Page 104 of You'll Be the Death of Me

“I can’t believe no one else will remember what happened,” she said to Cole once she pried her mouth loose from his.

Cole looked at her with a purse of his swollen lips. “Good point. We’re going to have to act like we just met. We’re also going to have to act like I’m still terrible on skis and need your help getting up.” He went to get up and moved like an uncoordinated windmill, swinging his skis like propellers over her head and nearly decapitating her.

Dell laughed. “This doesn’t seem like an act. Here, how about we take them off and try to stand up?” She used her poles to unlock her boots and placed her skis perpendicular to the hillside so they didn’t go sliding away.

Right then, a spray of powder dusted them as someone uphill slid to a stop. “Holy shit,D. Are you okay?” Jason asked. He whipped off his goggles to get a better look at the pile of tangled bodies before him. “That looked like it’s going to leave a mark.”

In the shape of Italy, Dell gleefully thought to herself.

“Yeah, it will. But I’m okay.” She pushed herself to stand with a grunt.

“Good. Bro, you need to learn how to stop,” Jason said, and nodded at Cole still splayed on the snow, trying to stand.

Just in case, both Cole and Dell waited a beat to see if Jason recognized him. When he didn’t, Dell cast Cole a look that saidPlay it cool.

“I know. I am truly so sorry,” Cole said. “Please, let me make it up to you. If you’re injured, I’ll refund your lift ticket. Or I’ll pay for your lunch. Or at least let me buy you a drink.”

“Hold still,” Dell commanded, and shoved her pole spoke into the boot lock on his lower ski so he didn’t send himself flying down the hill again.

“Thank you,” he said when she got it and the other unlocked. He stood with a wobble and gathered his equipment. Even thoughshe could see only his nose, mouth, and chin given his goggles and helmet, Dell could tell he was blushing. A hazy glow came over his face when he yanked his goggles off, and she thought of what he’d told her about falling in love with her the day he crashed into her on the slopes. It was there in his eyes now, the same as it had been on the rooftop before they jumped.

The urge to tackle him and kiss the breath right out of him hit Dell like an avalanche. “I’m Dell,” she said instead, for Jason’s sake, and held out her hand. She pulled her glove off, wanting to feel his skin.

“Cole,” he said when he too pulled his glove off and slipped his hand into hers.

She felt everything in his grip. The past, the future. His pulse dancing with hers. The skitter of butterflies filled her chest, and a smile broke out over her face.

“Nice to meet you, Cole. I think I will take you up on that drink.”

“Okay,” he said with a knowing smile.

“I hate to interrupt this lovely scene, but we might want to move before we all get plowed over out here in the middle of the hill,” Jason said, indeed interrupting the moment Dell and Cole were having.

Dell looked uphill to where he stood right as another spray of snow dusted them.

“Cole, are you all right? I saw that from the top of the hill. You nearly killed this poor woman!” the newcomer said.

Cole almost fell over again. “Matty!” he blurted. “It’s been so—I haven’t—What are you—?” He started to climb up the hill with his arm out like he meant to hug him.

Matty reeled back in confusion. “Did you hit your head or something? I was right behind you.”

Cole shook himself and softly smiled. “Sorry. Yeah. Just a little rattled.” He held a hand to his head as if to clear his mind. “This is my best friend, Matty,” he told Dell and Jason. “We teach at the same school. He’s here for the bachelor party too.”

Of course, Dell thought. To Cole, he hadn’t seen his friend in ages, and based on what he’d said to her about wishing he had a best friend like Jason, he must have forgotten him. It warmed her heart to see the smile on his face. She didn’t remember Matty from the first time this happened, but maybe that was because their interaction had already lasted longer than before.

“Hello,” Jason said to Matty. Dell sensed a note of flirtation in his voice.

Well, maybe we’ll change multiple lives today, she thought to herself.

“How about we all go for a drink in the lodge?” she suggested. “I think I need to ice my leg anyway.”

Cole lurched at her in concern. “Oh gosh. You do? Should I call ski patrol? I could try to carry you, but I think that would only result in more injuries getting down the hill.”

Dell put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay, Cole. I’ll be fine. As long as you keep me company in the lodge for the rest of the day.”And don’t crash into a tree and die, she added in her head.

The smile he gave her was positively devastating. She would have melted if she hadn’t been surrounded by a frozen landscape.

“With pleasure,” he said.