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“We are on holiday,” I pointed out, “the rules kind of go out the window. Sort of.”
“So, you’re saying she’s fair game?” Luke glanced between us, a smile growing.
“Respectfully,” Theo added. “She’s her own woman. We’re all single. All I’m saying is… whatever happens, happens.”
“Respectfully,” Luke repeated.
“Yes,” I agreed. It was only after a few moments of contemplating whether Summer would even be interested that I noticed the static tension in my chest had faded. The lingering muscle ache was fading, and my heart beat lighter.
Whether that was from talking with my closest friends or the thought of Summer, I couldn’t tell.
All I knew for sure was that if Summer wanted me in any regard, I would be there in a second. I hadn’t known her for that long, but I couldn’t get her smile out of my head.
And I didn’t want to.
11
SUMMER
This seemed like a fantastic idea when they’d announced it back at the chalet, but halfway up the snowy mountain, the weight of my white lie was beginning to settle on my shoulders. After a day for everyone to beat jetlag, settle in, and come to terms with anything they may have done that they shouldn’t have, the first family activity on the schedule was skiing. Standing in the lounge when Theo had asked me if I could ski, all I could think about was how sweet his whimpers had sounded when we were together, so I had said yes without much thought to the consequences.
Now, as the gondola pulled in at the top of the mountain and the three children spilled out, flanked by their fathers, I realized how stupid that lie was. I could not ski. I could barely even sled, and that was far easier than skiing.
“Bonnie, come and put your boots on!” Jax called as he settled on a bench and lowered the kid’s skis down beside him.
“Coming!” Bonnie called, and after giving Ava a hug, she scurried over to her father. It was the most animated I had seen her, although she still sent me shy glances occasionally.
“Here, Summer.” Luke appeared and pressed two skis into my hands with a warm smile, then he moved away to get Ava set up while Theo had Kane in his lap, carefully clipping the skis onto his boots. I stood there, holding the skis to my chest as warmth spread over my cheeks and reality hit me. There was no way I could fake this. But admitting my lie would mean they would have to deal with my inability to ski, and I was already churning up inside being this close to Theo without talking about what we’d done together.
As my mind raced with excuses, I didn’t notice Jax approach until he was standing right in front of me.
“Summer?” he asked softly, and I flinched in surprise. How did all three of these men still look hot as hell when bundled into thick ski jackets and goggles.
“Yeah?”
“Do you need some help getting your skies on?”
“Um…” I fumbled, and my cheeks flushed hotter.
“You’ve never skied before, have you?” Jax asked after a beat, a smile growing.
“No. I’m so sorry, I panicked,” I gasped out. “I didn’t want to be a hindrance.”
“Don’t be silly,” Jax chuckled, and he took the skies from me. “The kids can’t really ski either, so we can just teach you all together.”
“I can ski!” Ava piped up as she peered around Jax’s leg, one boot on and one boot off. “I’ll teach you!”
“How will you do that without your other boot!” Luke laughed as he appeared, scooped Ava up into her arms, and carried her back to the bench.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, and the heat blazing on my face could have melted the entire mountain.
“It’s okay.” Jax gave me an encouraging smile. “Trust me, it’s a lot easier than it looks.”
Jax was right, for the most part. The slope we took the children on was a very soft incline, and the nerves I had started to melt away as the morning wore on. The mountain itself was beautiful, with crisp white snow and a scattering of pine trees lining each of the ski runs. Bonnie stuck close to Jax, often balanced between his legs as they shuffled down the slope. Ava had a lot more confidence and would push off from Luke, slide down the slope, and then turn with her arms crossed, waiting for her dad to catch up. Kane was uncertain but determined, and his focused little face warmed my heart each time he slid past with his knit hat pulled low against his tiny goggles.
“That’s it, Bonnie,” Jax cheered to my left. I glanced up, one hand clutching for dear life to Luke’s arm, and watched as Bonnie took her first solo run down the slope.
“Yay!” Cheers erupted from the group, and Bonnie clapped her gloved hands together as she turned at the bottom. Jax pushed off and slid down to her, then Luke’s voice rumbled close to my ear.
