Seeing how happy that made her was totally worth the nerves. On the way there, Bianca got a call from Felix. The girl wore her heart on her sleeve and Gio saw it the moment Felix had given her the news. Felix wasn’t making it up to the cabin again.

Gio glanced out the window not wanting to be too intrusive of her conversation but with her sitting right next to him, there was no way of not hearing it all.

“It’s all clear up here. I thought you said you’d charter a helicopter if you had to?”

The speaker on her phone was so loud Gio could hear Felix tell her he’d tried everything. Ironically, just as he said it Gio saw not only a plane fly overhead but a helicopter as well. It could be that they were just allowing local touring helicopters but Gio’s mind went back to the photos of Felix and that other girl in a hotel and he wondered if Felix was even in California like he claimed to be.

Felix was a player. He’d never denied that and with his celebrity of course he had girls throwing themselves at him everywhere he went. But why lead someone like Bianca on? He had plenty of girls who would gladly agree to a non-exclusive relationship. Why break such a sweet girl’s heart? It was totally unnecessary, and completely selfish. It’s not like there was a shortage of girls in Big Bear. Even up here in this quaint little town, Felix seemed confident that there’d be plenty of snow bunnies for them.

That made Gio wonder if Felix planned on joining him with the snow bunnies or if he planned on bringing Bianca along.

Gio glanced back at Bianca. There was no hiding the disappointment she now wore so heavily. She sighed deeply. “Okay. Well, keep me posted.” A sudden smile illuminated her face. “I love you, too.”

Gio jerked his face away and stared out his window, afraid Bianca might see the shock and disgust he was feeling with Felix at that moment. Was he really throwing it out there like that? Telling her he loved her while he was still messing around? He couldn’t think of anything more f**ked up.

Knowing it would only piss him off but he had to know now, he pulled his own phone out and googled Big Bear Airport. Within seconds, he got what he wanted.

Conditions: Clear

Felix was full of shit. Being a selfish ass**le with the girls he dated was one thing but why the hell should Gio get involved in this shit? He didn’t mind the time he got to spend with Bianca. In fact, he was enjoying it more than he’d ever admit to anyone. But he just didn’t want to be part of or witness to any heartache Felix’s heartless ass might put her through.

He didn’t even realize Bianca was off the phone and staring out her window now. Her cheery mood was long gone. “So he’s not making it up tonight?”

She shook her head but continued to stare out the window. Since she didn’t actually answer, Gio pursed his lips wondering if maybe she was choked up. She had been visibly upset the night before when she first got the news he wasn’t going to make it up.

“You okay?”

She finally turned and met his eyes. Eyes like hers weren’t meant to be sad and at that moment he hated Felix. “You don’t think he’s just making excuses do you?”

“No,” Gio was quick to answer but he’d say anything to make her feel better. “I really don’t think he would’ve had me come up if he hadn’t planned on being here.”

There was a flicker of hope in her eyes now, as if she hadn’t thought of that. “The main highway is still down but this morning he sounded sure that worst case scenario he could charter a helicopter. Now he says that’s not looking like it’s gonna happen either.”

“But it’s still a possibility, right?” Gio tried to sound hopeful but the more he thought of the clear conditions at the airport the harder it was to hide the disdain he was feeling for Felix.

The car pulled up in front of a quaint shop. “He didn’t sound too optimistic,” she said as she reached for the door handle. “More than likely he won’t be up until tomorrow.”

A very small part of him was glad he’d have another night alone with her. But the bigger part, the important part, the one that was beginning to understand why Noah was worried about him stressing out, had to fight the urge to call Felix and tell his ass off.

Of course, he couldn’t. Not just because he was with her at the moment but because even if he walked away to make the call, the way he was feeling he’d probably get loudly worked up and she’d know something was up.

Felix was blowing her off… again. That wasn’t something Gio wanted to break to her. What sucked is that she’d eventually find out and Gio hoped to hell he wasn’t around to see it. He wouldn’t be able to bear seeing her cry.

They got out and walked silently up to the front door of the shop. The contrast of the warmth inside the shop compared to the freezing cold outside felt heavenly. Gio was glad he walked in behind Bianca and didn’t have the ability to seeing the crotch-tightening expression she was probably making because it felt that good.

A short older woman wearing glasses on a chain that hung around her neck looked up and smiled big. “Bianca!” Another woman, younger than the first, walked out of the door behind the counter engrossed in a figurine she was holding. The first woman tapped her gently on the arm and motioned to Bianca.

The woman smiled and used sign language to communicate with her. Bianca responded with her own effortless hand signs as she approached them. “I’m snowboarding today.”

Both women smiled as she hugged and kissed them. Bianca turned to Gio who stood behind her trying not to look as nervous as he felt. This was an absolute first for him and he had no idea how unnerving it could be. “This is Gio, one of Felix’s trainers and old friend from high school.” She smiled then addressed Gio. “This is my grandmother, Nana, and my mother, Lupe.”