Bill and Debra brought out a big platter of sub sandwiches that Debra had prepared. There were two of them for everybody. I was astonished that this family did lunch like this. It was kind of epic. Now, I’m not sure if it was just because they were all together and it was a holiday week, or if this was the kind of service they grew up with, but I was impressed.
“So, you guys get any skiing done yet?” Derek asked.
"A little bit yesterday evening, but honestly we've all been just getting settled in. I was thinking of hitting the slopes later this afternoon, though. I'd like to wait until the morning rush is over. Besides skiing at dusk is pretty awesome," Keith said.
This was the first I'd really heard him say much of anything. I got the feeling he was the strong, silent type. Or maybe he was just stupid. Again, Derek's constant reference to his "idiot family" was entrenched in my brain.
I felt like I’d been brainwashed into believing that his whole family was a bunch of weirdoes, but so far, I loved his mom and dad. They were great. But the jury was still out about the final verdict on his brother and sister.
“Wow, this is fantastic mom!” Derek raved as he stuffed his second sandwich into his mouth.
I had to laugh at the guy. It was like everything he did was pretty funny. He never failed to entertain me.
“You want some air with that sandwich?” Bill joked. “I swear this boy just inhales his food.”
“That’s the way it tastes the best,” Derek said with his mouth half full.
Bill looked at him disgusted for a moment before he burst out laughing.
“You are welcome, dear,” Debra replied.
“What are you thanking her for? Remember I am the chef in the family,” Bill said.
“Did you make these sandwiches?” Beth asked.
“No, his mother did.”
“Then why are you complaining?”
Derek and Keith both hopped up at that one for a second doing some secret family cheer. Tony and I looked at each other as if asking what in the hell had we gotten ourselves into?
“You all can help yourselves to the leftovers if you want more,” Debra said.
My hand instinctively shot out to grab one of the last sandwiches. Tony’s mind had the same idea as we found ourselves reaching for the same sandwich. I knew I should have recoiled instantly, but his touch felt so good, so comforting right then. It was a breath of fresh air completely out of nowhere. It is amazing how you can feel so cold and not realize it until some warmth moves you. Then you realize what you’ve been missing.
My eyes caught his just then. The room seemed to stand still for a moment and I knew that one of us should speak to at least make this look like it was not awkward to anybody but us, but I could not turn away from the fog I was in at that moment.
“There are other sandwiches,” Beth said just then. The tone of her voice sparked with annoyance.
I moved my hand away just then trying to fight off the blush.
“I’m sorry, you go ahead,” I said.
“No, I think it was yours first,” Tony replied. He grabbed another sandwich off the tray.
“Thanks,” I said as I grabbed that one back.
I took a bite and noticed that Beth was rolling her eyes and giving me the occasional stink eye. It was a bit awkward to eat while someone glares at you. I became a little bit self-conscious about the whole thing and I was thankful to swallow it and be done with my lunch.
It was then that I also noticed Derek glaring at Tony. It was very brief, but as I looked around the room trying to just listen to the conversation going on to see if I might include myself or at least pretend to be interested so as not to be rude, I saw it.
Tony did not see this as he was saying something to Beth, but I definitely saw Derek glaring at him. Was it because he noticed the moment I’d had with Tony? Was it that obvious to everyone else that there was still an attraction there?
I could kind of understand Beth being paranoid because she was that way and she was new to the relationship with Tony that was apparently going pretty well or at least from her perspective, but for Derek to be jealous was something else. I was pretty sure we had kind of an unwritten understanding that we were never going to happen that way. It just wasn’t meant to be. We were good friends and that was it. But I was now starting to think that maybe Derek might have even stronger feelings for me than I realized.
“Do you ski Jackie?” Debra asked snapping me out of my little thought bubble.
I had to think for a second.
“Yes, I do ski.”
“Are you pretty good?”
“I like to think that I’m fair. I actually had never been on a pair of skis until my freshman year in college, but my roommate convinced me to try it out and I just kind of fell in love with it. It has been a little while since I’ve had a chance to do it though. But I am looking forward to getting out on the slopes again.”
“You never told me that,” Derek said.
“You never asked,” I replied. “It isn’t something that really gets brought up in everyday conversation in our line of work.”
“Well, you’ve been out of a line of work for a while,” Beth remarked. “And since he invited you here I imagine you might have mentioned your skiing… passion.” She put an emphasis on the last word as if she was making a joke about me being full of it.
The anger rose up inside of me right then and I found it hard to hold it back. I had a short fuse and a short line that if you crossed it more than once usually meant you would never cross it again.
"Well, some of us don't have the luxury of riding our parents' coattails until we find our calling by taking a class at the local community college and calling ourselves a realtor," I said.
“Boom!” Derek erupted. “She got you there sis! That was great.”
I was a bit shocked at Derek’s outrageous celebration, but something told me that not many people ever zinged his sister and called her out on her bullshit. If they did then she might not have been so snarky all the time, I thought.
“I’m fully licensed,” Beth said.
“You need a license to show people a house? I think it’s harder to get a fishing license,” I said. I knew I should have just shut my mouth then, mostly because of Bill and Debra. They had been so nice to me and I hated cutting their daughter down right in front of them, but they had to see that she pushed me to it.
“I think we should ease up ladies,” Bill said. He grabbed the large empty tray that had housed the sandwiches and began walking to the kitchen. “I’ll be right back with pie and we can continue this lovely debate at that time.”
It was easy to see where Derek got his sense of humor from. Bill seemed to possess that rare trait that he always knew what to say to turn an angry room laughing.
Of course, Beth and I were the only ones not laughing.
Chapter Five
“Are you sure you are up for this?” Derek asked.
I took another look down the ski slope and felt the surge of uncertainty ringing in my head. I was absolutely not sure about this at all. I had been a fairly capable skier but it had been almost three years since I'd been on a slope. It was something fun I did with my college friends, not something that I was dedicated to continuing. Although, I did miss it quite a bit. It was one of those things that I was hoping was kind of like riding a bike where you didn't ever really forget how to do it, but if it was something I had to relearn this was not the time to do it.
“I’ll be ok,” I said.
“I understand that you and Beth are both insanely competitive, but you don’t have to get your neck broken to prove it,” Derek said. “You know she is just jealous you are so much hotter than her.”
I looked at Derek as if he was crazy. He had never really said that I was hot before. He’d implied it, but he had not come right out and said it explicitly. It was kind of cute. I wondered if the presence of Tony was forcing Derek to step up his game a bit. Was I the only one who didn’t think tha
t Tony was that interested in me anymore?
A part of me wished that there could be something there, but I still was not going to actively pursue a man who was with someone else, especially a psycho woman like Beth.
I was not afraid of her by any means, but I didn’t want to be put in the annoying position of having to really deal with her. I had too many other things on my plate. Women like Beth were drama queens and I can’t stand drama. It is childish, and it annoys everybody around you.
“Well, thanks, but I am doing this because it is fun. No other reason,” I said. I was almost convinced of that. Beating Beth’s ass on the slopes was going to be fun, so I wasn’t totally lying there.
I had watched Keith and Bill take their turns racing against each other and it looked like a blast. Bill won of course, but Keith was no slouch.
“So are we tapping into shifter strength here or is it all human?” I asked.
“I don’t need any shifter strength to beat your ass,” Beth responded.
“Well, I guess that answers that question,” I said to Derek.
“We can’t use shifter power here. If someone happens to be paying too much attention to us and sees that we all look like Olympic skiers, it’s going to draw the wrong kind of notice.”
“I got ya,” I said.
Of course, I wasn't putting it past Beth to do whatever it took to win. She was just ostentatious enough to revel in the whole world knowing that she could turn into an eight hundred pound bear whenever she wanted to. How about that people?
“Ok, you girls ready?” Bill said.
I could tell that he was getting way too into this whole thing. It was refreshing though to see someone who loved competition as much as I did but did not take it so seriously. Derek was right about that. I’ve always had a real problem with losing. Maybe it was because I’ve always felt like I was fighting against something. One day I might go talk to someone to “Dr. Phil” that stuff out of my head.
I pulled my goggles on and assumed my position. The mountain was suddenly looking a lot steeper than it had before. I felt a twinge of fear rearing its ugly head, but I decided that I needed to just relinquish myself to the moment. If I ended up getting hurt or possibly dead, then at least I went out having fun. That was the way I looked at it. Except now there was baby Devon.
I thought about my sweet, little guy back at the resort. Debra had volunteered to stay behind and look after him. I really appreciated it. I was leery about leaving him with a woman I'd just met, but there was something so sweet about her that I felt I could trust her. Besides, I trusted Derek and Debra had raised a great family already. Well, except for Beth, but I was convincing myself that Beth was not her fault and maybe not even her kid.
“Oh, I’m ready to win!” Beth said pulling up beside me.
She was so damn cocky. I was once again filled with the sudden urge to rip her damn head off. I took a deep breath and just played along.
“Oh, then you are going to be so disappointed,” I replied.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tony cover a laugh in his hand. I smiled at him just as he looked back up and he smiled at me. I caught a look in his eyes just then. It looked almost…naughty.
Was he having some impure thoughts about me? It was a nice thing for me to think about. And I was pretty sure that he was looking at my ass as I was semi-bent over in my starting position. I felt a huge blush coming on, but I tried to stave it off and stay focused.
“Get set!” Bill yelled. He signaled the start with his arm yelling “Go!”
I was off in the blink of an eye. The second I started down the mountain I began to feel myself in trouble. I had not been on skis for a long time and they were feeling a bit awkward. I’d lost my rhythm. I’d forgotten how to move and how to counter move, anticipating the terrain and the overall flow of it.
Beth was kicking my tail. She was way out in front of me and I could practically hear her smug laughter all the way back where I was. The anger welled up inside of me quickly right then. I suddenly felt my body shifting and changing, my whole attitude was taking over.
I began to move the poles harder as I propelled myself down the slope going faster and faster. I was careful to take long, steady, deep breaths allowing the cold air to invade my lungs. It had a great calming effect on me and I could feel the nervous tension that had been holding me back slowly releasing its grip on me. It was almost like some magical oil had just been shot into my body and now I was moving fluid and smoothly.
The trees, the ground, the rocks—all of it began to move past my field of vision in a blur, but it was so exciting. I felt the adrenaline releasing from behind some invisible floodgate in my body and the overwhelming rush was miraculous, sending tingles of warmth all over me.
I was gaining on her. I didn’t know how, but I was. I suddenly felt like the old me on a pair of skis, but better. I didn’t think I was using any of the bear inside of me. As far as I could tell it was all just my normal human adrenaline that was working its magic through my body and propelling me to the heights of my athletic ability. I guess the competitive nature that I have always possessed was even stronger than I realized.
I was now almost neck and neck with Beth. She didn’t stand a chance. I knew that I was about to overtake her. It was going to feel so good to rub all of this in her smug face. I pictured crossing the finish line and seeing the angry, sad look in her eyes. I imagined it would feel better than actually punching her lights out. Humiliating defeat was always better than that, especially to a woman like Beth.
I could see the ending ahead. It was fast approaching and I was wondering in the far back of my mind how I was going to stop at this speed. So far I had managed to stay on course and avoid rocks and trees off to the side. The path was fairly clear, but it would have been all too easy to lose your balance and crash into a pine tree.
I wondered if Tony was cheering for me or for Beth. I really hoped he was watching me and rooting me on. I realized right then that I had a bit of a problem; I hadn’t been able to think of anything else all day except for Tony. The man did something to me. He made me feel that I was the most beautiful and most amazing woman in the world.
And he did it all with just a look. How the hell did he do that? He was so perfect. Why the hell did he have to end up with a mega bitch like Beth? She was going to end up breaking his heart eventually. Or he would wise up and leave her high and dry after realizing what kind of a hag she really was.
And then her heart would be broken into a million pieces, providing that she actually had a heart somewhere in the ice box that she called her chest.
Beth looked over at me right then. She noticed I was just starting to inch past her. I stared her down for a second. I was not going to give her the satisfaction of intimidating me in any way. The look on her face was priceless, though. It was total shock and awe. She could not believe that I was actually so close and was probably going to win.
Her face twisted just then for a brief second and I saw the bear emerging. The eyes were red and wild, the teeth were sharpening and the snout was beginning to form. A low, guttural roar escaped her lips, and then she was Beth again.
And suddenly she jerked forward ahead of me by ten yards. She was cheating. She had just tapped into the bear strength and used it for a little extra boost. For a second I was terrified that she was going to totally shift right there. It would have been disastrous.
It was dangerous to do what she just did. If anyone had happened to glance at her at the wrong moment or if she’d been caught at just the right second in someone’s camera it would have been very bad. There were tourists all over who were taking pics of the snow and the mountains. There were people from Florida who routinely came up this way this time of year for a traditional White Christmas and some skiing.
She was going to cheat to beat me and I knew it was going to happen. I’m not sure why it surprised me at all. Maybe I was just angrier than surprised right then. Well, I wasn’t going to let her g
et away with it.
I summoned the inner Bear within me and felt it come to the surface. The shift wanted to happen. It needed to happen. The anger and rage were suddenly there out of nowhere and I thought for a second that I had let it come too far and I wouldn’t be able to keep the shift back.
I shouldn't have tried to play Beth's game. I should have just let her have her stupid victory. In my heart, I would have known she cheated and that she could not beat me fairly.
But I had to win. I was not a cheater. I believed in fairness. At least until the other person didn’t. If they cheated, then all bets were off and it was no holds barred.
The bear wanted to break through and I could feel my claws beginning to emerge inside of my gloves. I was in trouble. This was a bad idea.
I thought of Devon just then. My innocent angel. I could not afford to let anyone find out what I was because I would have been locked up for some government experiments and my baby would grow up in an orphanage. No that could not happen.
The image of my baby in my mind right then propelled the real me to come back and the bear to relinquish back inside of myself.
I breathed a sigh of quick relief. It was then I realized that I was passing Beth quickly. It had worked. The little bit of bear I had tapped into and almost lost control of had given me the extra strength to pull ahead of Beth.
I heard her growl and curse behind me as I crossed the finish line about twenty yards in front of her. I started to slow down right then, allowing myself to coast the rest of the way stopping just in front of a thick group of pine trees.
I inhaled deeply, enjoying the sweet smell of nature that I missed living in the big city. But country living got old too. I was a city girl and I was happy to be where the action was happening. Even if it hadn’t been happening to me for quite a while.
“Way to go!” Keith said giving me a high five. I could see Derek and Bill coming down the side of the slope slowly to greet us, but they were still a little way away.
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