Nerds,Ben thought with a smile.Next, I’ll have to get them into playingChronicles of the Realm.
“What are we talking about?” Gabe asked.
“Moose is getting married,” Elias boomed.
“We know,” Bear said. His deep voice was warm with approval. “Made the rings already, didn't you?”
Ben nodded. “Finished them last week.”
Waylon's face split into a grin. “Brother, You've made them for all of us. It’s about time you made yours.”
I never thought I’d be making rings for my own wedding.
Ben’s throat felt tight. “Making a ring for Charlie, knowing what it means…”
“That's love, brother,” Bear said quietly. “It’s the most important ring you've ever made.”
Gabe nodded. “She's lucky to have you. You're both lucky.”
“Yeah.” Ben looked back toward the mountain where Charlie had disappeared. “Yeah, we are.”
“We’ll all be up there filming in an hour,” Waylon said. “Stop worrying.”
“I'm not worrying.”
“You're absolutely worrying.” But Waylon's smile was understanding. Then he looked at his brothers. “Come on, let's get coffee before we freeze our asses off.”
The group headed toward the craft trailer where the warmth of the work lights and equipment created a bubble of relative comfort in the freezing night.
Ben started to follow when he noticed Maddie walking past, heading toward the snowmobiles. She’d looked unhappy all night. Now her body language told him she was absolutely devastated.
“Hey, Maddie,” Ben called. “You okay?”
She stopped and turned. Her face looked strange in the work lights—pale, drawn. Then she managed a small smile.
“Just tired.”
“Long day.” Ben nodded toward the crew area. “You should grab some coffee, warm up.”
“I can’t. Viv…needs something fixed. So do I.” She looked past him toward the mountain, then back. Her expression shifted—something vulnerable breaking through. She looked down at her gloves. “My boyfriend and I broke up. I thought he felt the same way I did, but...” She trailed off. “He lied to me.”
“Maddie, I'm sorry,” Ben said. “That's hard. And you of all people. You don’t deserve that treatment.”
She looked up at him, heartbreak in her eyes. “You're lucky. With Charlie. Don't take it for granted.”
“I don't.”
“Good.” She gave him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. “Because you never know when things can change and you lose the one you love.”
She turned and walked toward the snowmobiles before Ben could respond. He watched her climb onto one of the snowmobiles and start the engine.
“Maddie!” someone shouted. “Where are you going?”
She didn't answer. Just gunned the engine and headed up the trail after Charlie and the others. Ben watched her taillight disappearing into the darkness, feeling awful for her.
He also wished he’d jumped on the back of the snowmobile with her, just to be with Charlie sooner. Maybe it was what Maddie said, or the weather, or seeing an avalanche and knowing Charlie was up there right now that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle.
Ben turned back toward the crew area where his brothers were still joking around. Elias was taking photos with his phone. Bear was trying to adjust Waylon's chainmail.
