A

felt qui

g else. Or maybe it was the way Lily walked beside me, her laugh still clinging to the air like th

we laughed, and somehow I learned more than I expected. Now, trudging side by side toward th

se I

over and shoved something into my chest. My gloves.

y jacket pocket. "Imagine the headlines if I'

been fine. Worst case, I would'

man

ed, though the corners

ening sky. A few people shuffled past us, the scent of hot chocolate and wood smoke wafting out eve

peo

t

been ignoring it for days, pretending this was just a break, just a temporary pause in the chaos of my real world. But tonight, watching Lily

I said

eks flushed pink fr

tly into the dark. Words weren't my strong suit

how much longe

st a little, but she d

ally my world. Aspenridge. Ski lessons. Quiet days. I

e was trying to read what I was

constant headlines, the billion-dollar empire I never asked for but couldn't es

e, there are a lot of people who think they know me. Who need

ept falling, steady, patient. Finally

uestion hit harder than anyth

d

rgent texts. I thought about my assistant, who had begged me to cut this trip short. I

falling. About the way she'd laughed, bright and unrestrained, when I'd compared my skiing to a

nt to go

choice? That was

ce was low, almost lost to the wind.

She didn't ask for details, didn't push me to explain. Most peo

arly un

he snow, catching in Lily's hair. A few flakes had landed there, sparkling like they belonged. Wi

eath c

eave" I admitted, the words slip

but she didn't look away. She smi

s tr

nd us carrying on as if nothing monumental had just passed between two p

ave me that teasing smile again, though softer this

hough my chest ached

to the golden glow. I stood there for a long time, sk

that demanded too much of me. But with her, I fe

ow painful it wil