But no. I shook my head. I would not be like Zeke. Or my teammate, Ryder, who also just abandoned the forever-bachelor life for none other than Piper’s sister, Quinn. Fortunately for me there were no more Fallon sisters to risk falling under their spell. Thankfully, I would also not be seeing Belle again. Keeping my focus on hockey—and hockey only—was the best thing for me.
I exhaled sharply and changed the subject. “Anyway, don’t worry about me. I’ll survive. Just gotta get through this charity event first.”
“Charity event?”
“Yeah. Some PR thing in Colorado. Christmasactivities, smiling for cameras, pretending I’m a normal, well-adjusted guy who enjoys socializing.” I sighed. “It’ll be great.”
Zeke chuckled. “You soundthrilled.”
“I’d rather stay in my apartment and binge bad action movies.”
“Could be worse.”
I snorted. “Doubt it.”
“You never know. Maybe you’ll meet someone,” he said, and I could hear the grin in his voice.
I rolled my eyes. “Not happening.”
Zeke only laughed again. “Famous last words, man.”
I was happy that Zeke was happy and had found love unexpectedly, but that wasn’t the future for me. I was better on my own, living life on my own terms. No need to get tangled up in relationships and all the drama that came from trying to fit your life with someone else’s.
We talked a few more minutes about the Wolves season so far, about Zeke’s new nonprofit organization he had set up for kids to be able to play hockey, and about his holiday plans. After we hung up, I hurried to finish packing so I could make it to the airport on time for my flight.
This was my first year being sponsored by Mynt, which meant it was also my first time attending their weeklong charity event, Mynt to Make a Difference. A week was a long time to pretend to be social, and I could only hope that all the Christmas and winter activities weren’t as nauseating as they sounded.
The Founder and CEO of Mynt was none otherthan Barry Mynt, who also owned the resort where the charity event would be held, The Mynt Peak Resort. Yes, he loved using his last name in everything he did. Especially in the itinerary for the upcoming week—it was hard to miss the events titled the Mynt Mingle and Jingle, the Mynt to Be Sleigh Ride, and the Merry Mynt Ball.
I had every intention of keeping myself locked up in my hotel room and only venturing out for the events I was required to attend. I didn’t have it in me to endure all the week’smyntastic events.
But as I made my way out of my apartment building, a nagging feeling settled in my chest. Maybe it was the weight of another holiday spent alone, or maybe it was the memory of Zeke’s voice in my ear, telling me I couldn’t hide forever. Either way, something told me this week wouldn’t go exactly as I planned.
Chapter 4
Belle
December 17th
I stretchedmy neck from side to side as the plane started to make its descent. Thankfully, I’d been able to sleep for most of the plane ride. Sitting in first class really did make a difference.
Alex startled awake next to me as the captain spoke overhead.
Pushing up his eye mask, Alex said, “I don’t understand why they feel the need to talk to us so much.”
I only shrugged at his comment. I actually liked it that I now knew the current local time was three o’clock and that it was twenty-four degrees outside. But voicing my thoughts wouldn’t matter to Alex.
Which instantly reminded me that I’d been on the cusp of breaking up with him before he invited me to join him and his parents for a weeklong Christmasvacation in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. My first instinct had been to say no and continue with the breakup speech I had planned. But when he had seen my hesitancy, he had hurried to cut me off, grabbing my hands and talking about how this trip would be good for us. That we could take the week to spend time together doing romantic Christmas activities.
I had still hesitated in my answer but wondered if he was right, and that maybe spending some quality time together would rekindle what we’d once had. Or what I’dthoughtwe once had. Lately, I wasn’t so sure what we had was ever that great.
Alex had come into my life when I was new to the city and helped me get steady on my feet. At first, I had welcomed his help and direction, but now it felt like he was pushing me down pathshewanted more than paths thatIwanted, like his ideas about what I should do with my life were better or were the right choices.
But I was putting all of that out of my head for the next week to see if he and I could get to a place where we could be happy with one another. If our relationship couldn’t make it on vacation at a fancy mountain resort during a magical time like Christmas, it definitely wasn’t going to make it when we got back home.
Once we’d deboarded the plane and retrieved our luggage, we headed to a black luxury SUV waiting to take us to our resort.
Alex’s parents, Paul and Maggie, got into the car with me and Alex following in behind them.
