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"Keep dreaming," he replied with a laugh.

We found a bench and sat, watching other skiers and snowboarders make their way down the mountain. It was peaceful, sitting there with Con, no pressure to talk or be anything other than who I was.

"Heard from Alex lately?" Con asked after a while, his tone casual.

I nodded. "He texts every day. Wants to know when I'm coming back, if I'm having fun, if I miss him."

"And do you? Miss him?"

I considered the question. Did I miss Alex? The sex had been great, and he had been attentive in a way Matt never was. But did I miss him as a person? The truth was, I hadn't thought about him much since arriving here.

"Not really," I admitted. "Is that bad?"

Con shook his head. "Nah. Just means you're living in the moment. That's a good thing."

I smiled, grateful for his understanding. "What about you? Any prospects up here this season?"

He laughed. "There's a new ski instructor who's pretty cute. Might ask her out for drinks next week."

"Just drinks?" I teased. "Not dinner?"

"Hey, I'm evolving," he protested with a grin. "Baby steps."

We finished our hot chocolate and headed back to the lift for another run. As we waited in line, I found myself studying Con's profile—the strong line of his jaw, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, the easy confidence in his posture. He caught me looking and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just thinking."

"Dangerous pastime," he quipped.

"I'm just glad you're here," I said honestly. "Makes this whole adventure less scary."

His expression softened. "I'm glad you're here too, Geri. Resort life is better with friends."

Friends. The word settled comfortably between us. That's what we were—good friends. And for now, that was exactly what I needed.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of skiing, laughter, and more hot chocolate. By the time we headed back to the hotels, the sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the snow-covered landscape.

"Dinner at the pub tonight?" Con suggested as we parted ways at my hotel entrance. "A bunch of us are meeting up around eight."

"Sounds good," I agreed. "I'll shower and meet you there."

Back in my room, I found Lily already getting ready to go out. "Con invited me to the pub," I told her as I peeled off my ski gear. "You coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it," she replied, applying mascara in the small mirror above our shared dresser. "His brother's going to be there too."

I made a face. "Great."

Lily laughed. "Not a fan of the elder Mitchell, huh?"

"He seems... intense," I said diplomatically.

"That's one word for it," she agreed. "But he's not so bad once you get to know him. Just takes himself very seriously."

I wasn't convinced but decided to keep an open mind. After a hot shower that eased my aching muscles—skiing was more of a workout than I remembered—I dressed in jeans and a sweater, applied minimal makeup, and headed out with Lily.

The pub was already crowded when we arrived, the warmth and noise a stark contrast to the quiet, cold night outside. I spotted Con at a table in the corner, surrounded by a group of people I recognized from the resort. His brother sat beside him, nursing a beer and looking as serious as ever.