They are it for me.
I must have been staring at them in my zoned-out state because now they’re all staring at me with looks of concern.
“Are you sure she didn’t hit her head?” Kane asks Wyatt.
I shake my head. “I’m fine, I promise… just tired.”
“You want to head out?” Wyatt asks. I know they would all drop everything and go if I said that’s what I wanted.
The sun is still high in the sky, leaving several good hours of skiing time left in the day. “No, but I think I’m done for a bit.”
“We can just go,” Kane says.
“How about you and I go to the lodge for a while?” Linc offers. “I’m kind of done anyway.”
I have no idea if he’s telling the truth or just giving me an out. Either way, I’m not going to pass on spending time with my surly, tatted man.
I look between Wyatt and Kane. “You two have fun.”
They hesitate for a minute before nodding. They’re both grinning and arguing about which run they’re going to tackle together when they walk away.
“Don’t do anything too wild,” I shout after them.
“Like dating one woman with my twin brother and my best friend?” Wyatt says, walking backward toward the ski lift.
Linc and I both chuckle as they disappear into the line of people waiting for a ride up the mountain. Linc holds my hand in his with his board and my skis tucked under his other arm as we move toward the lodge.
We store our equipment in the designated area before finding a cozy two-seater couch inside the lodge near the fireplace. Despite my repeated confirmations that I’m not hurt, he makes me sit on the couch while he gets us both something to drink.
I slide out of my boots, leaning them against the side of the couch, and tuck my feet underneath me. I still have my ski pants on, but at least this is a little more comfortable.
Linc hands me a steaming cup of cocoa. “Thanks,” I say, taking a sip.
The chocolatey sweetness makes me smile. I glance into his cup, expecting to see coffee. I’m surprised to find cocoa in his cup, too.
“Don’t look so shocked,” he says. “A man can drink hot chocolate, too.”
“I know,” I say with a laugh. “I just didn’t expect you to be the man to do so.”
He rolls his eyes but wraps his arm around me. I fall against his side, resting my head on his shoulder. We sit there in silence for a while, both sipping our warm drinks.
That’s one of the things I appreciate most about Linc. He allows the silence between people to be something special.
With him, it’s never awkward or uncomfortable. It’s actually the complete opposite. I feel completely settled in our own bubble of peace.
“Are you having fun today?” I ask after a while.
He kisses the top of my head. “Angel, I’d have fun with you if we were taking basket-weaving classes.”
I laugh quietly, snuggling a little closer.
“Linc?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for being you.”
“Did you have fun skiing with the guys?” Mav asks when I’m tucking him in bed for the night.
