Page 104 of Wylder Ranch
I nod. “Yes.”
He downs the contents of his glass. “Fuck it, I’m coming.”
“What?”
“Better yet, let’s all go. Last year was brilliant. Clem, Henners? You in? Lando and Holiday can meet us there. Bit of skiing, snog at midnight, and if I’m lucky, I’ll squeeze in some snowpolo?—”
“Milo—” I attempt another interruption, but he’s on a roll, and the excitement around the kitchen has moved from what’s under the tree to how we’re spending New Year’s.
He slings an arm around our mother’s shoulder. “Mum? There’s a Chanel in Aspen. Fancy coming with us too?”
“No, thank you, darling. I’d rather stay here.” She shakes her head like it’s a serious suggestion. Though I’m starting to wonder if Miles really isn’t just trying to wind me up.
Again, I turn to Haven for help, wondering if she’ll put a stop to my entire family inviting themselves to Aspen, but she’s wearing a smile that tells me everything I need to know. And if the costs of keeping that smile on Haven’s face mean I have to go everywhere with my family, then so be it.
“Okay. Fuck it. We’re all going skiing.”
But no one’s more excited than Max, who jumps off his chair with a whoop, his face covered in croissant crumbs. “I love skiing!”
CHAPTER 25
Haven
The first thing I do when we step off the plane is take a long, deep breath of fresh mountain air. The crispness hits my lungs, and it’s bright enough that I’m searching for my sunglasses.
It’s glorious.
I sense movement from behind as Alex’s arm snakes around my waist and pulls me into his chest. “Welcome home, baby. How does it feel?”
Sinking back, I let out a deep, contented sigh. “Good. Really good.”
“I’m glad.”
Turning around, I stare into his eyes, as blue as the Aspen sky, with little creases fanned around the edges. Everly’s nestled in his arms, feet dangling down as a stark reminder that so much has changed since we were last here. How much we’ve gained.
I left a nervous wreck and returned in love.
“You did so well, baby girl.” I kiss her hand with a chuckle, as she hides her face in Alex’s neck. There’s no doubt my girl is a daddy’s girl.
“Of course she did.” Alex kisses her head. “Between the two children and six adults, including Miles, my money was always going to be on the children beingbetter behaved.”
“And having your own plane helps.” The anxiety of traveling with a crying baby in a cabin full of people is something I never want to experience again.
Alex’s lip pulls up with a wry smile. “I’m not disagreeing there.”
“Are you two going to stand here all day? Or can the rest of us get off, too?” Miles gripes from the cabin, only to stop at the top of the steps and inhale dramatically through his nose. “Fuck yes. Get that in your lungs. God, I love Aspen.”
“Daddy! Uncle Miles said a bad word.” Max appears, still wearing his fire engine pajamas and slippers from the flight he slept most of the way through.
“Someone’s awake,” Alex mouths.
“You’re right, Maxy, I did. I’m sorry. I’ll try not to let it happen again.”
Max assesses Miles, his eyes squinting in disbelief because he, like all of us, knows it’s going to happen again before we’re even in one of the three SUVs waiting. But instead of telling him otherwise, he spins around and heads back into the cabin.
Miles looks between the pair of us, peers back in the cabin where Clementine and Hendricks are, then claps his hands together decisively. “Right, by my estimation, we have fifteen minutes before everyone’s got their shit together enough to leave this place, therefore I’m designating myself activity leader?—”
“Milo, Haven and I are going back to the ranch?—”
