Pulse: Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 6) by Violet Vaughn Read Free Book Online Page B

Casey advice about different products as I pretend to care. I watch Nick out of the corner of my eye instead. He’s launched into an exam story, and my friends all give us the space to deal with our situation. As if it’s no big deal. But my heart says otherwise as I watch the man I love from across the room.

Chapter 9
    C asey and Jason are one of the most outdoorsy couples I know. It’s no surprise that they chose to get married in the mid-station base lodge. Ski resort weddings have become trendy for this area, and the mountain has no trouble accommodating the event.
    Wind whips the purple silk of my dress around my legs and cowboy boots as I take Nick’s hand. His grip is strong, and I steady myself with it when I climb the steps of the snowcat. The trail-grooming machine turned transportation vehicle is equipped with bench seats like a school bus, and the rotating belt on its wheels will get us up and down the steep mountain safely. Voices are loud as the wedding party and families talk in excitement. Casey, Gretchen, and Dannika went up earlier, but Jason is in the cab with us. He’s teasing Casey’s cousin about the dangerous ride ahead, and she squeals when the snowcat begins to move.
    Nick grabs my hand, and I gaze at him. I can’t read the expression on his face, and I wonder if he’s put a shield on his heart. I say, “Jason looks so handsome.”
    “And happy. He and Casey give me hope.”
    I’m about to ask what he means when Kaleb turns around to talk to us. “Did you plan your toast?”
    Lori has turned around too, and she says, “I hate speaking in public. My face is going to turn bright red.”
    The three of them discuss what they’re going to say as I turn to look out the window and let my mind wander. We move past small chutes through the trees I’ve skied with Nick so many times I’ve lost count. It hits me that I’m never going to do that again, because after tomorrow I’ll be gone. My heart stops at the realization. In less than forty-eight hours, Nick will no longer be in my life.
    I turn back, and Nick puts an arm around my shoulders. He kisses the tip of my nose. It’s a loving gesture he’s done since the very beginning of our relationship, and I blink quickly, fighting the tears. I want to cling to his shirt and beg him to run away with me.
    Lori catches my eye, and she offers a sympathetic smile. I sit up straight and remember the secret the wedding party shares. The bride and groom plan to change into ski boots and ski down in their wedding attire. While it might be a bit chilly, the spring temperatures are warm enough that one run will be fine. I whisper, “Don’t you wish we could ski down with Casey and Jason too?”
    Lori says, “That would be awesome. I can’t wait to see people’s faces when they do.”
    I glance over at Jason and catch his eye. He winks at me, and I grin back. I recall when he first came to Breckenridge, and how he impressed Nick with his skiing even though he was a rookie ski instructor. I also remember the rocky road he and Casey had getting to where they are now.
    She came here to find a man who wanted a family, and left Jason behind. But he followed her, and his heart. That took courage. He didn’t know that Casey would let him back into her life. I reach over and take Nick’s hand. It’s warm, and he squeezes my fingers. I wonder if he’s considered showing up on my doorstep on Long Island one day.
    The snowcat groans to a stop. My feet clang on the metal steps when I get out, and I let Nick’s strength guide me to the snow safely. It’s soft from the warm sun baking on it all morning, so my feet sink. Nick scoops me up in his arms, and I gasp. “I can walk.”
    He shakes his head and gazes down at me. Moisture glistens in his eyes. Is he about to cry? “ Just let me do this.”
    Kaleb lifts Lori up too and says loudly, “Got to keep the bridesmaids pretty.”
    Chuckles come from the group as we make our way into the lodge. Nick lets me