Chapter 2
ALPINE VALLEY, SWITZERLAND
Three years later
“ S o, what do you think?”
The question kept resonating in his head, tapping against every corner like a ricochet, and Miles scoffed at the sight of Malakai’s smirk.
“I think it’s quite possibly the worst idea you’ve had,” he impassively said, folding his arms across his chest.
Though sunglasses were shielding Kai’s eyes, Miles was certain they were narrowed behind the opaque surface. “I’m being smart,” Kai corrected, a slight bite to his tone.
“You’re being stupid and irrational. Nuance,” Miles fired back, dragging his sunglasses to place them atop his hair.
With the sun beating down on him, his jacket unfastened, and the sounds of delight surrounding him, Miles didn’t feel like he was at Alpine Valley—save for the snow covering the mountains that was proof he was indeed here.He usually liked the weather better if it was cold, gloomy, and snowy.
“It’s just a favour.” Kai smiled sheepishly. “Please.”
Observing Romeo Quinn and Ezra Hayes deposit their snowboards just below the terrace they were lounging on, Miles sighed heavily. “We’ve been here for less than twenty-four hours, Kai. You could’ve waited until the end of the trip.”
Now his week was ruined. How was he supposed to move on from what Kai had just asked?
“You need to get your head out of your ass,” Kai grumbled. “I didn’t ask you to fetch me the fucking moon. Why are you getting so worked up?”
Romeo and Ezra reached the table, arguing about who was the fastest on skis.
Once a year, during the Formula 1 off-season, Miles came to Alpine Valley to reconnect with his childhood friends and unwind from racing. While some drivers liked to spend the winter break sunbathing and relaxing, Miles liked to spend his energy on a pair of skis or a snowboard.
Kai was a professional snowboarder—two-time World Champion, Olympian, and twelve-time X Games medalist—and had recently bought a home here. Romeo and Ezra, NHL players for the New York Nightingales, couldn’t always free themselves during Miles’ time off, so the four of them being reunited was a rare occasion that deserved the best celebration.
“Why does Miles look like he’s about to kill you?” Romeo asked, his signature shit-eating grin spreading across his lips.
“Because he’s a grumpy ass who won’t help his best friend who’s in desperate need,” Kai muttered, not so much as detaching his gaze from Miles’.
Miles scoffed just as the waitress came to pour white wine in three glasses, except for his. An iced tea would suffice. “Bollocks. You asked me for the most absurd favour.”
“I’ve known you for almost three decades, Miles?—”
“Save your tears for someone else.”
Ezra whistled as he sat to Miles’ right. “I need some popcorn.”
“What are you two even arguing about?” Romeo inquired, passing his fingers through his dark hair after taking his beanie off.
Kai huffed before reaching over to grab his wine glass. “You know how I’ve officially moved out of Miles’ flat in Monaco?”
“Yes,” the two hockey players flatly answered in unison.
“You know how my sister is debuting as an F1 presenter next month and needs a place to live in Monaco since the main office is over there?”
His sister. Indy .
Indy.
Indy.
Just the mere, fleeting mention of her made his heart clench.
How many times had he whispered her name against her lips when he was on the cusp of unravelling?
How many times had he wished to be good enough and deserving of tattooing those four letters on his desperate, unloved heart?
How many times had her name crossed his mind when he’d been all but trying to forget it?
It was messy. Bound to be chaotic. Indy and Miles were shooting stars, threading through each other’s galaxies, dancing around one another without ever colliding and making one supernova. Perhaps he’d allow himself to make one with her—in another life. But in this lifetime, he was destined to watch her shine on her own despite constantly yearning to cradle her into the centre of his orbit.
She was Kai’s sister, but she was also Miles’ dirty little secret. Had been for the past three years.
“Yes.” The sound of Romeo and Ezra’s voices echoing again in perfect harmony distracted him from his thoughts.
“Well, I asked our charming man here, Miles Frederick Huxley, to help her out for a few weeks until she finds a place of her own.”
“My middle name’s not Frederick.”
Kai disregarded the remark with a goddamn sneer.
Romeo hummed behind the rim of his glass. “Prices are insane in Monaco.”
“What would you even do with that extra space?” Ezra asked Miles. “I think it’s a good idea.”
He wasn’t surprised by these two siding with Malakai. “Are you two encouraging this shit show?”
“A bit of a woman’s company would be good for you,” Romeo prompted. “You know, a bit of delicacy and softness? Knowing Indy, she’ll buy flowers at the farmers market and cook you breakfast. Like, I’d sign up so fast for that. You need someone to soften your rock-hard heart.”
“So long as you stay away from her,” Kai warned.
Miles sighed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Means I don’t want you two to fall in love because you’ll just end up hurting her.”
If he knew what had happened over the past three years… Feelings weren’t involved, that was a rule they had both settled on, but still, Kai didn’t need to know his sister was the only woman Miles had been sleeping with.
“Stop it with your overprotective big brother speech,” Miles bit out, frustrated. “And no need to worry about that because I’m not interested in her.” Lies. “Besides, you ’re the one who’s asking me to give her the spare bedroom yet you tell me to stay away. Logic ain’t your thing, man.”
“Grumpy,” Ezra mumbled, though an amused smile danced on the corner of his mouth.
“Tell him something he doesn’t know,” Kai scoffed before taking a long sip of his beverage. “Seriously, Miles, do it for Indy. You two get along, right?”
That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that Miles had sworn not to get too close, but living with her? It would destroy all the walls he’d built to keep himself safe.Not only would it be dangerous for him to be in her vicinity, but he didn’t want to hurt Indy either. He could never give her what she needed or wanted.
“Sure,” he answered grimly.
“Why do you suddenly hate Indy?” Romeo asked, reaching to the centre of the table to snatch an olive from the amuse-bouche platter.
“I don’t hate her. She’s great, really, but… It’s just—never mind.” No one could know about his history with Indy. It would just complicate everything.
“You loved to annoy the shit out of her when we were younger,” Kai said. “And I’d feel better knowing she lives with you rather than with some random, rich-ass stranger we never heard of and who wouldn’t even talk to her.”
And deep down, part of himself knew that Indy was safer with him than with anyone.
“Help her out,” Kai begged. “It’s just for a few weeks. A couple of months, tops. Until she gets all the paperwork settled and finds a flat. Besides, she won’t bother you. The season is starting again soon, and you’ll both be travelling, so you’ll barely be in Monaco.”
Miles’ jaw hurt so badly. He had to stop tightening it, but he needed to hold a semblance of control over his emotions.
Glancing around, he expelled a heavy breath. “What’s in it for me?”
“Jesus, I don’t know. If you want to bargain, do it with her. But you can do us this favour, can’t you?”
Miles threw his head back and shut his eyes. What was the worst that could happen? Well, she would distract him. Would make him lose all sense of focus when he’d worked hard these past few years to push away everyone who dared to come too close.
But Kai was his best friend. His brother. Miles would run through flames to save Kai, and getting burnt for returning a favour was just the beginning of his ruination.
“Fine,” he ended up saying. “Just for a few weeks. I’m doing this for you.”