Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
He was making me feel vulnerable. Making me feel something.
“Friends,” he confirmed. His dimpled smile appeared, making me feel like a schoolboy with a crush all over again. “No more, no less.”
“No more, no less,” I said, already knowing it was a lie.
13
JAMIE
I took a slow sip of some fancy, sweet lavender-infused cocktail, looking out at the snow-covered mountains beyond the windows with only one thought in my head.
Fuck it.
Fuck it. I’d always been a bit of a control freak, and it had started to bleed into every aspect of my life. But when I’d walked out of that wedding ceremony—the most beautiful and emotional one I’d ever seen—I couldn’t lie to myself any longer.
I wasn’t in control. Not of much. Not even close.
And I sure as shit couldn’t control what Landry did, or how he perceived me. I couldn’t control how anyone in the world ended up wealthier or hotter or luckier than anyone else. And the sooner I accepted that, the sooner I could actually try to have a friendship with him.
It might not last.
It might not even be a good idea.
But I was willing to try.
I decided to start by meeting Landry at the level where he was comfortable. I didn’t have to be anyone other than 100%, true blue me. I could be my true self around him. Deep down, I knew I should have been doing that all along.
“That ceremony changed my life,” I told Landry as we leaned against the circular bar.
His eyebrows raised. “That’s a big statement.”
“It’s true,” I said with a shrug. “I think it was one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen in years, maybe. I grew up with Chase when he was covered in acne and his only real concern in life was which video game controller was best, and now he’s committing his life to an amazing person.”
“When you put it that way, it definitely is impressive,” Landry said.
All week I’d felt as if Landry were so much freer and more open than I was. When we’d first arrived, I was uptight, out of place, and watching my every move.
But now there seemed to be some sort of wall between Landry and the rest of the world. Instead of looking right at me, he was giving me quick glances before turning back to his drink. He was quieter. And he certainly didn’t seem like he was on the prowl for hot, wedding-guest hookup material.
I turned my head to one side, giving him a sly look. “I thought you’d already be dick-deep in someone by this point in the day,” I said.
That earned me a sidelong glance and a furrowed brow. “What?”
“Finally, a sign of life,” I said. “I was about to start saying Earth to Landry, do you read me, or something. I’m just surprised you’re not, you know, prowling for tail.”
He snorted and let out a long breath. “Prowling for tail,” he repeated. “You clearly think so highly of me, Jamie.”
“What’s wrong with prowling for tail?”
“The phrase, first of all, is ridiculous.”
“And hilarious,” I added.
Finally, a hint of a smile appeared on one corner of his mouth. “Fine. Hilarious, too. But I do care about other things besides hooking up with hot guys, you know.”
I waved a hand through the air. “I know, I know. You’re virtuous. You eat your vegetables and help old ladies and also have hot hookups.”
“I helped an old lady today, actually,” he pointed out.
“I caught a glimpse of that, and it was very heartwarming,” I said. “But I’ve just noticed you’re a little down this afternoon.”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes downcast on his drink, before he finally gave me a nod. “You already know. Weddings just aren’t my thing.”
His voice was so soft it made my heart pang. It truly was an almost complete role reversal, and for once, I knew what I had to do.
I had to give him what he’d given me, on that first night that I arrived here at Snowcock Ski Resort with no goddamn idea what I was doing.
A surge of adrenaline hit me, and it was like I was on a mission. I scanned the room for the guy that I’d sat next to for the wedding ceremony, and when I locked eyes with him, I gave him a big wave, beckoning him over. Landry glanced over, surprised.
“Hey,” I said to Mark as he walked over. “Landry, I’d like you to meet Mark. Mark, this is Landry. Earlier today I learned that Mark and Adam work together.”
“Nice to meet you,” Landry said, holding out his hand for a handshake. Mark looked almost as good as Landry did, in an expensive-looking cream-colored suit with a classy bold tie underneath.
“Your socks are killer, I must say,” Mark told Landry, glancing down at the exposed portion of intricate burgundy and cream patterned fabric. “I actually noticed them when you crossed your leg over your lap at the ceremony.”