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“Hi,” he said. “Thanks for this.”

“Sure,” she replied, her voice flat.

Sam frowned. “You okay?”

Maya let out a breath. She shouldn’t say anything to her mortal enemy. But it was all so fresh in her mind, and there was no one else around to talk to. “Yeah. Just bloody Dad.”

Sam walked alongside her in silence for a moment. “And here I was thinking it was merely my company that had you down in the dumps this evening.”

She managed a smile. “Nah. You’re small potatoes, mate.”

He laughed, which surprised her somewhat. Being aware that she still had the ability to elicit that response from him, even during that first car ride from Kirsty’s, helped her relax a little.

“Want to talk about it?” he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Hesitating, she pondered that question. She did want to get it off her chest, though she’d infinitely rather it were his twin sister here, or anyone else for that matter. But Liv was at her karate class and beggars couldn’t be choosers, because it wasn’t as if there were anyone else to confide in either. Elise had much bigger issues, and bloody Hana could go and suck it. Plus, this was something Sam could empathize with, working at the resort himself. “He found out that I’m teaching at the resort and he doesn’t like it.”

Sam’s face was neutral. “He thinks it’s going to distract you from searching for a real job.”

Her heart sank. Shit. He does remember. She’d been so preoccupied that she hadn’t considered that this could be dangerous ground, given that the subject had caused friction between them in the past. And their destination this evening—the Tavern—was the same as on the night of said disagreement. Talk about a bad omen. She kept quiet, neither confirming nor denying Sam’s statement.

His voice was even. “Sorry to hear that you argued.”

She nodded, aware that she should change the subject, but for some reason was unable to. “It felt like when I was younger, with him belittling my choices and crushing my dreams. It’s only a temporary thing until I get another job, but he still made me feel like shit.” She paused, aware that she was saying too much, but the words were tumbling out and she couldn’t stop them. “And he went on about Hana again and how perfect she is. How I should be more like her.”

Sam seemed to be listening intently. “Crushing your dreams?”

“Yeah. It was always the same with him.”

Glancing over, his expression was unreadable. “I remember you being unsure about whether to pursue accountancy.” He cleared his throat. “But then you reconciled yourself with the idea.”

I had no choice but to reconcile myself with it. Because of Dad. Sam had been the only person she’d confided her career doubts in before she went to uni. Not only her doubts, in fact, but her true desires—not to go to uni at all but become a ski instructor instead. He’d been a natural ally, as a fellow ski instructor. Sam had encouraged her to speak to her dad, and it had not gone down well.

Sam had really seemed to listen back then, though she’d subsequently assumed it was merely an act on his behalf.

She shrugged. “I made my bed with accounting, so I’m lying in it. Dunno why he has to make everything into a big deal.”

He shot her a wry smile. “Any accountancy jobs on the horizon?”

“Not yet. I’ll find something, though.”

They approached the Tavern, and Maya’s eye was caught by the huge Christmas tree outside, adorned in blue, green, and yellow lights. “Aw, they’ve got their tree up. I love it. They just need an inflatable Santa or something and they’d be all set.” Good job it was there to distract her gaze from the tree line, where she’d witnessed the gut-wrenching sight of Sam and Cat’s deception.

He held the door for her as they entered. The pub was split over two levels, with a ground-floor and first-floor bar. Their generation had always preferred the first floor. Sam tugged off his hat as they ascended the stairs. “You like the Christmas inflatables?”

“Yeah,” Maya said, unzipping her jacket. “The more over the top, the better. If I had my way, one of those houses with lights from every color of the rainbow and all of the inflatables possible would win the competition.”

Sam threw her a bemused look as they secured a table. “Really? I had you pegged for a big-house-on-the-corner fan.”

“Nah,” she replied, taking a seat across from him. “Too predictable.”

Sam shot her a smile. “I agree. It isn’t my cup of tea. I’ve got a few contenders on my list for the crown.”

Maya raised her eyebrows. “You have? Which ones?”

“I’ll show you on the lights competition Facebook page. But first, I owe you a drink. Probably more than one, for all of the lifts. What would you like?”

That sounded awfully like he was being courteous. “Bottle of beer please. Doesn’t matter which one.”