I wasn’t sure what I was apologizing for, because I wasn’t sorry for kissing him. A little confused by my lack of hesitation maybe. But after this morning, a kiss seemed fairly innocent in comparison.
He shook his head and averted his eyes to the polished wood floor. “It’s fine. Let’s go so she doesn’t come looking for us herself.”
It’s fine? Things didn’t feel fine. I squeezed my eyes closed as he took off at a quick pace, and I followed behind him. Had I just royally screwed up?
As soon as I stepped outside, I stopped cold when my gaze landed on the gondola lift, holding multiple evenly spaced death traps.
Noah must have sensed the frenzy of nerves that took flight, because he sighed and backtracked to my side. “You going to be okay?”
“Depends. Are you done acting weird?” My brows rose, as I attempted to appear casual about the whole thing. “I’ll make you a deal. You stop acting like life just imploded, and I’ll ride that thing without complaining.”
He bit his lip as he considered me. “It was just a weird moment, right?”
I recalled the conversation we’d had four years ago after I’d kissed him. If that’s what he needed to hear again, then that’s what I’d tell him. “That’s all it was. No big deal, okay?”
Noah hesitated, but finally nodded. “All right then.”
It was him who reached for my hand this time, and I squeezed to the point I was sure I was cutting off his circulation. He let me.
“Stop glaring at the thing. It won’t be that bad.” Noah laughed as we walked through the snow that was several inches thick with a thin crust on top that crunched with each step.
My gaze drifted to the peak of the mountain where Kendra’s family had decided it would be a good idea to build a restaurant only accessible if you rode the lift. The views, I’m told, are worth it. Even without seeing them for myself, I disagreed wholeheartedly. “Oh, it’ll be great. Trusting my life to a mile-long string across a 900-foot valley in the freezing cold…awesome.”
“We don’t have to go, Rook. Everyone will understand,” Noah offered, and because I knew him so well, I was aware he’d back out in a heartbeat. But this was his brother’s wedding.
The cold was already seeping into my bones, so I shivered as I shook my head. “We’re doing this.”
“If you’re sure…”
“I’m sure. But let’s go now before I chicken out.” Or freeze to death.
His lips twitched, and he bumped his shoulder against mine. “I always knew you were a big baby.”
Scoffing, I held back my retort. Powdery snow caked the bottom of my boots and dusted my pants and shoulders as we approached the dark blue gondola, I glanced at Noah. “Honestly, I do hate you a little bit right now.”
“Careful, Oliveira. You’re starting to sound like me.”
Eleven
Noah
After freezing our asses off in the snow the day before, Rook and I had ditched the trip to the ice rink a few miles down the road. Neither of us belonged in a pair of skates when we’d likely spend the majority of the time on our asses.
Instead, after breakfast when everyone had loaded up and taken off, we’d stayed behind. While Rook had worked out, I had caught an indie film on TV. When he’d come back to our room, covered in sweat, he’d showered and then joined me.
Everything was fine. Things were normal between us—or least they should have been. But an uncomfortable quiet had invaded our otherwise secure bubble and had lingered all day. That worried me.
For me, it had everything to do with the kiss. Even though we’d agreed it had been a fluke, I was having a hard time believing it.
As we sat at a tall table in the bar area, waiting for the others to return, my thoughts were still scrambled, and Rook had been silently staring out the window
“Hey guys.” My brother’s voice grabbed my attention from where I’d been glowering into the amber depths of my craft beer. He’d brought company, and I groaned under my breath.
Brad and his date trailed right behind Trevor. Was my ex seriously going to approach me at my brother’s wedding, with the guy he cheated with, while I was with my boyfriend and pretend like nothing had happened? They’d both been noticeably absent over the last few days, and I preferred to keep it that way.
With wavy brown hair, navy blue eyes and an easy smile, Brad leisurely strolled toward us with his hands stuffed in his jean pockets. There was one thing I’d give him; he could appear charming. Of course, now I knew that was a load of bullshit.
“Son of a bitch,” Rook growled from the bar stool next to mine.
“Easy, killer,” I muttered before pasting on the best smile I could manage for my brother’s benefit.
Trevor stood behind me and gripped my shoulders. “Noah, you remember Brad.”
“Sure do.” My cheeks were starting to ache from the forced smile.
Brad had the nerve to reach out to shake my hand. Gritting my teeth, I met him half way and ground my molars together when he dusted his thumb over the back of my hand. “It’s good to see you again.”
Rook tensed, and with as much casual ease as I could muster, I pulled my hand back from Brad, reached down, and squeezed Rook’s thigh beneath the table. Leaning close to his ear, I whispered, “It’s fine.”
A long exhale broke through his lips, and he gave a subtle nod.
Oblivious, Trevor continued introductions. “This is his boyfriend, Andy.”
His boyfriend? The word almost made me laugh. Brad wouldn’t know how to be a boyfriend if his life depended on it.
“Nice to meet you.” I briefly glanced at the guy I’d only seen in pictures. Too much of him.
Andy’s dark eyes were narrowed, shooting daggers my way as if I’d done something wrong and not him. He must have been coached on keeping the situation quiet because he only tucked his pale blond hair behind his ear and offered a tight grin. “Hi.”
I clutched Rook’s thick arm through his long-sleeved, Henley t-shirt. “This is my boyfriend, Rook.”
Brad tilted his head, and a flicker of annoyance flashed in his eyes. “Boyfriend? I thought you two were just friends.”
“You know Rook?” Trevor asked before I could respond, not that I owed Brad an explanation.
When I glanced at my brother, I found his brows dipped in confusion. For good reason. The few times Brad had visited our house before my mom moved to Kansas with James, Rook hadn’t been there. He hadn’t met him until we’d started dating.
I glared at my ex while I picked my beer up and took a long sip. Explain your way out of that one, asshole. And cover all of our asses.
Ever the clever liar, Brad’s grin deepened. “I didn’t tell you I ran into them in the city? When I first moved there, we crossed paths.”
“I don’t remember that.” Rook hummed. When I glanced at him, he appeared thoughtful, as if he was having trouble recalling the event that we both knew had never happened.
“Well, you guys missed a great time this morning,” Trevor said to Rook and me, seemingly accepting the explanation. “You should have come.”