“It’s also totally unsafe,” I add.
“That too.” Charlie grins. “We’ll have a talk about it while we are here.”
“Everly is going to hate me.”
“Never. She loves you. But I feel like this is the natural next step with us, and honestly, I’m done waiting.”
This makes me happy. “Thank fuck. Now take me home and fuck me before my drunk ass brother comes home.”
“Yes, sir,” he says, saluting me.
“Oh. Hot. When we get home, we need to role-play. When you use that straight, manly, military voice, it does things to me.”
“Noted. Now let’s get the hell home before I fuck you on the street.”
He doesn’t need to tell me twice.
85
DERRICK
Waking up in Zermatt feels like waking up inside a luxury snow globe … except my head is pounding like someone’s playing drums inside my skull.
“Are you alive?” Charlie murmurs beside me, voice rough, warm, way too sexy for morning.
“No,” I croak into my pillow.
He snorts. “You had, what? Three drinks?”
“Three drinks, a couple of shots, and line dancing,” I correct. “Which should be illegal at this altitude.”
He laughs, kisses my shoulder, and rolls out of bed. “The train leaves soon, babe. We need to pack.”
I groan dramatically but force myself up. The moment I open the curtains, I forget my hangover completely. A sunrise is spilling across the snowy valley, golden light catching the peaks. The Matterhorn is ever-present, looming over the village.Breathtaking.I press my forehead to the cold glass and whisper, “Holy shit.”
Charlie comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. “Not a bad view for the morning after.”
“It feels fake. Like an AI background.”
He grins. “Come on. Shower. We can’t miss the Glacier Express.”
“Right,” I say, dragging myself toward the bathroom. “Eight hours on a scenic train designed for rich people who like cheese. It’s like this trip was made for me.” Charlie chuckles, slaps my ass, and tells me to get ready.He’s so bossy. I like it.
By the time we drag our suitcases downstairs, Callum is at the dining table looking like a raccoon who spent the night in a nightclub dumpster.
“Morning,” Callum croaks.
“You look like death,” I inform him cheerfully.
“You look smug,” he retorts. “Which is rude, especially as I got up especially to say goodbye.”
Aw bless him. “Thank you for letting us crash,” I tell him.
“You’re welcome anytime. We come every year.”
“Not sure if I could handle a whole week with you after last night.” I chuckle.
“That was tame.” He groans before getting up and giving me a hug. “We need to catch up again soon.”
