Day Four

“I can’t believe you talked me into this. Look! I’m the only adult in the group.”

I chuckled and pointed to the gathering. “You better hurry. It looks like they’re starting. You don’t want to miss anything important.”

Angel shot me a do-I-have-to kinda look, pleading with her eyes, but I shooed her away. She wrinkled her nose then soldiered on to the instruction group, her skis dragging in the snow as she went. I’d arranged ski lessons for her first thing that morning, wanting her to at least be able to say she’d gone down the slopes at least once on her trip. And who knows maybe before we had to go home we’d get to go down together without her nearly killing herself in the process.

Angel was reluctant, and it had taken some persuasion in the shower that morning to convince her otherwise, but she had finally agreed to get it a try.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I stayed to watch for a moment as she learned the basics, nearly falling on her ass as she attempted to push off while strapped to the skis. Despite the fact I barely knew anything about her except how she loved riding my cock, and how good we were together, I was enjoying her company. More than enjoying it if I was honest with myself. By now, in any stage of a relationship, I would normally be searching for an escape hatch, an excuse to spend some time alone away from a clingy hook-up. Maybe it was because I'd starved myself of real company for the last two years or that she didn't know enough about me to make me worry about this becoming something more. Either way, I knew Angel was different. And I knew I was trying to fool myself. In too deep and was already looking forward to her being back to my side.

My cell buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, a grin on my face as I held it up to my ear. "What's up, weirdo?"

My oldest brother, James, chuckled in my ear. “Damn man, I only wanted to see how your trip was going. Hooked up with any single, starved for attention hotties yet?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know? How’s the contract? You’re not calling cause you fucked it up already are you?”

“Oh, ye of little faith, little brother. Nah it’s fine. Just checking in.”

“Let me guess, Mom is still pissed that I missed her famous Valentine’s day banquet?”

"You know it," he answered. "You better bring her back something big and expensive, or you won't be invited to eat at Easter."

I smiled knowingly. Mom had a thing for getting all her boys together, and their extended families, for all the major holidays, and irritatingly so for the minor ones too. I think it was her way of making up for all the ones we’d missed when we’d been away on deployment.

But Valentine's day was the worst. In the past, if any of my brothers or I had a relationship going on around February we were expected to bring our dates to the family meal, despite any plans we'd already made. Talk about awkward. But it was still nice in a way, sharing those times with my family. At least I had family, I thought.

My eyes fell on Angel, wondering what my mom would think if I brought her to the annual spring shindig.

“I’m sure I can think of something to make it up to her.”

“Been eating up the slopes? Come on you still haven’t answered the question. Have you gotten lucky yet? Not like you to keep all the details to yourself.”

I chuckled. If only my brother knew what I was doing. “You’re an asshole and a perv.”

"But you love me," James countered. "Well if you ain't gonna tell me anything I'd best get back to work. Wait… if you're not spilling the goods that means you have met someone, right?"

“Always jumping to conclusions.”

“And you’re being evasive. Will I have to strap you to a chair and interrogate you when you get home?”

“James,” I warned.

He chuckled. "God, you must have it bad. So, what's her name?"

"None of your business!"

“Ha! I was right! There is someone.”

“Maybe there is… but—”

“But what?”

I stroked the two-days worth of stubble on my chin. "But I leave in a couple of days, and she lives half-way across the country."

“So?”

“So… fuck. I’m probably never going to see her again.”

James stopped messing about and said, “Oh. Not just a fling then?”

“Exactly. I don’t know what to do.”

James paused on the line for a beat, then let out long breath. “You know exactly what you need to do if you think she’s the one.”

“I’ve only known her for four days.”

“It doesn’t matter,” James replied. “When you know, you know.”

“Maybe…”

“Look, don’t drive yourself crazy over it. Remember what Pop used to say about overthinking shit: stop creating problems and find the solution! Now go have a good holiday and call me if you need another pep-talk. We miss your ugly ass.”

I felt my chest tighten as I thought about my family, my Pop, and how they had all stood by me and supported me throughout my tours overseas. Urging me on when times were tough and always managing to say the right thing when I needed it. I couldn’t ask for better. “Thanks, I’ll see you soon.”

James clicked off, and I stuffed the phone back in my pocket, giving Angel one last look before turning to go indoors. Time to hit up the gift shop.

* * *

“I’m going to look like a big old bruised potato in the morning. Did you see those kids just zooming up and down the slope? It’s like they had no fear.”

"That's because they don't. I remember my brothers and myself at that age. Nothing could stop us. I'm surprised we didn't break our necks from half the mischief we got up to." I tucked my arm around her waist, the smell of her shampoo causing my cock to rise as I thought about what we had done in the shower just an hour before. "But at least now you know you can go on the slopes."

Angel laughed. “What do you mean? I can’t go on any slope except the kiddie’s one! The instructor said I would be a danger to myself and others. He practically banned me from the area.”

"Smart man," I replied with a kiss. "Especially since for all the things I want to do to you, I need you in one glorious piece. You managed to stay upright most of the time though; you should be proud. You did good, babe."

We walked into a white enclosed tent erected on the backside of the lodge. Tonight, we'd been invited to attend their special couples only soiree, an after party for Valentine's day, with an open bar, dancing, and a midnight buffet. Angel looked gorgeous in her green velvet dress, and I was going to have a hell of a time keeping my hands off her.

“Wow,” she said as we stepped into the main room, decked out for the romantic holiday. “This is beautiful.”

I had to admit, it was nice. Wasn’t as nice as the hot springs the day before, where I had Angel all to myself, but we had to take advantage of the lodge’s events and not always barricade ourselves in.

We toured the enclosure, getting our bearings. There were various tables scattered around the space, with well-dressed couples on the dance floor in front of the swing band.

"Come on," I said, tugging her towards the masses. "Let's dance."

Angel laughed as I spun her into my arms and we turned in a slow circle with the rest of the dancers, my hands wrapped around her waist.

"This is nice too," she sighed, her eyes alight with excitement.

“I agree,” I said, pulling her closer. “And crazy.”

She nodded, a blush stealing across her cheeks. “And crazy, but you have been a wonderful roommate.”

I chuckled, arching a brow. “A roommate with benefits?”

“Definitely,” she answered softly, sliding her arms around my neck.

I swallowed the lump in my throat that had suddenly appeared. I didn’t want our time to end. Would book out the room for longer if she’d let me. Forever, if necessary. Being her valentine for only five short days was not enough.

“What if, what if we continued this after this trip?” I asked, vocalising my tortured thoughts, putting myself on the line.

She stumbled against me, nearly sending us careening into another couple. “W-what?”

I shrugged, acting nonchalant about it. “You know, one of those long-distance relationships?”

Angel stared at me, her eyes full of surprise and I swallowed, knowing I was going out on a limb. She intrigued me, and I didn’t want it to end when we parted ways in less than two days. I wanted to flesh it out, to see where it went.

Hell, I had just been thinking about taking her to a family gathering. That had to mean something, right?

“Nick,” she finally started, putting some distance between us. “I mean, this has been a heck of a lot of fun, but I’m not sure, I mean I’m not looking for anything serious right now. Are you? I just got out of a really long relationship… I thought we agreed? Five days and five nights only.”

Ouch, it was as if I’d been stabbed in the heart. Wounds on the battlefield had never felt this bad.