Page 72 of Mountain Challenge

“What are you doing out here?”

“Too much testosterone in there,” Yvette said, laughing.

“And too much pizza. I don’t want to eat it all!” Valentina added.

“Right.” Isla’s mouth watered at the thought of a hot slice of pizza. Her appetite had been coming back slowly over the last weeks. “It’s nice out here, if chilly.”

“Ry’s inside. Probably standing close to the front door, waiting for you,” Yvette said cheerfully.

Isla took a deep breath. “I’ll go see him in a minute. Is Hugo here already?”

The two women exchanged a careful look. “He’s out in the back garden.”

Isla nodded. “I’ll go see him first.”

“Do you want us to come with you?”

“No, it’s good. I’m sure I’ll find him. Thank you.”

She left before they came up with a reason to stop her. She was grateful to them for wanting to take care of her, but this was something she had to do.

Hugo was sitting on a small wooden bench behind the shed, a cigarette in his hand. Not quite hiding, but almost. He looked up, a strained expression on his face, then relaxed when he saw it was her.

“Isla. How are you feeling?”

“Much better, thank you.”

He studied her for a long instant. “You look better.”

“I’m not going to ask what that means,” Isla laughed. “I guess I looked like shit before?”

He took a long drag, pulling the smoke into his lungs. Isla knew Ry was worried about the smoking—Hugo had quit years earlier, and had only just picked it up again. “I didn’t say that. I hope Ry’s taking care of you.”

Something tightened inside her chest, as was the case every time she heard Ry’s name. It was hard to imagine she might have missed out on this … this happiness. “He is. I’m lucky.”

“He’s the lucky one.” Another drag from the cigarette. “You can tell him I said so.”

Isla laughed, then quietened down. “May I sit with you?”

Hugo hesitated for an instant, but made space for her on the bench. Shit, but it was cold. If she was going to stay in Chamonix, she needed a longer coat—one that covered her ass when she sat down. “Hugo, I wanted to say thank you.”

“You already said thank you. So did Laura.”

“Right. And you said thank you for saying thank you, but it wasn’t necessary.”

Hugo nodded. “It’s still not necessary,” he said gruffly.

“I’m sorry I keep insisting. I just … I can’t move on without knowing … that you’re okay.” She knew he was still in pain. She could tell. And she knew from Ry that it was still early days in his recovery—that he might never make it back to the team. And if that happened …

“I’m okay. I swear. But it wouldn’t have mattered, if you and Laura were safe. So believe me, you don’t need to thank me.”

A tear rolled down her cheek. He looked so horrified, it was almost comical. “Please don’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Isla sobbed. This wasn’t like her. But she couldn’t help herself. She wiped the snot off with the back of her hand. Great. He was going to run in the opposite direction. “I’m sorry.”

Hugo pulled her against him in an awkward, unpracticed hug. “Hey. We’re good. But I did want to ask you something. A favor.”

“Anything,” she said immediately.

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