Perfect Kisses

by Maine, Miley

  Emma made a face. “I wouldn’t go that far.” She leaned in closer. “What was his reaction when you showed up in the middle of the night? Did he point a gun at you again?”

  “No, but he was holding it.”

  “And he just let you in?”

  “Yes.”

  Mia pointed at me. “Let me make sure we're all on the same page here. You slept with him right?”

  I nodded.

  Both of them screeched. They both jumped in the air. Hot chocolate went flying before they remembered to put their mugs down, and both of them flung themselves on top of me.

  “You're not a virgin anymore!”

  “We have to celebrate.”

  “I'll make mimosas right now!”

  “Wait. We can't, we're going skiing.”

  Emma groaned. “Not now! We need to mark this occasion! It’s a big deal.”

  “I agree. But I want to celebrate by skiing the summit on this mountain.”

  Emma and Mia exchanged looks. I could tell they would rather not go. “Guys, if you don’t want to go, I totally understand.”

  They looked at each other again. “No, we’ll go. We already have our stuff laid out.” Sure enough, by the door they had piled up all their equipment.

  Now it was my turn to jump on them. “Thank you. You guys are the best. I love you!”

  * * *

  “I am so glad we did this,” I announced.

  Emma poked me with her ski pole. “So we are. I know you kind of had to drag us out here kicking and screaming, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen this kind of view.”

  “Yeah, no pile up on the ski lifts, no three year olds showing us up with their superior skills, and no ten year olds on snowboards whizzing by and knocking us down.”

  I laughed at Mia’s assessment.

  The view from the summit was incredible. I skied in Austria and Switzerland in Colorado and Vermont. But all of those have been on designated ski slopes with lifts for people. There was nothing like only seeing powdered snow and pine trees. Spruce River Mountain was a dream.

  We took off.

  About ten minutes later, we all stopped together.

  “I don't know Mia, I'm kind of missing the corduroy,” Emma said, referring to the plowed lines the bulldozer left when they cleared the ski slopes.

  “Me too,” Mia said. She had to shout to be heard over the wind. “I keep getting stuck in snow drifts. I've had to take my skis off and climb out twice.”

  “Oh you two, stop it you know you're having fun.” I pulled my phone out. A few years ago I'd found special gloves that allowed me to work my phone without taking my gloves off. I was really thankful for them right now. “Let's get a selfie.”

  We had all been trying to be careful with our phones. The extreme cold made the battery die much quicker than normal, and reception was pretty bad on a mountain, which also didn't help the battery life.

  The three of us shuffled sideways making sure not to cross our skis into a tangled pile. That was a good way to fall right on our faces.

  “Smile!” I yelled out and clicked a few photos.

  “It's not like you'll even be able to tell who we are,” Mia grumbled.

  That was true. With our helmets, goggles and scarves, not a single part of our face was showing. “We’ll know it was us.”

  “They'll be able to see we were alive at one point,” Emmaline muttered.

  I tucked my poles under my arm and put my hands on my hip. “What has gotten into you guys? You never complain this much.”

  “It’s eerie up here,” Mia said.

  “You guys didn’t have to come with me. I appreciate it, I really do, but I didn’t exactly twist your arms.”

  Emmaline pulled her goggles down long enough to glare at me. “We were not going to let you come alone.”

  “Try to enjoy it, and I promise I'll never drag you on another ski trip.”

  They both agreed and we headed off. “Race you,” I called out.

  Snow began to fall and visibility dropped. I memorized everything -- the swishing sound of my skis on the snow, the pristine beauty of the forest, and the warm glow of the lights far off in the distance.

  This had started out as a miserable Christmas week, but things were really looking up. “Take that, Winston,” I shouted into the wind.

  I picked up speed, leaving my friends behind me. A deer sprang by and I smiled in delight. I cut my skis to the right, intending to follow him.

  But I miscalculated. Instead of the same powdery snow I'd been skiing on, I hit a patch of ice.

  A very slick patch of ice.

  I used every technique I’d learned in years of ski school and private lessons. But nothing worked. I flew forward, gaining speed. If I hit a tree at this speed it would kill me, even with a helmet on.

  I was going to have to try and do a controlled fall. I took a deep breath and tried to relax my body. Then I tipped sideways on purpose.

  But I didn't hit fluffy snow. My left arm hit a tree branch that was buried in the snow. I heard it crack.

  At first I wasn't sure if the crack was from my arm or the tree branch. For a moment I was completely stunned and couldn't feel anything.

  Then the pain started.

  It was a shocking, stabbing pain that radiated up my arm. I was pretty sure I was going to throw up. Despite all of my adventures, I had only broken a bone once before and that was my collar bone. And it happened while I was rock climbing in Colorado and it had not hurt nearly this much.

  I tried to sit up, which only made the pain worse.

  My stomach rebelled. I nearly vomited all over my new teal ski coat, but at the last minute I was able to turn my head and avoid getting vomit all over myself.

  I lay in the snow for a few moments, panting.

  I was no longer cold, but flashes of heat kept surging through my body until I was sweating. I lay there for several moments, letting the snow cool my burning skin. Eventually the hot flashes faded, and I began to shiver. Bits of snow had fallen into the sleeve of my coat as I thrashed, and my face was getting cold.

  Why had I not brought a thermal blanket in my backpack?

  I had a flare, but I’d have to get my backpack off and unzip it. And would anyone see it? At least a thermal blanket would keep me warm, and it would be reflective as well.

  Shit. I hated to admit it, but Logan had been right.

  He had been afraid this would happen. Maybe he’d seen people do foolhardy things while he flew them around.

  Maybe I’d tell him that, if I ever saw him again.

  I laughed, but it was tinged with hysteria. I might not see anyone ever again.

  With great difficulty, I pulled my phone from my insulated pocket. No bars. Which meant no reception.

  I turned my head and stared up the mountain. There were no skiers there. No one saw me fall. There were no patrols, and no employees.

  If I was lucky, Mia and Emmaline were behind me, and would see my bright yellow helmet as they passed. But if I wasn’t lucky, then they’d keep going, not realizing I was missing until they reached the base of the mountain.

  Because this was not a resort mountain, a search and rescue party would not be immediately available.

  I was going to die alone.

  No. I wasn’t giving up. This trip had been my idea, and I was going to have to figure out how to survive. If I crawled into the woods to get out of the wind, then no one would see me.

  I tugged my bright helmet off and placed it on top of the snow. The snowfall had slowed enough that it would hopefully be visible for several more hours. If the sun would come out, that would increase my chances of survival.

  Then I began the process of leaning against the fallen tree. Maybe I could sit on my backpack. I needed to get as much of my body out of the snow as possible.

  I took a deep breath, and closed my eyes. I was not skilled at meditation, but I was going to try. I’d just have to be my own guide.

  About three minutes in, I
was feeling more panicked than relaxed.

  Then I heard it.

  A shout.

  My name was being called.

  It was Emma and Mia.

  They were close!

  I looked up, unable to see much through the lightly falling snow. Until finally a magenta coat came into view, paired with navy pants. “Emma!” I screamed.

  Not far behind her, I saw a pink coat, with Mia’s lavender ski pants.

  Please let them see me.

  With my good arm, I lifted my ski and flung it forward, praying it wouldn’t get too close to either of them. The motion jarred my broken arm, and tears sprang to my eyes.

  But it worked. As my ski went flying toward them, both of them skidded to a stop, thankfully away from the ice.

  “Be careful,” I tried to shout, but my voice didn’t carry.

  “Bethany! What happened?” Both of them popped their skis off and began the slow process of trudging toward me in heavy ski boots.

  They both crouched down beside me with twin expressions of worry.

  “I’m pretty sure I’ve broken my arm.”

  Mia covered her mouth with her gloved hand. “Oh no.”

  Emma immediately began pulling her phone out. “I’ll call 911.”

  “I hope your phone is charged.”

  “Mine is at twenty-eight percent,” Emma said. “But there's no reception at all.” She held the phone high above her head, looking up at it. “I don't even have one bar.”

  “Let me try mine.” Mia pulled her phone from her bag. She immediately dialed 911 despite the fact that she didn't have any bars either. The phone made a disconcerting noise that told us all a call was not going through.

  Mia popped down on the log beside me. “How are you holding up?”

  “It's not too bad.”

  “It's not too bad because you haven't been sitting here long. How long before hypothermia sets in or frostbite?”

  Mia whacked Emma with her ski pole. “Stop it! That’s not helping!”

  “Nothing is going to help!”

  “Okay.” I put my good hand on Emma’s leg. “We just need to come up with a plan.” I thought for a minute. “Why don’t you guys just ski to the base. There’s a grocery story right there, and you can call for help.”

  “We can’t leave you up here.”

  “I don’t think you have a choice. I tried to get up already. It’s not happening. I cannot ski down the hill.”

  Emma chewed on her lip. “What if we both fall too, and we can’t get up? Then all three of us are dead.”

  “Maybe the three of us can walk down. Together,” Mia said.

  I was starting to feel faint. If I got up I thought I'd probably pass out. “I don’t know if I can make it.”

  Emma stood up. “I’ll ski down. I’ll go slow, and watch for ice. I’ll do lots of zig zags so I never pick up speed.” She pointed at Mia. “Then you can stay up here with her, and guard against bears, and keep her from getting buried in snow.”

  “I don’t like sending you off alone,” I said.

  “Well, I don’t like leaving you alone to die.”

  The three of us semi-hugged, both of them being careful to not knock me over. “Let’s make sure all of us have some supplies, like water and flashlights, and then we’ll see you off,” I said.

  The two of them dug through our bags while I just sat there and stared at them. By that point it was all I could do to stay upright. They moved quickly and efficiently, making sure that Emma had enough supplies since she would be alone.

  And she popped her skis back on, emotion hit me. “I'm so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  Emma patted my knee. “This isn't anyone's fault. It's just an accident. Think about what a great story it will be.”

  “Who am I going to tell? I certainly can't tell my parents. They would lose their minds.” And Logan would say I told you so, not that I would be seeing him.

  “Well you know what they say, it'll be a story for the grandkids.”

  “I'm not having any grandkids. In case you missed it, my boyfriend was cheating on me. I'm single now. I'm destined to a life of one night stands with hunky men who are terrible for me.”

  I knew I was falling apart but I was helpless to stop it. “Okay,” Emma said. “I'm going to leave now.”

  We watched her go and I continued to sniffle, rubbing my face with my gloves.

  Mia was staring at me in horror.

  “What?” I asked tersely.

  “I'm just surprised. This isn't like you.”

  “I'm not feeling very practical or very optimistic right now. I'll get back to you when I am.”

  I tried to get a handle on my emotions so that Mia wouldn't think I had completely gone over the edge. I knew it was crazy but the irrational part of me kept wondering if I was going to kick the bucket right there, and what Logan would think when he found out I died on the mountain.

  12

  Logan

  After Cameron was gone, I needed something to do. I went and gathered my fishing gear. I had plenty of meat in the freezer but I could add some fish. I liked not having to depend on restaurants and grocery stores. I liked being self-sufficient.

  There was a small lake at the base of the mountain where the locals fished. I dropped my tackle box into the back of my truck.

  But as soon as I picked up my fishing rod I knew I was not headed to the lake.

  I fought off the urge as long as I could, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to go to that summit and find Bethany.

  And no, it was not because I slept with her. Or because I took her virginity. I had no feelings toward her whatsoever, other than not wanting to see a college student kill herself on a stupid ski trip.

  Best case scenario, they were already at the base of the mountain, and I’d look like an idiot. I could deal with that. Most people don’t think of CIA agents as warm and fuzzy people. And they’re right. We aren’t. But we are responsible people, who take protecting others seriously.

  And now that Bethany was on my radar, then I couldn’t relax until I’d made sure she was safe.

  I loaded my own snowmobile onto the trailer behind my truck. I would need it to make my way to the top of the mountain. Once I found Bethany then I could go fishing. I’d just get this done, and move on with my life.

  I would not have Bethany back in my bed.

  I moved quickly, driving to the mountain, unloading the snowmobile, and driving to the top of the mountain. She had picked a good place. The scenery was dazzling. Every view from the top could be a postcard.

  I made my way down the mountain, slowly, taking time to really observe snow and the tree line. Most of my work with the CIA has been in warmer climates, but I'd had a mission in Austria on a snowy mountain, and another in Croatia, but I wasn't going to think about work right now.

  Then a glint caught my eye.

  Was it a ski?

  Yes. It was.

  Goddammit. I was right. There was a ski lying in the snow. And not far from it, another one. I picked one up. These weren’t the cheap rentals offered in town. These were the custom made skis that a wealthy person would use, if he or she skied often.

  And judging by the shorter length, the owner of these skis was a she, and not a he. Surely this ski didn’t belong to Bethany. If it did, she was definitely going to get a piece of my mind. Again. Not that it would do any good at all.

  I popped the skis on my rack, and kept looking.

  Well shit. There, on my left, not far from where I’d found the skis were two people dressed in brightly colored ski outfits.

  I slowed down, and made my way toward them. One of them was standing up now, and waving her ski in the air. The other stayed seated, and she was cradling her arm.

  With all their gear on, I couldn't tell if one of them was Bethany.

  Why do you give a fuck which one she is?

  Because I didn’t want her to be the injured one.

  As I approached, I only saw two o
f them. But the one on the ground was sitting upright, at least, and not lying in the snow.

  I left the snowmobile running. I would get them on board quickly, if I could. My snowmobile was made for one person, maybe two. I wasn't sure if I could squeeze two young women on or not, especially not if one was injured. If I knew them better I could have the one standing drive the snowmobile down to the base, and I could walk behind it.

  But I didn't know her. And I didn't trust her to get herself or Bethany down the mountain.

  The girl who was standing practically fell on top of me. “Thank God you're here,” she yelled.

  It wasn't Bethany's voice.

  “What happened?”

  The girl sitting on the log pulled her helmet off slowly. I would recognize that hair anywhere. It had been spread across my pillow just that morning.

  “I broke my arm,'' Bethany said. Her voice was thin, but she gave me a weak smile. “You can say I told you so, if you want.”

  “I'm not going to say that.”

  One corner of her mouth tilted up. “You'd be right though. The mountain was dangerous. I hit a patch of ice.”

  I could picture it all too well. Snow falling, the sun coming out and briefly melting the top layer, and then the snow refreezing. Add that to the fact that no snow plows would come along and grate the snow, and you had a recipe for disaster

  “Isn't there another one of you?” I assumed she must be fine due to their lack of hysteria. Maybe she had more sense than these two. Maybe she’d stayed behind to sleep in.

  “Yes. Emmaline has gone ahead of us to get help.”

  Never mind. None of them had good sense.

  “I'll move fast and catch up to her. Put your helmet back on. Heat escapes through your head.”

  “I know that,” Bethany grumbled.

  I went to my bag and pulled out two thermal blankets. I grabbed an ace bandage from my bag to wrap her arm up.

  First I handed the other thermal blanket to her friend. “Sit down next to her on this log, and hold this blanket around you. Don't get up until I get back with your friend.”