Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 240

Bonnie had a complete set of ski gear for their trip to the mountains—snowboard, snowsuit, protective pads, the works. Her base layers, however, had gotten a bit too tight, so she needed to pick up some new ones. Since Aiken hadn't hit the slopes much since he started working, he needed to update his winter wardrobe too. They decided to make a day of it and hit the mall together.

After browsing a few stores, Aiken's hands were full of shopping bags, having successfully gathered everything they needed. Bonnie carried a single tote as they rode the escalator down to the supermarket to stock up on road-trip snacks. Their destination was Silver Ridge. Starting from the city of Thule, it would be a solid five-hour drive—assuming the weather and roads held up. If their luck ran out, they could end up stranded on the highway waiting for the snowplows to clear the route.

Bonnie was the type who got severely nauseous the second she felt hungry, so having snacks on hand was non-negotiable.

"Did your time off get approved?" Bonnie asked, dropping her bag into the shopping cart. "Is your captain actually going to let you go?"

"I got banged up on this last mission, so I was supposed to take a few days of downtime anyway. They should approve it," Aiken replied. "But I'll probably have to head back to Cabinda right after New Year's. Are you going to stay and ski by yourself, or come back with me?"

Bonnie thought it over. "I think I'll stay a few extra days. The scenery up north is supposed to be breathtaking, and I want to explore. It's not every day you get to make a trip like this."

Aiken understood, though a pang of regret hit him. He wished he could stay and experience it with her. In his line of work, a few consecutive days off was an absolute luxury—one he had only secured by getting injured.

Catching onto his hesitation, Bonnie looked at him. "Is your injury going to be an issue? If we do ski, we can just stick to the bunny hills. Once you head back, I'll tackle the harder runs."

"Not a chance. This is Silver Ridge. It's powder heaven," Aiken protested with a grin. "Even if it means catching another concussion, I've got to see how good these slopes really are."

Bonnie knew he was just joking. She offered a soft smile and tossed a few of her favorite pastries into the cart.

They paused in front of an aisle, chatting about the trip and tossing drinks and snacks into the basket. Distracted, they didn't notice the other shoppers turning the corner until their carts collided with a jarring clatter.

The sudden impact sent Bonnie stumbling forward. Aiken instinctively reached out, catching her waist to steady her.

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