Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine Fanfic)

Chapter 46: Mountain Hideaway

Jade's POV

The morning light filtered softly through the tall windows of our cabin, casting golden streaks across the snow-dusted landscape outside. I lay there, wrapped in blankets, watching the world wake up. The silence was comforting, the kind that fills you up and makes you feel whole. The only sounds were Nick's slow breaths beside me and the faint crackle of the fire, still glowing from last night.

Telluride. We'd chosen it on a whim, really, after Nick suggested having a little escape this christmas, somewhere that felt completely removed from the chaos of our daily lives. I remembered that conversation as clearly as if it were happening now, the excitement sparking between us as we threw out ideas.

"What about Aspen?" I'd suggested, twirling a strand of hair around my finger as I sat cross-legged on the couch, our calendars and laptops spread out around us.

Nick had smirked, shaking his head. "Too busy. Aspen's the one place everyone will expect us to go. I want somewhere quieter. Somewhere we won't run into anyone we know every five minutes."

I'd thought for a moment, then shrugged. "How about Vermont? Quaint, wintery, kind of under the radar."

He'd leaned back, considering it, but I could tell he still wasn't convinced. We'd bounced around a few more ideas—Lake Placid, Jackson Hole, even Big Sky in Montana. But then Nick had paused, his face lighting up with a look of sudden excitement.

"You know," he'd said, sitting forward, "I've always wanted to go to Telluride. It's beautiful, remote, has amazing skiing—and it's not a place people would think to look for us."

Something in his voice had made me smile. I'd known then and there that Telluride was our place.

Now, as I glanced over at Nick beside me, I smiled to myself. He'd been so sure, and as I looked around at the mountains rising up beyond our cabin, the snow glistening under the pale light of dawn, I knew he'd been right. Telluride felt like a dream, a place that existed outside the reach of everything we'd left behind.

As if sensing my gaze, Nick stirred, a sleepy smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he opened his eyes. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice rough from sleep but warm with that familiar sparkle.

"Good morning," I replied, brushing a lock of hair off his forehead.

He caught my hand, pressing a kiss to my fingers, his eyes holding a teasing glint. "Caught you staring," he said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes, laughing softly. "Maybe I like what I see."

He pulled me closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "I was thinking the same thing."

We stayed wrapped up in each other for a while, letting the peaceful morning unfold around us. The soft crackle of the fire, the warmth of the bed, and the view of the snow-covered mountains beyond the windows made it feel like we were in a world of our own.

Our private chef prepared an incredible breakfast—French toast dusted with powdered sugar, warm maple syrup, perfectly crispy bacon, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. The table was set by the fireplace, and we ate slowly, savoring the flavors and the quiet intimacy of the morning.

"This is unreal," Nick said, cutting into a piece of French toast. "Why don't we do this more often?"

I laughed, taking a sip of my orange juice. "Probably because our lives don't usually allow for a private chef, a secluded cabin, or a quiet morning."

"Good point." He smiled, leaning back in his chair and watching the flames dance in the fireplace. "But I think we've earned it."

Nick's pov