Page 42 of Racking Up Penalties
His smile is smug. “Promise? Because that would be worth it.”
I laugh and kiss his jawline.
“Come on, let’s go.”
The drive is quick and before we know it, we are at the base of the mountain.
Clipping on my skis, I glance up at the towering peaks, a blanket of pristine white snow softening the jagged edges. “How about we start with that one?” I suggest, pointing to an invitingly gentle slope nearby.
“Sounds good,” Tristan agrees, his deep blue eyes crinkling with ease as he offers me a supportive nod. The way he’s always ready to back up my ideas warms me from the inside out.
“Fine by me,” Ethan grunts, shrugging nonchalantly, though his gaze is eternally assessing like he’s calculating his next move.
Liam nods and pulls his goggles down.
Liam, Ethan, and Luka are snowboarding and the rest of us are skiing.
“Shouldn’t you be skiing? Isn’t that more like skating?” Tristan asks.
I laugh and Ethan shrugs. “I thought I looked hotter snowboarding when I learned.”
As we head toward the ski lift, I can’t help but feel the tension tangle in the space between Ethan and Liam, an invisible thread ready to snap.
The chairlift ride up is a blend of silence and forced small talk, our breaths forming clouds in the cold air. Once we’re at the top, the view itself is enough to steal your breath away, a vast expanse of snowy terrain under the crisp blue sky.
Apparently, Alec hasn’t skied in years so the four of them go off to the side and start slow, leaving my guys and me.
“Ready?” Tristan asks me and we start down.
We push off together, side by side, the world narrowing down to the sound of skis cutting through snow, the rush of wind against my face, and the solid warmth of Tristan next to me. It feels like freedom, like I can breathe easier without the weight of decisions and complicated feelings.
I chance a look behind us, where Ethan and Liam have already transformed the slope into their battleground, each jockeying for position, their movements aggressive yet skilled. They shoot past us.
We pull off to the side so I can complain but Tristan stops me.
“Let them have their race,” Tristan remarks, his voice carrying over the wind. His playful tone is a clear attempt to keep things light, to remind me that this trip is about fun, not conflict.
“They’re ridiculous. Hopefully, this helps the tension, not make it worse.”
With each turn and glide down the mountain, I silently will them to find common ground.
As we reach the bottom of the slope, I turn to see Ethan and Liam looking back at us, chests heaving.
They even have smiles on their face.
“Nice run,” I call out, offering them both an encouraging smile, even if my heart is doing somersaults inside. Because for now, they’re here, they’re safe, and they’ve managed to channel their tension into something exhilarating.
“Let’s do it again,” Ethan challenges, the edge in his voice softened by the glint of excitement in his eyes.
“Anytime,” Liam responds.
Liam is usually so quiet and calm but something about Ethan changes that. I’ve seen him play hockey and he has the same intensity then too.
As we make our way back up the mountain, the sun a warm kiss upon our cheeks, I hope that this trip is going to bring us closer together.
I glide down the mountain, the rush of cold air against my face sending shivers of joy through me. The powdery snow sprays up in a white mist as I carve graceful turns, following Tristan’s fluid path ahead.
“Isn’t this incredible, Tessa?” he shouts, his voice carrying on the wind.
