I stand up next to Levi as Jeff approaches, sip my beer again, and force a casual mask over the jealousy curling in my chest.
Keep it together, Sterling.
“Sterling, meet Jeff,” Levi says. “He’s the guy that runs our rental shop most days.”
Jeff extends a hand, and I shake it hard enough to assert dominance without it being obvious to anyone watching. “So you’re the guy that almost killed Maisy.”
Nearby conversations die down as people start listening in, and Jeff lets out a nervous laugh as he releases my hand.
“What do you mean?” he asks nervously.
“You sized her bindings wrong.” Jeff blinks, surprised, and I let my smirk do the rest. “She’s lucky I caught it before she actually hit the slope. Could’ve caused a serious injury, Jason.”
Maisy watches the exchange, eyes flicking between us, and I swear she’s amused by my little jab, but that doesn’t help the knot twisting in my chest.
“It’s Jeff,” he says quietly, but I pretend not to hear him as I pat his shoulder a little too firmly, my jaw set.
“Is that true?” Levi asks, looking pissed at Jeff.
Maisy doesn’t say anything, as she narrows her eyes at me, which doesn’t exactly help Jeff’s case.
“Honest mistake, boss,” Jeff finally says.
“That type of mistake could cost someone their life,” Levi says through clenched teeth. “It could have cost my sister her life.”
“But,” Maisy finally speaks as she steps toward Levi and places her hands on his arms, “it didn’t, and now Jeff knowsto triple check things before releasing guests to the mountain. Right, Jeff?”
Jeff freezes for half a beat, and then nods frantically before excusing himself. Levi watches him go with a pissed off expression before looking down at his sister, just as angry.
“You shouldn’t have let him off so easily,” he mutters as she releases his arms.
“It was either that or let you beat the shit out of him, which I could already see you getting ready to do, hothead.”
Levi scoffs, looking away. “He’d deserve it.”
As much as Levi likes to tease his sister, she’s his entire world. With lawyer parents as busy as theirs, all they had was each other while growing up.
“Let’s go get a drink together,” Maisy suggests, already steering Levi toward the bar.
He stops and turns to look at me. “You coming?”
I shake my head and hold up my beer bottle. “I’m good.”
But that doesn’t stop my eyes from tracking her every movement as the night goes on. She laughs too easily, and I can feel that old pull, that familiarity that used to make everything feel effortless.
I make a mental note to keep my distance for the rest of my time here, hiding my irritation with a practiced smirk, because apparently, this is my life now—keeping her safe, keeping my hands to myself, and gritting my teeth while watching her flirt.
Hours later,Levi is laughing with a group near the bar, Maisy is probably off somewhere with Jeff again, and I don’t want to get caught in any more of the lodge’s endless small talk. It’s time to excuse myself.
I make my way through the crowd, weaving past people, and just as I reach the coat rack, I bump into someone—Maisy.
“Sterling?” Her cheeks are flushed from the alcohol she’s been drinking. “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah,” I reply, trying to keep my tone casual, but I’m still jealous as hell after watching her flirt with Jeff earlier, even though I have no right to be.
Her eyebrows lift. “You weren’t even going to tell me? We’re supposed to go back together.”
I shrug, letting out a humourless laugh. “I thought your brother could just drive you back…or Jason. Don’t want to ruin your night by going home early.”
