Page 35 of Landing Liam

I glance at Liam, who groans and rubs his temples. “Don’t listen to him. Whatever story he’s about to tell is exaggerated.”

“Not even a little,” Bryce counters, his grin widening. “So, back when Liam was, what, fifteen? Sixteen?”

“Fourteen,” Carter corrects, smirking.

“Right. Fourteen.” Bryce winks at me. “There was this massive tree near the half-pipe at one of our early training spots. Like, gigantic. And no one would go near it because it was way too dangerous. The incline was brutal, the snow packed hard, and it was lined with jagged rocks. But guess who decided it was a great idea to launch off it?”

“Let me guess,” I say, biting back a smile. “Liam?”

“Bingo,” Bryce says, pointing at me like I’ve solved a great mystery. “He strapped in, didn’t tell a single soul what he was doing, and just sent it.”

“I stuck the landing,” Liam interjects, looking mildly defensive.

“Barely,” Carter chimes in, shaking his head. “You were airborne for like, ten seconds, and when you hit the ground, I thought for sure you’d broken both legs.”

“Legendary,” Floyd adds, grinning. “But also completely insane.”

“Why would you do that?” I ask Liam, genuinely curious.

He shrugs, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “I liked pushing the limits. Still do, I guess.”

“‘Pushing the limits’ is an understatement,” Carter says, leaning back in his chair. “Remember that time he built a ramp in his backyard and tried to jump the family minivan?”

“No!” I exclaim, unable to contain my laughter. “Did he make it?”

“Barely,” Bryce says, throwing his head back in laughter. “But he didn’t stick the landing that time. Ended up with a dislocated ankle and a very pissed-off dad.”

“Mom still doesn’t know about that,” Liam mutters, shaking his head. “And let’s keep it that way.”

“Oh, I think she does,” Floyd says, smirking. “Parents always know. They just pretend they don’t so they don’t have to admit how dumb their kids are.”

“I wasn’t dumb,” Liam defends. “I was… ambitious.”

“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Bryce teases.

Carter laughs, shaking his head. “You were a daredevil, plain and simple. But you’ve always been that way. It’s why you’re one of the best.”

The table falls into a comfortable silence for a moment, the laughter lingering in the air. I glance at Liam, who’s watching me with a small, almost shy smile.

“Doesn’t surprise me,” I say, breaking the quiet. “You’re still that guy, aren’t you? The one who pushes the boundaries?”

His smile deepens, and something in his eyes shifts, softens. “Maybe. But these days, I know when to pull back.”

“Most of the time,” Bryce quips.

“Shut up,” Liam says, throwing a napkin at him.

As the stories continue, painting a picture of a fearless, determined Liam, I realize just how much more there is to him than the charming snowboarder I first met. And as much as I try to remind myself to keep my distance, it’s getting harder to ignore the pull he has on me.

Chapter Fifteen

Liam

The snow has been coming down for hours, a steady curtain of white that blankets the lodge and turns everything into a picture-perfect postcard. From where I’m sitting on the ledge of one of the big windows, I can see the mountains disappearing into the storm, their peaks hidden in the gray haze. It’s quiet out here, save for the distant hum of a snowplow and the occasional crunch of boots outside the doors.

Maggie said she was heading back to her hotel room to “freshen up” before drinks tonight, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. If she comes back in that oversized beanie and her too-big coat, I might just lose it. And not in a good way.

Still, there’s something about her that’s completely disarming. I don’t know if it’s her stubborn streak, her biting wit, or the way she keeps looking at me like she’s trying to figure me out. Whatever it is, it’s gotten under my skin. She’s gotten under my skin.