“Sure,” he answers with a laugh.
“Yeah?”
He looks at me out of the corner of his eye, and shrugs all casual. “I could spend forever with you.”
And just like that, gravity’s got nothing on me. I’m soaring, free-falling. Heart on fire. Choking on love.
I could spend forever with you.
Forever wouldn’t be near enough.
I look at him and I don’t know if I’m smiling, or crying, or if I’m even conscious because there’s only him. And even if we don’t mean it in the same way, I’d spend the rest of my life making him happy.
In one way or another, in any capacity, he’ll always be mine.
He laughs a little under his breath when looking at me, before he nudges me with his shoulder. “What? You’re my best friend. Of course, I could. We’re basically attached to the hip already, yeah?”
I snort a laugh. “Yeah.”
“You’ve been really happy today,” he says, still smiling.
I clear my throat, dropping my gaze to my lap. “Yeah, well, I slept like a baby last night. All cocooned by this hot guy I know. And then he fucked me within an inch of my life when I wokeup, so…” I shrug, glancing at him. “Life’s good, you know?” I chuckle.
He holds my gaze for a beat, absently rubbing a fist over his chest. “Life’s good,” he echoes.
Kaden and I took a break after a couple of hours of skiing, headed back to the cabin for an early dinner, and then we got ready to head out to the slopes again.
I love night skiing. There’s just something about it. And it’s perfect tonight. The weather’s clear, and as we stop at the top, looking over the valley, the sun is just dipping behind the mountain, leaving the sky red and purple and orange. It’s fucking breathtaking.
Kaden moves ahead of me right up at the edge where he stops, kicks off his skis and takes a few steps further. His cheeks are flushed from extortion and he’s breathing hard.
He’s also breathtaking.
I kick off my board and walk up to him. He glances at me, a wide smile stretching across his face, eyes green and heartbreakingly beautiful. A strand of hair peeks out under his beanie, licking his forehead before the wind wisps it away. He’s so stunning, my heart stumbles on itself and my breath gets stuck in my throat.
“This is insane, Seth!” He laughs.
And I feel the words bubbling inside me, trying to get out. I can’t hold them off anymore. I don’t have time to think. My breathing picks up along with my heartbeat.
“Kade.”
He turns his head at me, still smiling so wide, and the words tumble out of my mouth, along with the air in my lungs.
“I’m in love with you.”
My heart’s beating so fast and hard, I feel lightheaded.
Six years of contained and bottled-up feelings, and words and everything I never thought to tell him are spilling out of me.
“I’ve been—” I drop my head back, trying to get air into my lungs but it’s too much, and not enough at the same time. I double over, hands on my knees, letting out a shaky breath.
“What?” His voice is so low, I almost don’t hear it over the blood rushing in my ears.
“Fuck!” I straighten and move my eyes up to his. His breath comes out in small, white clouds.
“I’m in love with you.” I shake my head, shrugging. “I’ve been in love with you for—” I exhale, trying to get my breathing under control. “I’m sorry. I never meant to tell you, and I’ve tried—ah, fuck!” I exhale a chuckle. “I’ve tried so fucking hard, Kade. But you’re impossible to fall out of love with. You’re—”
“Wait, wait, wh—what do you mean?” he says with a slight shake to his head and a small frown between his brows. “You said you never meant to tell me. What do you mean?”
