Page 18 of It’s Me, but Different

“I know,” she responds, moving closer until her forehead rests against mine.

We remain like this for moments that seem eternal. My heart races remembering her naked skin against mine, the heat of her sex when she was aroused, those little moans that drove me absolutely crazy.

She slowly closes her eyes, and I can feel her breath against my skin. My body responds in ways I had almost forgotten, every nerve ending between my legs wanting much more.

But a strong gust of wind gives me the perfect excuse to separate. There's no point in recovering for just a few days something I know won't continue.

“We should go inside, the wind is picking up,” Sloane suggests, trying to force a smile, though I can see she's clearly disappointed.

Inside the restaurant, we take off our coats with clumsy movements, avoiding looking directly into each other's eyes. Wanting to deny, without succeeding, what we just felt on that terrace.

“What's happening?” I ask, looking toward the enormous windows.

“A storm has picked up,” she explains. “Sometimes, the weather changes very quickly in Silver Peaks.”

“The kids,” I sigh, jumping up. “I have to get back.”

“They're with my sisters. They would have returned to the resort hours ago. They're safe, don't worry.”

But I can't be calm. The image of my children lost in a storm, scared, is more than I can bear. Luckily, Sloane's phone rings just at that moment.

“River, thank God. Are you…?” she pauses, listening. “Yes, we're fine. The kids…? Perfect. How long…? I understand.”

She hangs up and turns toward me with an expression that's a mix of relief and something else.

“The kids are perfectly fine. They'll spend the night with Lumi in Harper's penthouse. River will stay with them, so they probably won't sleep; they'll play console games all night and tell ridiculous stories.”

“Fuck,” I murmur, putting a hand to my chest.

“But…” Sloane continues. “We can't go down tonight. The wind gusts are too strong for the cable car. It's not safe.”

“What do you mean?”

“That we have to spend the night here,” she responds, trying to avoid my gaze. “River says there are blankets and an air mattress in the pantry for this type of emergency. Also flashlights in case the power goes out. As long as we stay inside, we'll be totally safe.”

My heart skips several beats.

Alone.

We're going to spend the night alone. In a restaurant on top of a mountain, surrounded by a snowstorm.

After what almost happened on the terrace.

“Are you… are you okay with this?” she asks, making an uncertain gesture around us, though I notice the nervousness in her eyes.

I prefer not to answer. Part of me is terrified about what might happen. My body reminds me that we'll sleep together after eleven years of separation, and a certain area between my legs seems very excited about that opportunity. My mind, however, screams that I'm no longer a college student, but an adult and, on top of that, mother of two children. And something tells me that if I sleep with Sloane, I'll regret it the next day.

“I guess we don't have a choice,” I admit, shrugging.

“I guess not,” she repeats, though she doesn't seem bothered by the situation.

Chapter 10

Esme

The air mattress makes a strange noise against the floor as Sloane tucks me in with the second blanket.

“Better like this?” she whispers, adjusting it around my shoulders.