“Isn’t this going to be so exciting?” Maggie said,looking out the window at the snow-covered ground and mountains surrounding us. With her brown hair cut short in an elegant bob, her skin and makeup flawless, and her impeccable (and expensive) outfit, you would never look at her and guess she was one of the sweetest and down-to-earth people you would ever meet.
Paul’s salt-and-peppered head was already down and engrossed in his phone. “Uh-huh, sure, sweetheart.”
Paul was a nice enough man, but his true love in life was his work.
I glanced over at Alex and shouldn’t have been surprised to find him also typing away on his phone. Like father, like son. I tried to not roll my eyes and instead focused back on what Maggie was saying.
“Not only will we get to spend the week in this cute mountain town doing all the fun Christmas things,” she continued like her husband and son weren’t ignoring her, “but there will be a bunch of famous athletes here too. I’m not sure how I should act when I see them.” A bright smile appeared on her face. “Although my favorite athlete will be my hockey player.”
This had Alex taking his eyes off his phone for a moment. “Yes, we know, Mom. You’re excited to see Prescott. And although he may be a famous hockey player, your son is making his mark in the financial world.”
“Oh, honey, you know I’m so proud of the hard work you are doing,” she said sweetly, like her son hadn’t been acting childish. “We just haven’t seen him in so long, since he moved to Minnesota.”
Alex returned to his phone, clearly not wanting to keep the conversation going about his cousin, Prescott. Hopefully this reunion wouldn’t be too awkward.
Alex didn’t like to talk about his only cousin. On the rare occasion he was brought up, it was usually because Maggie mentioned him. I actually hadn’t even found out he was a professional hockey player until she’d said something on the way to the airport this morning about how we’d been invited because of a charity event sponsored by the athletic clothing brand, Mynt.
I had never met a professional athlete before and was as excited and nervous as Maggie was.
“It will be fun to meet some athletes,” I said, joining in with Maggie’s excitement. “It’s so great that they are all coming together for the charity event.”
Alex snorted. “Not sure why Prescott got invited.”
“Alex.” Maggie tried to chastise, but her voice was too kind to actually hold any threat.
“What?” Alex argued, still keeping his eyes glued to his phone screen. “It’s not like he’s the most social guy.”
She folded her hands on her lap. “Well, that’s because?—”
“Yeah, yeah,” he cut her off. “I know he didn’t have the best childhood, but you made up for that with taking him to all those hockey practices.” He said it all dismissively, like having a hard home life wasn’t a good enough excuse. “And now he has us to thank for all his hockey success.”
I sat there awkwardly as I listened to the conversation. How could Alex be so callous about his cousin?They were family, after all. And it sounded like they were Prescott’s only family. I hadn’t even met him, and already my heart went out to him.
I came from a close-knit family and knew how important those relationships could be. My parents were kind and loving and always there for me with open arms. Even being the middle child of three kids, I never felt like I wasn’t their favorite. My older sister, Claire, and my younger brother, Ethan, were my best friends. They’d texted me this morning in our sibling group chat, hoping I had changed my mind and canceled my trip with Alex. They had been wanting me to break up with him for a while now, so they had been disappointed when I’d told them I was still going. Hopefully I could be sending them texts soon that I hadn’t been wrong about coming.
The SUV drove up a winding mountain road, the tires crunching over a thin layer of freshly fallen snow, before the resort came into view. My eyes widened as I took in the breathtaking alpine retreat nestled against the backdrop of towering, snow-capped peaks. The grand, chalet-style building stretched across the mountainside with its dark timber beams and creamy stonework.
As we pulled under the covered entrance, uniformed valets and bellmen stood ready, their breath curling in the crisp mountain air. The SUV came to a stop, and immediately one of the attendants opened the doors for us. We were warmly greeted as our bags began to beunloaded from the back of the car onto a shiny gold cart.
Speechless at the sight of this type of luxury, I followed Alex and his parents inside, where the scent of pine and cinnamon drifted through the air.
I had thought the Plaza Hotel knew how to decorate for Christmas, but The Mynt Peak Resort was like nothing else I had ever seen or experienced. The grand lobby was a masterpiece of alpine elegance—vaulted wooden beams stretched high above, adorned with twinkling lights and cascading garland. A massive stone fireplace commanded attention at the center, its roaring fire casting a flickering glow over plush armchairs and fur-lined throws.
A towering Christmas tree was in the corner, its branches heavy from the glistening ornaments and tiny shimmering white lights. Every detail, from the festive wreaths hung from every doorway to the hand-carved wooden nutcrackers lining the staircase to the scent of fresh gingerbread drifting from the cozy café, exuded holiday magic and refined luxury. My fingers itched to get my camera out of my suitcase and capture the beauty.
“Isabelle,” Alex’s voice said behind me, with a hint of irritation that made me wonder if he had already called my name a few times. I had been so wrapped up in the enchantment of the resort that I must have zoned out for a minute.
I turned around to join Alex, but the smile on my face began to slip away.
Alex’s mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear the words that were coming out as he introduced me to the man that was now standing in front of me. A familiar man. Atoofamiliar man. A man that I’d thought I would never see again. A man I had tried to forget…and had failed miserably.
Alex placed his hand on my arm. “Isabelle, did you hear me? This is my cousin, Holden Prescott.”
It was like time slowed, his words coming out in slow motion, sounding more likeHooolllddeennn Ppprrreeessccoootttt.
Holden, as in Holden from the wonderful afternoon in New York.
Prescott, as in Alex’s cousin who had invited us to join him at this resort.
