Surprise, surprise.
It’s been three years since we ended things and yet here she is, still affecting me the same, as if nothing’s changed.
I drag a hand through my wet curls, cursing under my breath. Living here with her? For a month? Alone? No Levi running interference? It’s a disaster waiting to happen.
She’s off-limits ever since that night everything blew up between us. The night she admitted she blames me for her accident. And if the wreckage of that ending wasn’t enough reason to keep my distance, there’s the fact that Levi would snap my board in half, and then my neck right after if he even suspected I was looking at his little sister the wrong way.
Hell, he’d kill me twice if he thought I was touching her again.
I shut my eyes, letting the water pound over my face as I turn around, and force the thought out. Maisy Hart is history. She’s a complication I don’t need, in a place I came to have fun for the season. Whatever spark still flickers between us doesn’t matter. Not anymore.
Once I’ve rinsed my body and my hair clean, I shut off the water and towel dry myself while repeating a mantra to myself.
Maisy is off-limits.
Maisy is Untouchable.
Maisy is Dangerous.
But deep down, I already know I’m lying to myself. Because in reality, I came here with the hopes of seeing her again, even if it was just from a distance.
“You’re an asshole, you know that?”Maisy growls from behind me just as I turn off the stove.
“I’ve been told,” I mutter, glancing at her over my shoulder.
Her dark hair looks even darker when wet, making her milky complexion and bright blue eyes stand out. She’s still the mostbeautiful girl I’ve ever seen. I catch myself staring too long and force my gaze back to the pot, focusing on plating the pasta I made.
“You used all the hot water,” she continues, stepping closer. “Do you know how cold the cold water is on a mountain?”
“You’re telling me a place this size doesn’t have an endless tank of hot water?” I finish plating and turn just as she reaches my side. “Here.”
She blinks at the plate I hold out, her irritation softening into surprise. “What is that?”
“Dinner, Einstein.”
“You can cook cook now?” She blinks. “I mean, you cooked for me?”
“I cooked forus,” I correct, sliding the plate into her hand before turning back to make my own.
Maisy lingers for a moment, speechless, before quietly heading for the island. I grab my plate and drop onto the stool beside her. She’s already twirling the pasta with her fork, chewing slowly, like she’s suspicious I might’ve poisoned it.
“Well?” I ask, stabbing into my own pile.
Her brows jump up. “Not bad.”
“Not bad? That’s the highest compliment I think I’ve ever gotten out of you.”
She smirks faintly but doesn’t retort, choosing to go back to eating. I guess she really does like the food. The knowledge of that warms my chest, but I do my best to ignore it. For a moment, there’s only the sound of forks scraping against the ceramic plates while the wind rattles outside the chalet.
“So,” I start, leaning an elbow on the counter, “why do you want to learn snowboarding all of a sudden?”
She blinks at me. “What do you mean?”
“You’re a two-time Olympic skier, Maisy.” I gesture at her with my fork. “People pay money to watch you glide downmountains like you’ve got invisible wings. Why torture yourself learning something you’ll just…suck at for a while?”
Her smile fades as she sets her fork down carefully, eyes fixed on the steam rising from her plate. “Because skiing doesn’t feel the same anymore. I can’t compete at the same level that I used to.”
Her admission tightens my chest. It’s not like her to get real this quick, she’s always been the type that makes it feel like pulling teeth, but I keep my voice even. “Because of the accident.”
