She shook her foot at him. “Why do you think I wore my boots?”
He grinned. “All right, then let’s get to the top of that mountain over there so we can have a different view.” He returned the cooler to the snowmobile, then took her hand. She hesitated, smiled, then let him lead her to the trail that would take them through morewoods and up to the top. There was no way to ride the snowmobiles, so on foot it would be.
“I guess you did come up here,” she said. “It’s the only way you would know where this trail leads.”
“What? You think I would lie?”
“Never. You’ve always been one of the most honest and transparent people I’ve ever met. It’s one of the things I always admired and really liked about you.”
His eyes darkened for a moment, and she wondered what it was she’d said that changed his mood so rapidly.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
Maya frowned and let him drop the subject. But she could tell it was definitely something.
An hour later, after more small talk than he could stomach, Gideon followed Maya back down the mountain toward the snowmobiles, replaying her words in his head on an endless loop.You’ve always been one of themost honest and transparent people I’ve ever met. It’s one of the things I always admired and reallyliked about you.
Unfortunately, if she knew the truth, all of that would change in the blink of an eye. It sobered him. Reminded him his time at the resort was fleeting. A blip in time. He needed to keep his distance and not fall for her again.
And yet...
When he looked into her eyes, he saw the concern, the questions, the ... caring. She’d always cared about him. She just hadn’t cared in the way he’d wanted her to. But maybe that could change?
Maybe, but it didn’t matter.
In hindsight, it was probably a good thing they hadn’t taken their friendship any further. Then again, if she’d been by his side all this time, would he have made the same choices?
Probably. And driven her away in the process.
“Gideon?” Maya hurried after him and placed a hand on his arm. “Wait up. What happened back there? We’ve talked for an hour without saying anything, and I need to know what it was I said that changed the whole atmosphere between us. Are you okay?”
He stopped next to his machine and pulled his helmet on. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s nothing. Seriously. We should probably get back so I can help in some way.”
She planted her hands on her hips and scowled at him. “You’re hiding something.”
He snorted. “Why don’t you tell me what you really think?”
“Someone needs to say what they’re really thinking,” she shot back.
He forgot how fast she was on her feet when it came to retorts. “Look, Maya, it just occurred to me that I’m not the same person I was when you knew me.”
She scoffed. “Neither of us are.”
“But I’m—”
“What? Just say it.”
“I’m not a good person,” he blurted. “And you think I am. So when you tell me how great I am, it just makes me feel like a huge fraud. And that brings up all the regret about some choices I’ve made.”
She blinked. “Okay. So, I triggered you. But why do you think you’re not a good person? Because from what I can see, you definitely are. I mean, not so good you don’t need God, but good in general.”
He bit off a groan. What was wrong with him? And she was right. He did need God. But for now...
“I ... don’t know if I can explain. I’ve just...” He swiped a hand down his face, trying to figure out how to word it. “I’ve made some bad decisions that left me facing the consequences.”
“Such as?”
