A few more beautifully synced thrusts and we both toppled over the edge, limbs tangled in one another’s.

I laid there, unable to move as he pulled out and flopped onto the bed next to me. I was floating, coming down from the high.

That was hands down the best sex of my life.

For a second, I wondered if this would be weird. Would Oliver bolt? Would he act strange toward me after all this build up in his mind?

But instead, he leaned over and planted a kiss on my forehead, then one to my lips. “I promise I’ll last longer next time.” He looked down at me like I was something special—like I was his.

“Me too,” I breathed, tilting my head up and kissing him again.

“I like you so freaking much,” he said with a huge grin, before rolling over to spoon me, my head laid against his shoulder.

It wasn’t weird. Not even a little. It was perfect.

And that’s what scared me the most.

EIGHTEEN

Frankie

My entire body shuddered as soon as I took a sip of the spiked hot chocolate. I clutched my to-go cup with both hands, the sleeves of my sweatshirt pulled up all the way to my fingertips.

“This is perfect,” I said.

“How can you even drink that? It’s too warm. I’m sweating.” Mattie fanned herself as we walked carefully along the bottom of the ski hill. All of the snow had either melted or turned to slush at this point.

She had a point about the sweating. It was only forty-something degrees, but the sun beat down with a relentless intensity. I’d left my jacket inside where Mattie and I had secured a table. It was finally closing day, which everyone had neglected to inform me was basically a giant party.

“Remind me again what we’re out here to watch?” I asked as I stepped over a particularly large puddle.

“The closing competition. It’s for fun. All the workers pile up the snow at the bottom of the main run and make a little terrain park. They all take turns going down it and showing off. See? They’re lining up over there.” Mattie pointed to the base of the ski hill where a few young guys were shirtless, wearing only bathing suit bottoms and snowboard boots.

“Um. Why are they half naked?” I asked.

“Everyone wears crazy outfits. Today is just a big excuse to party. There’s live music and food trucks.”

“Any good bands?” I asked.

“A few smaller ones, and then The Wedding Band is playing later tonight.”

“Oh, I love them,” I said as Mattie linked her arm through mine and pulled me toward an area where spectators had started to gather.

I hadn’t been back here since my failed attempt at snowboarding, despite Oliver begging me to give it one last try a few nights ago when I was staying over at his place. After a while, I had jokingly suggested that maybe next year, I’d give it another go. But as soon as I said it, Oliver’s smile faltered. I’d meant it to be lighthearted, but the unspoken thought that crossed both our minds was impossible to ignore.