|| LOVE AT THE LODGE ||

CHAPTER 5 - DAY 4 CONT. - "i'm not a little girl"

The rest of the afternoon felt like a dream. Jack and I explored the mountain, racing each other down the slopes, finding hidden trails, and laughing like we were the only two people in the world. The tension from earlier, the awkwardness and uncertainty, had melted away, replaced by a new and thrilling connection.

As the day wore on, we found ourselves taking more breaks, sitting together on the lift, and just talking. The conversation flowed effortlessly. Jack wasn't just Max's annoying friend anymore; he was someone I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. He had layers, depth, and beneath that cocky exterior, a warmth I hadn't noticed before. But just as I was starting to feel secure, Jack's coldness returned. On one of our final runs, he grew quiet, his responses short, and his playful banter disappeared. My stomach twisted in confusion and insecurity. Had I misread everything? Was I just a distraction for him?

We finished the day with a final, long run down to the base of the mountain, the sun setting behind us, casting a warm golden glow over the snow. Jack sped ahead, not waiting for me this time. When I caught up to him at the bottom, he was already taking off his skis, avoiding eye contact.

"Hey," I started, unsure of what to say, "Thanks for today, it was fun."

"Yeah, it was," he said, his voice flat, not meeting my eyes.

"Jack... did I do something wrong?"

He finally looked up at me, his expression guarded. "No, Milly, it's not that. It's just... complicated. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

He hesitated, opening his mouth as if to say something, then closing it again. Finally, he shook his head, "I just don't want to mess things up, okay? You're Max's sister. This whole thing... it's complicated."

The weight of his words settled heavily on me. I understood now. The invisible line he was so afraid to cross, the fear of hurting Max, or maybe even me. But I also felt a surge of frustration. Why did things have to be so complicated? Why couldn't we just... be?

Before I could say anything more, Max appeared, his snowboard slung over his shoulder. "Ready to head back?" he asked, oblivious to the tension between Jack and me.

Jack immediately switched back to his usual self, grinning at Max and clapping him on the back. "Yeah, let's go. You owe me a rematch tomorrow, by the way."

I followed behind them, my thoughts racing. The day had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and I wasn't sure what to make of it all. But one thing was clear—I wasn't ready to give up on Jack, no matter how complicated it might be.

--------------------------------

That evening, the lodge was quieter than usual. After dinner, everyone had retreated to their rooms, worn out from the day. I found myself sitting by the fire again, the warmth comforting me as I replayed the day's events in my mind.

I was so deep in thought that I didn't hear Jack enter the room until he was standing right next to me. I looked up, startled, and he gave me a small, apologetic smile.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, motioning for him to sit beside me. He did, keeping a respectful distance, but I could feel the tension between us, like an invisible thread pulling us together.

"About today..." he started, then paused, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to shut you out. It's just... I don't want to hurt you, Milly."

"You're not hurting me, Jack," I said quietly. "You're confusing me."

He sighed, leaning back in his chair and staring into the fire. "I like you, okay? But I don't know if this is a good idea. You're Max's sister, and he's my best friend. If he knew... I don't know how he'd react."

"So what? We're just supposed to ignore this?" I gestured between us, my voice rising slightly. "Because you're scared of what Max might think?"

Jack looked at me, his eyes searching mine. "It's not just that. I don't want to be the reason you and Max fight. And I don't want to lose you or him. I'm stuck in the middle, Milly, and I don't know what to do."

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, we just sat there in silence. I understood his dilemma, but it didn't make it any easier to accept. I had never felt this way about anyone before, and I wasn't ready to let go.

"I'm not a little girl, Jack," I said finally, my voice steady. "I can make my own decisions. And I'm deciding that I want to see where this goes. If you feel the same way, then we can figure it out together. Max doesn't have to know right away."

Jack's eyes softened, and he reached out, taking my hand in his. "You're right. I don't want to lose you either. I just... I don't want to mess this up."

"You won't," I promised, squeezing his hand. "We'll take it slow. We'll figure it out."

He nodded, and for the first time since that morning, he smiled—a real, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. "Okay," he said. "We'll figure it out."

We sat there for a while longer, just holding hands and talking about everything and nothing. It felt good, natural, like we had finally crossed that line and were on the same page.

Eventually, we said goodnight, and I went to bed with a strange mix of emotions—hope, excitement, and a little bit of fear. But mostly, I felt relieved. We had taken the first step, and that was enough for now.