He'd always thought he needed a huge challenge to face and conquer in order to get to a happy place, to escape the darkness that resided deep in his soul, in a place that no one else ever saw. That's why he hiked the tallest mountains, climbed the most dangerous rock formations, challenged himself on the white waters of the wildest rivers, tested his confidence with parachute skiing and cave diving—anything that would put his life on the line, his skills to the ultimate stress point. But today, sledding and snowman building, and a hot kiss from Hannah, had put a grin on his face that he couldn't seem to get rid of.
Everyone else seemed to be having a good time, too. Lizzie and Justin managed to snag first place with their snowman, an elaborate creation that only the imaginative Lizzie could create, while the rest of the group had had to settle for ribbons for basically showing up. After the competition, they'd gone to the dining room at the lodge and ordered up burgers, wings, fries, and plenty of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Conversation had flowed fast and furious, although he'd been content to watch and listen for most of the time.
After their meal, Lizzie and Justin took off while Hannah, Zach, Gianna, and Chloe decided to take the kids into the arcade. He'd thought about going with them, but Keira had slid down the bench next to him, and it was clear she wanted to speak to him.
"So…" she began. "What's going on, Jake?"
"Just enjoying the last of my hot chocolate," he said, taking a sip.
"I mean with Hannah."
"I know what you mean, but I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because I have no idea," he said candidly. "I was in the right place at the right time to help Hannah on Friday night. Since then, she's been a little friendlier. I think, or I hope, that she's starting to see me as who I am now."
"That would be nice. It has been awkward for the group with you two at such odds. But—"
"I figured there was a but… Let me have it."
She gave him an assessing look. "I don't want to see Hannah hurt again, and I'm not sure what to make of this sudden turnaround in your relationship. Two days ago, she hated your guts. Today, I felt like I was watching the Hannah and Jake show of our high school years, the sneaky little intimate looks and the ridiculously happy smiles."
"I don't think we've gotten back to that place yet."
"Still…I'm a little shocked that everything has changed so fast. I don't know what to make of it."
He shrugged. "I'm just happy she doesn't look like she wants to put a knife in my back as soon as I turn around. Beyond that, I have no idea where we're going, if we're going anywhere. She has a lot happening in her life right now."
"True. I've only heard pieces of the story, but I know Kelly is in some sort of trouble, which doesn't surprise me, since trouble was her middle name. But now she has a kid who needs his mother, so I hope she comes through whatever she's involved in."
"So do I." Despite Hannah's estrangement from her sister, anything bad happening to Kelly would shatter Hannah. "I don't want to see Hannah have to deal with another tragic loss."
"I don't either. She has had such a rough time with her mom all these years. You know she practically raised Tyler. She had him with her when she went to college because her mom couldn't take care of him. Can you imagine being a junior in college and having to deal with your sixteen-year-old brother making his way through a new high school?"
"She told me about that. I had no idea she'd had to do that."
"She rose to the challenge. That's what Hannah does; it's what she's doing now." Keira paused, her gaze moving toward the archway that led into the arcade. The group was headed back to the table. "Looks like they've run out of tokens." She turned to give him another pointed look. "Just remember this, Jake. You hurt Hannah again, and you will have to answer to not just me, but all of us. You know that, right?"
"What if she hurts me?"
Keira frowned. "Good question. I guess we're friends, too."
"I'd like to think so."
"Maybe you two should go back to keeping your distance. As annoying as it sometimes was to be around the two of you together, I never had to worry that things were going to blow up again. Now, I do."
"Relax, Keira. We're not rushing into anything. We've barely gotten past the enemy stage."
She gave him a thoughtful look. "Somehow I doubt that. And I know you, Jake. When you want something or someone, you go after that goal with everything you've got." She paused. "Hannah is the same way. So, I guess we'll find out what happens if one or both of you decides you want the other."
"It will be fireworks," he said with a grin.
She smiled back. "I hope neither of you gets burned."
Jake thought about Keira's words as he drove Hannah and Brett home a little after two. Brett was already drooping in his seat. He had a feeling the kid would be asleep before they reached the highway. Which meant he and Hannah would have plenty of time to chat, not that she'd had much to say since she'd gotten in the truck. Her mood had definitely changed from where it had been after the sled run. She wasn't
