Life goes on.

That morning he got up, cold (Zoey had also taken her blanket), and put on his jacket. He sprayed some air freshener all throughout the room, and turned the TV off. He turned the space heater off. He locked up.

The night crew had worked all night to clear the roads, and they did a fantastic job. Luckily it wasn't hard to free his car. He drove home and called Kaitlyn.

*Click*

Hey. I got out.

...Oh, awesome...listen baby, it's so early and you know I work tonight, so...I'm so glad you're out.

I'm sorry, were you sleeping.

...I was. Sorry, I was trying to find an excuse to why I sounded like ****.

*He laughed.* You don't sound like ****. Maybe ****'s older, uglier cousin.

...Rude! After I spent all night worrying about you. Did you call Zoey to make sure she made it home safely? Or at least made sure she didn't freeze to **** in her car?

I think she made it. I didn't see her car out there.

...You know, you could have invited her to stay. I trust you, baby. I love you, and I know you wouldn't do anything dumb.

I know. I probably should have asked. *He felt a twinge of guilt.*

...Well, nothing we can do now. Don't blame me if she hates your guts right now. Anyways, do you wanna come over? I can make a mean omelet for you.

Yikes. An omelet? From you?

...C'mon! Practice makes perfect.

*He laughed.* No, baby. I want you to sleep. Who knows if the roads will get bad again tonight, and I don't want you drifting off to bed behind the wheel.

...How sweet. Well, okay. I love you, baby. I'm gonna get some shut-eye.

Love you too.

*Click*

'Fuck.' He thought.

He came into work the next day and checked his schedule. No shifts with Zoey that entire week. He sighed.

"Hey there, friend." Ethan said. "I see you spruced up the room. Nice job. I'll probably make it a bit more homely eventually, but you seem to have made it nice on your own."

"Yup." He noted. "I definitely won't forget...uh, almost freezing up there with no blanket." He lied.

Ethan chuckled. "I'll be sure to pack some next in my car tomorrow to stock that room up."

A week went by.

"Work today?" Kaitlyn asked. She spent the night. No sex. Tyler wasn't feeling the magic. He hadn't that entire week.

"Unfortunately, yeah."

"Well at least you're working the night. It's a short shift too, right? Only come in for four hours, so."

"Yeah, but that snowstorm...I really don't want to be trapped there again."

"It couldn't have been that bad."

"You have no idea."

"Well, hope you don't. I'll call you after your shift ends."

He kissed her as he unlocked his door. "Love you."

"Love you, too."

Another snowstorm was supposed to hit. Not as drastic, but definitely bad.

'I guess life works in circles, huh?' He thought to himself. He laughed. He drove to the bookstore and parked in his usual spot. Making his way to the door, he paused to get his bearings. He never thought life actually did work in circles until he nearly shit himself.

There she was, sitting on the floor, books piled up to her head.

His heart began to pound. There she was. Her hair tied in a ponytail.

He unlocked the door.

She looked up at him. "Hey!" She got up and put her hands behind her back. "Um, hi."

Oversized sweatshirt. Black pants. As she put her hands behind her back, he noticed something vital.

No bra.

"Hi."