Page 45 of Wedlocked

I made it a few steps, then swung him to his feet. He wobbled a little, and I used it as an excuse to keep my hands on him. “I already bought our ski passes.”

“Help me with my skis,” he said, pointing to them lying nearby.

A few minutes later, we were halfway up the mountain. The ski lift made me feel like I was flying as wind and snowflakes brushed against our cheeks and the treetops were below us.

The snow was icier during night hours because it melted some in the daytime and then refroze when the sun and temperatures dropped. It was harder and slicker, sometimes making it more difficult to stop—which happened to be Wes’s weak spot.

Standing off the lift needed to be a quick affair because it kept moving and would knock you on your ass if you didn’t get out of its way. The second our ride lowered to the platform, we stood swiftly and moved to the side, but Wes slipped, his leg going out from under him.

I moved fast, grabbing the sleeve of his coat and dragging him off to the side where we both landed in a tangle of limbs and skis.

“I would’ve had it,” Wes spat, trying to unravel us and stand.

“Yeah, you almost had a concussion from the bench coming at you,” I retorted.

Once we were on our feet, he planted his poles to brush the snow off his jacket. I moved in to help him, but he shot me a look and I held up my hands, staying where I was.

When he was finished, he glanced at me. “Ready.”

We moved to the top of the piste, getting in a short line of people waiting to push off. I gestured for him to go ahead of me, but he shook his head.

Sighing, I angled close. “The snow is icier than before, so be careful.”

“I’ve skied before.”

“Just dig your edge in harder if you have trouble stopping.”

“I know.”

“Just stay away from the really shiny patches.” I went on, not caring if he was annoyed. It was my job to protect him. And afterwhat happened with Rory earlier, maybe I was feeling a little more cautious.

Thinking of that, I spun to face him completely, making sure his jacket was fully zipped and the hat covered his ears. “Are you cold?”

“It’s wintertime. And it’s snowing,” he grumbled.

“Are you sure you didn’t get wet this morning at the lake?” I pressed.

His eyes whipped to mine, some of the annoyance fading. “Are you worried?”

“Nemo, when am I not worried about you?”

He sighed loudly.

So dramatic.

“I didn’t get wet this morning. You forced me to the back of the chain, remember?” He made a face. “Like I’m some kind of weak link,” he complained. “Meanwhile, you were in the middle of it all.”

Someone had to keep Ryan from throwing himself under the ice after Rory. And I couldn’t do that if Wes put himself in danger too.

“The only weak link around here would be me if something happened to you,” I told him, not even sorry.

“You make it really hard to be irritated at your overbearing stupidity.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I hope they freeze like that.”

I laughed.