Page 35 of Stuck With Mr. Frosty

“It might. I’m not the kind of person to deal in absolutes.”

I laugh and lean back into him, trying to pretend like I wasn’t hoping for a different answer. Like I wasn’t thinking that this could be one of those movies.

Like I didn’t think that the only time I’ve felt like myself in a long time is when I’m with him.

CHAPTER 14

AIDEN

Carter sighs and drops into the chair beside me. “That kid’s going to go tumbling down the side of the mountain if he keeps directing his skis that way.”

I glance at the child he’s talking about, Mia close behind the kid. “Mia’s got him. It should be fine. She seems like she knows what she’s doing, and it’s clear she likes working with kids.”

“Warm words from the guy who shares a room with her.” Carter smirks at me over the rug of his travel mug. “You didn’t tell me that the two of you were an official thing.”

“Because I don’t know what we are, and even if I did, I wouldn’t be parading around and telling everyone about it. Can’t see why everyone would need to know my business.”

“I don’t think it’s that everyone wants to know your business, but I’ve known you a long time, and for as long as I’ve known you, there’s been maybe two girlfriends. I don’t think either of them lasted longer than a month or two either. So, the fact that it’s been close to six weeks with Mia and you’re still with her is interesting.”

I groan and kick up a wave of snow for Honey to chase. She nips at it, barking before nestling down in the snow, half-burying herself beneath it. I kick another wave over her, and she snorts before going to sleep, happy as she can be that there’s snow on the ground and coating her fur.

Carter takes another sip of his coffee. “You know, it’s not a bad thing to have someone you like to spend time with. Some might even say that it’s what they’re looking for and that they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives alone. And, for what it’s worth, I think she’s good for you.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I know you. I think it’s good for you to have someone who likes to have fun and doesn’t take things too seriously.”

“Look, this is just supposed to be a bit of fun for the time being. There are no labels on anything. And there’s no talk of what happens after the season, so there’s no need to start thinking that she’s good for me.”

“Damn, you really do run away like a scared child when someone gets close to figuring out how you feel about people.” Carter smirks and arches an eyebrow, my own reflection shining back at me in his sunglasses.

“I’m not running away from anything. I’m just trying to enjoy my season, and when it ends, I can figure out what comes next.”

“Don’t you get tired of that?”

“At times.” I shrug and reach for my coffee, watching as a group of hikers trek along the trail and into the woods. “I like my freedom though.”

Although these days that sense of freedom doesn’t quite feel like it used to. Instead of thinking about all the new adventures still waiting for me, all I can think about is what will happen to Mia and me. Where we’re going to be.

If she wants to make this work.

I’m not that man though. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the future beyond which location I’m going to end up in next. I don’t think about settling down and doing the whole wife-and-kids thing.

But lately, I’ve been thinking about it.

Carter slaps a hand on my shoulder. “You look like you’re going to throw up.”

“I do not.”

He snorts and shakes his head. “Look, for what it’s worth, I used to be like you. I thought that life couldn’t get any better because I was on my own, and that felt good. I thought it was going to be fine. And then I met Cassie, and everything changed for me.”

“Mia isn’t my Cassie.”

“Nobody is going to be your Cassie. Can’t compare relationships and think that two are ever going to be the same. However, I think you need to allow yourself to open up to the idea that Mia could be the one to change everything for you.”

I roll my eyes and reach for my own travel mug of coffee, opening it up and taking a long sip, letting the scalding hot liquid coat my throat.

Right now, there’s no telling if Mia could be the person to change everything for me, and I don’t want to put that pressure on useither. I want to have a good time and see where this leads, but I’m going to be fine if that is nowhere.

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