Chapter 3
Damon
We make it three days into our fourteen-day trip before Liam tries getting girls back to our house.
We’ve just come in from the slopes, still have all our gear on, including our snow-covered boots, and grab a seat at a table in Meltdown, a ski-in/ski-out bar set right at the bottom of the run we just finished.
It’s a little less crowded here than it is at the base of the mountain. The terrain to get here is ninety percent black-diamond slopes, which appears to keep most of the tourist traffic to a minimum, and the vibe is on point.
“Ohmygod, check those girls out, D. They’re so hot they’re melting the snow right off this mountain.”
I look where he’s nodding—only because if I don’t, he’ll become louder and more persistent—and sure enough, there are two very attractive women smiling in our direction.
I groan inwardly, selfishly wishing I could be enough for Liam for these two weeks. That our friendship would be enough, and he wouldn’t constantly feel the need to invite others into our orbit.
I’m a total introvert. My social battery runs low incredibly quickly, which is why my career in cybersecurity fits me so well. Liam, though? He’s like a car battery. He charges while he’s interacting, and if he’s interacting with beautiful women, he charges very, very quickly.
Normally, it doesn’t bother me…as much. After all, Liam has always been this way, and I’ve known him his whole life. I think I’m just noticing it more now because I know I have to come clean about the shit with his dad at some point, so it feels like our time together is limited.
Maybe even coming to an end.
There’s a distinct possibility that he’ll be so mad at the messenger, he won’t fully process the message. But other than the secret I’m keeping from everyone, I’ve never lied to him.
That’s his sticking point. And I know that.
“Oh, they are totally interested,” he continues, as I let out a soft sigh.
“You should invite them over,” I tell him. It’ll kill me, of course, if he brings them back to our cabin, but I love it when he’s happy.
Some people would say that’s toxic, but I call bullshit. It isn’t like he’s gutting me on purpose to get a reaction out of me. He doesn’t know I’m gay. Or that I’m in love with him, for that matter.
No one does.
And that’s my own fault.
“Yeah?” he asks excitedly, whipping his head toward me.
“Yeah,” I nod, preparing to be the wingman I always am.
Less than thirty seconds later, the two women, Julie and Hannah, are at our table, chatting up a storm with Liam. In a group of four, it’s just expected that you naturally pair off, and Julie is looking at me like it’s inevitable that we’re hooking up tonight.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I offer the girls, already looking for an excuse to get away from the table.
“Oh, uh, nothing for me, thanks,” Hannah says. “I’m actually one year sober. That’s what we’re here celebrating.”
I instantly like her. It takes balls to make that move and even bigger balls to share it with strangers like that.
I give her a soft smile. “Congratulations. How about a hot chocolate?”
She nods in appreciation. “Sounds great, thank you.”
“Ooh, that sounds amazing,” Liam adds. “One for me too. With whipped cream and cherries. Extra cherries. You know how much I love them.” He winks at me unnecessarily, and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
Instead, I raise a brow at Julie, who says, “Sure, I’ll have one too, but I’ll come with you and help you carry everything.”
Once our order is placed, Julie props an elbow on the bar. “So, where are you guys from?”
We settle into easy small talk. She’s lovely, and I dread having to make up an excuse for why I won’t be seeking anything more than conversation tonight…or any night that we’re here.
When we rejoin the other two at the table with the hot chocolates in hand, Hannah is laughing at something Liam said, and her hand is resting on his forearm.
Jealousy slams into me.
Although I’ll never leave Liam hanging in a high-five or a fist-bump, I never initiate physical contact with him because even my resolve has its limits.
I take care of Li in other ways and leave the physical touches to the women he spends his nights with.
But watching her hand now, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to touch him so freely.
“Damon!”
Liam saying my full name draws my attention back to the present.
“Sorry, Li. What’d you say?”
“I asked if you were going to hand me my hot chocolate or if both of those were for you?”
Looking down at the mugs in my hand, I quickly thrust one toward him. “Uh, no. This one’s yours, sorry.”
I take my seat as Julie starts a new conversation.
“So, did you guys hear that the Winter Classic Games are being hosted here this year? Supposedly, the teams have all arrived and begun training. I think the time trials are in a few days.”
“Oh, no way!” Liam says with a grin. “I freaking love the Winter Classic Games.”
“Oh my gosh, me too,” Hannah giggles.
The evening continues like this for another hour. When I head to the bar to grab refills, it’s Liam who offers to come with me this time.
“Let’s see if they want to come back to the cabin,” he says excitedly.
So I can hear her fuck the man I love? Yeah, think I’ll pass.
“I was actually going to turn in early. I’m already sore as hell from the past couple days,” I say, starting the game of politely disengaging.
“Maybe if you’d get laid, you’d fuck some of that soreness out,” he argues, making me realize this isn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped.
“Words of wisdom, man,” I say, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Do me a favor and go back to their place, though, will you? I’m afraid the sound of you coming will give me nightmares,” I joke because it’s the only thing I can do.
Liam laughs as my heart cracks open in my chest.