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We arrived at our destination, and the crisp Montana air kissed our cheeks as we gathered our gear from the SUV. The sun cast a soft golden glow over the pristine slopes, making the snow-covered mountainside look like something off a postcard.
We made our way to the ski lift, and Zoey and I shuffled forward in the lift line.
“You know,” I teased, “if Eric saw you now, he’d never believe his little sister could handle a black diamond run.”
Zoey rolled her eyes, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “Please, spare me the overprotective brother speech. I’ve been skiing since I was a kid, you know.”
“True,” I admitted, “but this is different. You’re with us, and we expect to be impressed.”
She laughed, warm and vibrant, and the sound pierced the winter chill. “Well then, I guess I’ll just have to prove myself. But keep your expectations low.”
I wanted to keep the conversation going, so I could ride up the mountain with her. Mason and Bodhi were behind us, bickering about whether a great white shark or a tiger shark would win in a fight.
I’d put my money on a tiger shark, since those beasts were known to eat just about anything, but I was more interested in the woman beside me than getting into their debate.
As we reached the front of the line and settled onto the lift, I felt a pleasant tingle of anticipation. The chairlift swung gently, carrying us above the ground. The view was breathtaking—snow-dusted trees as far as the eye could see, the distant sparkle of a frozen lake, and the winding trails etched into the mountain’s canvas.
Zoey nudged my arm with her elbow. “You’re awfully quiet.”
I glanced at her. “Just admiring the view. It’s not every day I get to ride up a mountain with someone as beautiful as you.”
Her cheeks flushed slightly. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Liam.”
“Is that so?” I countered. “Well, in that case, I’ve got a whole list of compliments ready.”
The mountain breeze ruffled Zoey’s hair, and I caught a whiff of her sweet, citrus scent.
“Bet you say things like that to all the girls.”
“Just the ones that are worth it,” I shot back.
Zoey smiled. “Good answer.”
“I aim to impress.”
As the ski lift continued its ascent, our banter flowed effortlessly. Before I knew it, we finally arrived at the top of the mountain and headed toward our first run.
Mason and Bodhi went ahead of us, with Bodhi offering a piece of advice to Zoey. “Just remember, if you fall, fall gracefully.”
Zoey nudged Bodhi with her shoulder playfully. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bodhi.”
He laughed and then headed away with Mason.
The snow-capped landscape stretched out before us, a canvas of adventure waiting to be explored.
As we descended, I quickly realized Zoey wasn’t lying about her skills. I’d visited the cabin a few times in high school with her family, but she was much better than I remembered.
She was a natural, or at least she had been skiing long enough that her movements looked effortless. I found myself impressed by the fearless way she tackled the slopes.
However, our perfect run came to a halt when Zoey lost her balance and accidentally skied into a snowbank. Skiing toward the snowbank, I stopped and stuck my poles in the ground, so I had a free hand to help her.
“Zoey, shit, are you okay?” I asked, hoping she wasn’t injured.
Going down the mountain in an emergency toboggan would be the last thing she wanted. And the three of us had begged her to go skiing with us. A rush of panic swept over me when she didn’t answer immediately.
I tried again while skiing in her direction. “Zoey, please—”
I was interrupted with a raucous burst of laughter. “Oh, my God, please don’t look at me. This is so embarrassing.”
