Page 59 of Beautifully Complicated

Aiden wraps my arms around his torso, whether to keep meinsidethe moving object or give me something to hold onto I’m not sure. Either way, I’m not loosening my grip.

The cold wind makes my eyes water, but once I get past the initial sensation of falling it feels like I’m flying. Sort of. I mean, obviously my ass is still on the ground, but at the same time I have the sense that I’m soaring. And by the time we get to the bottom of the hill, I realize I’m laughing.

That’s one advantage of our age difference, he makes me feel like a kid again.

“Well?” Aiden asks as we glide to a stop.

I unlock my arms and flop backward so that my back is on the snow, my face pointing to the sky, feeling just as light as I did while we were barreling downhill. “I don’t remember this being so fun as a kid.”

“We probably got going a lot faster than you ever did.”

“Yeah, maybe. I can’t imagine going that fast standing up though.”

“It takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it there’s nothing else like it.”

“For the first time since you told me you willingly suffer near hypothermia to do this, I can almost see it. I still want the electric jacket though. And maybe a scarf so my nose doesn’t get so cold.”

“That can be arranged.” Aiden laughs. “Come on, let’s go again. You’re in front this time.”

We trudge back up the hill, a reminder of why I haven’t done this for years since the climb is not as easy as it looks, and take several more runs before taking a break in the car to drink the hot chocolate Aiden brought in a thermos.

“How are your hands?” he asks.

“Not cold in the slightest. Those warmer things are genius.”

“So, you don’t need me to warm them up for you?” He blinks his lashes almost demurely, though it’s not as innocent a gesture as he’d have me believe.

“Leanbh.” I sigh. “Are you trying to cause trouble?”

“Guilty.” He traps his plump bottom lip with a tooth.

“The other day won’t hold you over for another few months?” I hold my breath, assuming I know the answer.

“I know it should,” Aiden says without any sign of flirting. “But no. It only made things worse.”

“Same,” I admit softly. “Quick, talk about something else before I forget all the reasons I’m not supposed to touch you.

Aiden tries to smile—unsuccessfully—but he does manage to get us on another topic.

“How did your meetings go?”

“Really well.”

When I don’t elaborate, Aiden sighs. “The whole point of talking about something else is totalk.”

I roll my lips while I debate what to say, not because this is a secret—not from Aiden anyway—I just didn’t want to tell him about it until things were more concrete.

“I’ve been exploring a new career oppor—”

“What?” He just barely manages not to spit out a mouthful of hot chocolate. “You’re leaving?”

“Let me finish, Leanbh.” I reach for the hand not holding his thermos and hold it in mine. “Remember how I said I have several thoughts about our future job options, and I wasn’t sure which one would be the best.”

“Yes,” he says warily.

“Well, I keep thinking that our specialty is so niche we’ll have to work at the same company if we want to live in the same place, so our relationship will always be in conflict with our work. I’d end up being some sort of mentor or supervisor, which would not only be an HR nightmare for the company but might cause people to read into any of your career advancements. The only way we can work together without anyone questioning my motives is if we’re equals.”

“I know I’m breaking my own rule here, but I feel obligated to point out that we can never be equals when you’ve got a decade of experience in a field I’m studying.”

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