Emily winks at me, then drifts back out of the kitchen with her coffee, humming to herself.
Once she's gone, Charlie turns to me with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that."
"Don't be. I like your sister."
"She means well." Charlie looks down into her mug. "So, about this surprise..."
"Yes?" I prompt, stepping closer, drawn to her like a magnet.
She looks up at me through her lashes, and my breath catches. "How do you feel about helicopters?"
"Helicopters?" I repeat, caught off guard.
Her smile widens. "I may have booked us a heli-skiing adventure for today. Just the two of us."
My jaw drops. Heli-skiing—riding in a private helicopter and being able to shred pristine, untouched backcountry terrain—is the ultimate snowboarding experience. It's also expensive as hell.
My eyes widen as her words sink in. "Are you serious? That's... Charlie, that's incredible." I grab her waist, lifting her off the ground in a spontaneous spin, her surprised laughter filling the kitchen.
Her cheeks flush as her feet touch back down. "I know a guy," she says with a casual shrug, but I catch the way her eyes light up at my reaction, the corner of her mouth twitching upward.
"We can push it to tomorrow if you'd rather spend today with your sister—"
"No," I interrupt, shaking my head emphatically. "Sarah and Addie won't be here until late afternoon. We have time." I can't stop grinning, my hands still lingering at her waist. "I can't believe you did this."
"Consider it a thank you. For teaching me yesterday, for being here with me, for...everything." Her voice softens on that last word, her eyes meeting mine.
The moment stretches between us, an invitation hanging in the air. I could tell her right now how I feel, lay it all out in words. But something deeper holdsme back. Not fear this time, but an instinct that whispers some truths need action, not declaration.
So instead of words, I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her waist and lifting her slightly off the ground again.
"Thank you," I murmur against her hair.
When I set her down, our faces are inches apart. Her eyes search mine, and I know she's still looking for an answer to her question.What is the nature of our relationship?
Maybe the answer is in this day we're about to share in the pristine snow, the exhilarating descent, the stunning vistas that take your breath away. Maybe it's in introducing her to my family, in letting her see that part of my world. Maybe it's in all the small moments that's been building between us.
"We should get ready then," she says softly, stepping back. "The helicopter will be waiting."
I nod, reluctantly letting her go. "Lead the way, Shortcake."
Her smile at the nickname is all the answer I need for now.
Chapter twenty
Charlie
The helicopter blades whir to a stop above us, and I squint against the blinding white landscape of the San Juan mountains. I've seen Colorado's beauty from many angles, but this—this is something else entirely. Untouched powder stretches in every direction, the mountains rising like giants against a perfect blue sky.
"Holy shit," I whisper, my breath clouding in the frigid air.
Bash is already hopping out, extending his hand to help me down. His face is lit up with pure, unbridled joy—like a little kid on Christmas morning who just got everything he wanted and then some.
"Charlie, this is..." He spins in a circle, taking in the panoramic view. "I can't even—you have no idea how fucking stoked I am."
I smile, watching him. During the entire forty-five-minute flight, he'd practically vibrated in his seat, pointing out landmarks and telling stories about different mountains he'd conquered. I couldn't stop taking pictures—of the scenery, yes, but mostly of him. The way his eyes were lit up the entire time. How his hands gestured animatedly as he spoke. The reverent way he looked out at the peaks below us.
There's something about seeing someone in their element that changes how you see them. And Bash in the mountains, surrounded by snow and sky, is magnetic.
