Page 37 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

I tightened the strap on my boot, finally meeting his gaze. “Maybe I do.”

Colt’s grin widened, like he was enjoying this way too much. “What’s the matter? Can’t handle a little competition?”

That did it.

I stood up, the snowboard digging into the snow beneath me.

“This isn’t a game, Colt.”

“Isn’t it?” He tilted his head, his grin softening into something more serious. “Because it sure feels like you’re keeping score.”

“You’re damn right I’m keeping score,” I snapped, my voice low but sharp. “I see what you’re doing, with the jokes and the flirting. You’re trying to get under my skin.”

“Get underyourskin?” Colt laughed, but it wasn’t his usual easy laugh. It was sharp, almost bitter. “Jaxon, you’ve been walking around like you’ve got some claim on her. Newsflash: Lila’s not yours.”

The words hit me harder than I expected, but I refused to back down. “And she’s not yours, either.”

Colt shrugged, his tone maddeningly casual. “Never said she was. But at least I’m not pretending I don’t want her.”

I clenched my fists, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “You think this is funny? Playing games with her?”

He stepped closer, his snowboard crunching against the snow. “No, I don’t. But I also don’t think it’s fair for you to act like you’re above it all when you’re just as into her as I am.”

My jaw tightened, the truth of his words cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. “This isn’t about me.”

“Isn’t it?” Colt’s voice dropped, his tone more serious now. “Look, I get it. She’s Nate’s sister. You’ve got your whole ‘loyalty to the brotherhood’ thing going on. But don’t stand there and act like you don’t want her, because we both know that’s a lie.”

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t.

Because he was right. I did want her—more than I’d ever wanted anyone. But admitting that felt like crossing a line I couldn’t uncross.

Especially since I’d already crossed that line once.

Colt shook his head, his frustration evident. “You know what your problem is, Jaxon? You’re so busy trying to do the ‘right’ thing that you’re gonna lose her. And when that happens, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

Before I could respond, he turned and strapped into his board, his movements sharp and deliberate.

“I’m heading down. You can stand up here and brood all you want, but I’m not wasting my day.”

He pushed off, carving through the snow with effortless precision.

I stood there, watching him disappear down the slope, the weight of his words settling over me like a heavy blanket.

He was right about one thing. I was going to lose her.

But not because I didn’t want her. Because I was too much of a coward to admit it.

CHAPTERELEVEN

Lila

The unexpected snowstormrolled in like a thick, swirling curtain the following morning, blotting out the view of the mountains and turning the world outside the cabin into a frozen, howling void.

By noon, it was clear we weren’t going anywhere.

Nate had checked the weather and announced, with a touch of annoyance, that we’d be snowed in for at least the day, maybe longer.

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