Page 51 of Wild Hearts

"We'll make our way over to the lift, and then hit the light trail." We glided easily over to the line. At night, it was mainly large groups of teenagers and couples.

A boy turned around. "Hey, Dakota, want to ride with me?"

It was Christopher.

Dakota's face lit up, and I didn't have the heart to tell her no. Besides, I'd be able to keep an eye on them since they were in front of us in line. "She's never been skiing before."

Christopher grinned at Dakota. "I can help her on the lift. Don't worry about it."

But I was worried. Shouldn't I be the one to take her on the lift for the first time? Addison curled her hand around my arm and leaned in close. Unfortunately, the layers of puffy material meant I couldn't feel her body pressed against mine. "Relax. She'll be fine."

My jaw tightened. "Do you think she's safe with him?"

Addison gave me a look. "Do you think she isn't? We can see them. And we'll be with her once we descend."

I groaned. "I just got her, and now I have to give her space to let her hang out with boys." I said the wordboyswith as much disgust as I could muster, but Addison just laughed.

"It's not funny."

She covered her mouth. "It kind of is."

Before I could respond, it was Christopher and Dakota's turn, and he was talking to her about how to sit on the chair. This was the easy part.

"We're doing the light trail," I called to him.

"Got it, Mr. Wilde."

Was I so stiff that he felt like he had to be formal with me? Then they were seated on the chair, and he pulled the gate down over their laps. Before I could say anything, the chair was hitting the backs of our legs, and we were ascending.

Addison bumped her shoulder against mine. "See? That wasn't so bad."

I pulled down the bar. "I don't like it."

Addison smiled wider. "I know."

"Does this get any easier?" My chest was tight, my jaw ached. How would I ever let her go out on a date? The possibility of that wasn't that far off into the future.

"I don't have a child, so I'm not sure. I'd imagine it's a bit harder for you. You got an instant teenager and all the stress that comes with that. But babies are hard too."

"At least she sleeps in on the weekends."

Addison laughed. "That's a perk."

"I'm glad I amuse you."

"Is it bad that I like seeing you so tortured over Dakota talking to a boy?"

"You forget we weren't that much older when we met."

"Fourteen?" Addison contemplated.

"And I remember exactly what I was thinking back then."

"Oh?" And then Addison laughed harder.

"Why is that so funny?" I asked, but we were already descending. I didn't even get a chance to see how Dakota made out on the landing before we were forced to raise the bar and disembark. We joined Christoper and Dakota where they stood off to the side, talking about a tech class they shared.

"You two are partners in that class?" I asked them, feeling every bit the stiff old man I was turning into.

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