Holly stared into the fire, the dancing flames casting a warm glow across the sitting room. Most of the lodge’s guests had retired to their rooms for the night, leaving the common area quiet and still. The faint crackle of the fire was soothing, almost hypnotic, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Holly felt herself truly relax.
Jack sat across from her in his usual slouched position, his long legs stretched out in front of him, one hand loosely holding a mug of cocoa. His earlier openness about Ben had left a mark on her—a mixture of admiration for his strength and a pang of guilt for how dismissive she’d been when they’d first met. The weight of his loss was so heavy, yet he carried it with an ease that left her humbled.
Jack broke the silence first, his voice soft and un
