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“I’m not most guys.”
“Are you not?”
“Definitely not. I’ve seen people double my size run up mountains. Every body is different, including yours.”
“Sure, but I’mwalkingup a hill gasping for breath.”
“Stella, it’s nearly zero degrees and windy. Give yourself some grace.”
“You seem fine.”
“I do this kind of thing every day,” he replied. “Come to my park after this, and you’ll see why I’m not sweating.”
“Yeah, right. I highly doubt you want me to go to your park.”
“I wouldn’t mind you there.” He turned to look at me, eyebrow raised.
Flecks of snow dotted his dark hair. His five-o’clock shadow was more visible now, darkening the lower half of his face. Neither of us said anything, but I could feel impossible heat in his stare. My heart skipped a beat.
“S-so, ready to go down the hill?” An awkward chuckle followed my question.
“You’re really avoiding the park thing.”
“We came out here to sled, not talk about meeting up after this.” I gestured down the hill. “Your turn.”
“You go first.”
“No. You.”
“We could both go at the same time.”
“But then how will I see you fall on your ass?”
He shook his head. “Fine. I’ll go first. But you have to ask nicely.”
I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Pretty please?”
I thought he would roll his eyes and get into position. Instead, his breath stuttered and he stared at me with parted lips. A shiver rolled down my spine.
“What? You said to ask nicely.” When he didn’t respond, I swatted at my face. “Do I have snow stuck to me or something?”
“N-no. I just forgot what it was like when you actednice.”
“Very funny.”
Alden’s eyes finally slid from me, and he put down his sled.
“All right,” he said, blowing out a breath. It was visible in the frigid temperatures. “Here goes nothing.”
He started out strong, his speed steady. But then he suddenly moved the wrong way and flipped over with a loud, “Fuck!”
I covered my mouth to keep a laugh from bubbling out of me.
See, my kryptonite was people falling. It was a terrible habit, but there was something about a wipeout that brought me pure joy. I managed to keep my amusement inside, but only barely.
“Are you okay?” I called out.
“I’m fine. You can laugh now.”