Page 109 of Forbidden Flame

I cleared my throat. “He ran into his cousin and needed to talk to him.”

“Will we see him later?” Izzy asked with all the innocence of a child who has no understanding of adult relationships.

“I hope so,” I said softly. “Want to eat lunch?”

She placed a hand on her stomach. “I’m starving.”

I held her hand as we made our way to the lodge. I carefully skated around the area where I’d been seated with Cole. I wasn’t ready for a confrontation, especially not with my daughter. She didn’t need to know what was happening. That Cole might be walking away from us despite his promises.

I picked at my food while Izzy ate a sandwich and talked about the lesson in detail and how much fun it was. I was pleased she was into skiing but sad that we might never come back here.

I texted Teddy to see where my brothers were. “You think you want to try a slope today?”

Izzy’s eyes widened. “A real slope?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “What do you think?”

Izzy sobered. “Xander said we could do it. We just need to remember how to go slow.”

“That’s right. I can help you too.” I wished Cole was spending the afternoon with us.

I spent the rest of the day going down the green slopes with Izzy and my brothers. Dad joined us at some point, allowing me to take a short break to go to the bathroom and to check my messages.

When I didn’t see anything, I texted Cole.

Is everything okay?

I think it’s best if I go home.

Can we talk? Do you have a couple of minutes?

I’m packing in my room.

It wasn’t exactly an invitation, but I’d take it. A few minutes later, I knocked on his door. It swung open, and my heart sank when I saw his suitcase open on his bed. “You’re really leaving.”

I closed the door behind me and moved farther into the room.

“It’s for the best.”

I touched his arm. “But why? What happened with Emmett?”

Cole shrugged me off. “You saw what happened. Emmett is pissed.”

I flinched at his harsh words. “Surely, you can talk to him when he calms down.”

“That’s going to take longer than the few days we’re here. It’s best if I leave.” He methodically put his clothes inside his suitcase, then went into the bathroom to grab toiletries.

I rung my hands in front of me while I waited for him to return.

He finished packing and zipped the suitcase, then set it on the floor with a thump. “I’ve got to get going. My flight leaves soon.”

“Can we talk about this?” I repeated, at a loss for what to do.

Cole stood in front of me, his jaw tight, his empty gaze at some point on the wall over my shoulder. “We were never going to work.”

The air whooshed out of me. “But you promised we wouldn’t have—gotten in this deep— We wouldn’t have pursued it if we weren’t serious.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to say to you. I need time to think.”

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