I do the same thing for myself and sit across from Summer. “How is it?” I ask over a mouthful of squares.
“Surprisingly good.”
“What’s better, this or my ribs?”
“This.” There’s a smile behind her eyes that tells me she’s lying. “I’m a big cold cereal fan.”
“So am I.”
We stare at each other for a few bites before her eyes bounce around the hut. There’s the fireplace we’re sitting in front of, a small sink, a propane stove, a wood stove, and then padded bunk beds.
“I can’t believe this place,” she says. “It’s like an Airbnb in the mountains.”
“It’s pretty cool, huh?”
“It’s amazing. Something I’d never be able to experience on my own.” She turns her gaze to me, taking another bite of her cereal. “Have you stayed in one before?”
“No, this is the first time. It was on my Telluride Christmas season wish list.”
Her mouth grows into a smile. “Well, then, I’m glad we made it come true.”
“Me too.”
There’s a lot of smiling and staring happening between us, and when you add in the low firelight, it’s just a lot for a man who’s not supposed to be feeling what I’m feeling for my brother’s girlfriend.
I jump to my feet. “I almost forgot. I brought you some mint hot cocoa.”
“You packed that in for me?”
“Yeah, of course. You can’t be in a mountain hut without hot chocolate, and since you prefer the mint flavor, I had to make sure I had it.”
“That’s so thoughtful.” She reaches across the table and puts her hand on my forearm. “Thank you.”
My entire body warms from her simple touch. “You’re worth the extra thought.”
The sincerity behind her eyes falters, and she pulls away. “Where do you think the other skiers are?” She eyes me. “There are other skiers, right?”
“Yes, I took the last three spots in the hut. Everything else was already reserved.” I place a pot of water on the stove and light it.
“It’s completely dark outside. Do you think they’re dead? Should we go search for them?”
“I’m sure they’re fine. They probably have headlamps and are still making their way here.”
“Headlamps. Yeah, I guess that’s true.”
“Or they’ve decided not to stay the night.”
“So we’ll be here alone?”
“We’ve been here alone the last hour, and it’s been just fine.”
“Right.” She nods, flipping her hair again so it’s still to the side.
“Can I ask you something?” I stir the hot chocolate over the stove, glancing at her behind me. “When you thought you were going to die, you said that you didn’t get to plan a wedding or get married. You said you’d die a lonely, single woman.”
“Is there a question in there?” She smiles out of the side of her mouth, and suddenly, all I can think about is how amazing it would be to kiss that crooked smile, to reopen the feelings we started the night we met—feelings I find myself thinking about when I have nothing else to think about.
“Um…” I glance down at the pot, doing whatever I can to keep my thoughts where they should be. “My question is, why do you fear being alone so much?”
