Page 3 of See You Next Winter
Twisting in his hold, I find him gazing down at me, his hair sticking up like always. His eyes are more grey than green in this light, but still so familiar. How many hours have I spent staring into them? I couldn't even tell you which ones were real and which I imagined.
The scruff of beard is new, and makes him look a little older, but no less handsome. Or maybe it's not new. How would I know since he disappeared out of my life without a word?
“You can’t have been looking hard. Where did you try?”
“At your house.”
“You came to my house?”
“It was totally dark. Where've you been hiding?”
His hands are still on my hips, and I feel his fingertips flex in time with his words. Fuck, I’ve missed sparring with him. “I was out.”
“With who?”
“None of your business.”
“With who?” he says again, practically growling at me behind his wide smile.
My head snaps back. “Are you jealous?”
“Obviously.” He leans in close, bending forward so our eyes are level, then strokes his finger down the length of my nose before booping me twice on the tip.
It’s a gesture intended to piss me off, but it makes me want to cry because it’s been so long since he last did it.
“So…?” he drawls.
“So?”
“So, are we going back to yours?”
“I just got here,” I tell him.
Ryan stares at me, and I don’t know why I’m trying to put off the inevitable. I came here for sex and the universe more than delivered. There’s no point even trying to protest. I’m smiling. His eyes are twinkling. We’re clearly picturing each other naked.
“Fine,” I huff, my inner brat coming out to play. If I didn’t love bickering with him so much, I’d have dragged him away five minutes ago. “Let’s get out of here.”
“My sister is here, and I brought a friend from L.A. with me. Let's say goodbye real quick.”
I’m already tucked under his arm when he leads me away from the bar. We find Hannah at a table in the back corner, tucked between the wall and a guy with a cute mop of curls. They look like they’re having a staring contest both are determined to win.
“Change of plans,” Ryan tells them.
“Hi, Kayla,” Hannah says, her cheeks turning red. I’d get in there and hug her if this gorgeous stranger she’s clearly into wasn’t in the way.
“It’s good to see you.”
“You here for the holidays?” she asks, hiding her blushes behind her almost empty beer. I hope Ryan wasn’t supposed to be getting a round in when he found me at the bar.
“I live here full time now, actually. Started my touring business. Snow in the winter, bikes in the summer.”
“That’s fantastic,” she says, but I care about Ryan’s reaction more. He’s the first person I ever shared my dream with, the only one who knows how much I wanted this.
A small thought pinches at my chest. I assumed their parents would have told them, since they definitely know all about it. Their Dad sent some boy band clients my way for mountain biking in the summer. Their TikTok videos kept me in business for the rest of the season.
I glance up at him and catch a look of pride on his face, but it’s too much. He pulls me closer when I try to turn away, his arm dropping to my waist to squeeze me tight. New guy coughs, and Ryan snaps out of it.
“Kayla, this is my buddy Cameron.” Cameron offers me his hand and I shake it as best I can while trapped in Ryan’s hold.
