StormingLove Blizzard JensElliot by Sara York

CHAPTER ONE
    Jens Arnesen clutched his backpack against his chest with one hand and held onto the subway rail with the other, praying that he’d make it to the room before the snow really started to come down. His Rollaboard suitcase was wedged between his leg and the metal pole, tilting precariously each time the track shifted. Riding the subway in Boston wasn’t like riding in New York, where the train cars jerked a bit; in Boston he was forced to hold on for dear life or risk ending up in the lap of the priest sitting behind him.
    He’d come to Boston for a writer’s conference that was now being canceled all because of this stupid storm. Well, he’d attended the first two days of the conference and was set to go to the after-conference where he’d delve deeply into screenwriting concepts, but the city was shutting down, and thus the conference was over. At least he had a room with kitchen facilities so he could cook his own meals. His brother’s friend, Ryland, was allowing him to stay in a room he rented out of one of the houses he owned just across the river in Cambridge. Jens could have chosen to stay another night at the hotel, but he honestly hated the sterile nature of the huge box building. His mind couldn’t take another minute sitting in a hotel room, and his stomach couldn’t take one more hotel meal. The lobby was small and distracting, offering no creativity. When he stayed in rented rooms at houses, he felt the vibe of the city and the pulse of the people. Learning the neighborhoods kept him grounded, allowing him to write about real people in real towns, providing him with the inspiration he needed.
    The train slowed, and the bright lights of the station filled the subway car. He braced himself for the stop and swayed with the train as it slowed. Amazingly, no one fell over. The earsplitting noise of the breaks echoed throughout the station, and then the train came to a gentle full stop. People around him sighed and clutched their coats closed, trying in vain to get warm before heading up the stairs and into the chilly evening air.
    Jens grasped the handle of his Rollaboard, hefting it to carry it up the steps. A blast of cold hit him before he even took the first step to ascend into the open air. Why had he come to Boston at this time of year? He knew it would be cold, but for some reason he’d thought he could beat the weather.
    Once at street level, he pulled out his phone and checked the maps. Just a few blocks, and he’d be able to relax. But first, he needed to stop by the grocery store. The clouds in the sky were muted shades of grey and white as they reflected back the lights of the city. It almost didn’t even look dark like evening. Jens pulled his coat lapels closer and sped up his pace, trying to get to the store before it started snowing.
    Maybe next time he’d skip the neighborhood feel and just stay at a hotel. He’d be in a warm bed by now if he hadn’t felt the need to get a taste of the city. This was more of a taste than he wanted. Actually, it was less. People were rushing around, and few were taking time to chat. One of the reasons he’d wanted to stay in a quaint little room was so he could try out the local cafés and see people in their natural habitat, but no one wanted to be out in this. The grocery store was a zoo with people grabbing items before heading home. Few people even met his gaze as they rushed through their task. It was disappointing to see so few interacting with others, but the storm of the century was hitting, and he wished he were anywhere but here, too.
    Maybe the storm wouldn’t be that bad, and he’d be able to get out and enjoy a bit of local color before the weekend was over.
    With two blocks left to go to the house, Jens saw the first flake fall. He looked up at the sky, and it was if Mother Nature took his action as approval to open the heavens. The flakes were huge, turning the sky a beautiful white. The first few clumps had begun to melt on