better!

It had been ages since she felt this utterly carefree and relaxed.

Suddenly, a massive snowball hurtled straight for her face. Her boots were sunk deep into a snowbank, rendering her completely immobile. For a split second, she entirely forgot to dodge.

Out of nowhere, an arm locked around her waist and yanked her hard into a solid chest. The sudden, overwhelming rush of familiar body heat sent Marina's heart hammering against her ribs.

A man's low, rumbling laugh echoed near her ear. "Forgot how to dodge? Did they knock the sense out of you?"

Marina was panting heavily. After a few stunned seconds, she planted her hands against the man's chest and shoved him away.

Carson smoothly caught her hand in his and started pulling her forward. "Come on. Let me get some revenge for you!"

Marina tried to rip her hand free.