by Ann, Becca
I nearly fall over as I try to hit him upside the head. “You’re making up stuff so you sound smart.”
“Is it working?” He winks through his goggles.
“No.” I look across the snow to Kaylee and Lex, who’s trying to get Sean’s attention about twenty feet away. “But thanks for the pep talk.”
He laughs. “Come on. Let’s show them how awesome we are by following them up to the mean scary hill.”
“Shut up,” I say under my breath as he pushes his way to the girls. It’s not like I’m a pussy, just don’t want to bust my leg open.
“Couldn’t stay away from me, huh?” Kaylee says as she grabs Nate around the neck and gives him a major tonguer in front of everyone. I groan and make my way to Lex. She laughs and bends down to make sure her boots are tight.
“You sure you want to do this hill?” I gaze over the edge. “It’s not exactly for beginners.”
I hear someone swish up behind me, sending snow all over the back of my legs and my butt.
“Actually, this one isn’t so bad. If you stay to the right, it’s pretty much a straight shot to the bottom.”
I turn around, and douchebag is looking Lex up and down, giving her a grin I’m ready to punch right off his face. Her cheeks go crimson and a little giggle comes out her lips that sends my breakfast up my throat.
Maybe I should’ve gone to the baby hill.
Sean steps between me and Lex, knocking me over backwards into the snow.
“Sorry, man.”
Normally, this would be the part I swipe him down with my ski pole, or jab it into his calf, but Lex—for whatever reason—likes this kid, so instead I extend my arms out and say, “Little help?”
Nate and Lexie help me up, and I’m not sure if she realizes it or not, but she wipes me off. Back, butt, legs… then shoots upright, cheeks blazing as she mumbles, “Uh, you okay?”
She’s so damn cute. Her brown hair, peeking out of her hat as her cheeks melt the small amount of snow she’s got on her face. I’m tempted to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, but again, I keep my hands to myself.
“Of course.” I smile and shove my way back next to her, looking at Sean. “It’s not like it was a hard hit or anything.”
His top lip curls up, and he extends his hand out for Lexie. “Hey, I’ll help you down, if you want.”
She smiles, but it’s not one of her “happiest” smiles. At least there’s that, but still, when she takes his hand, heat shoots up the back of my neck, and even though I downright suck at skiing, I follow them.
“Hey, Ryan!” Nate yells from behind me. I wait for him to tell me to leave them alone, but I should give him more credit, because he just smiles and says, “We’ll meet you at the bottom.”
I know I said I didn’t want to be witness to all the gag-worthy flirting, but some other—much stronger—emotion is pulling me toward the two of them. I want to say it’s to protect her, keep her from tumbling down the hill, but that’s not it since I’ll probably be tumbling right along with her. It’s more about keeping her heart from breaking as dumb as that sounds. Though so far, I’m doing a lousy job. I really should take Nate’s advice and just tell her I think this whole operation is stupid, and she can do so much better, and he’s a dick who’s going to hurt her. Because isn’t he dating someone else right now? Yet, he’s up here on the hill running his hands all over my best friend. But knowing Lex, she’ll translate whatever I say to: “It’s ‘cause you think no one will stick around because I’m not worth it.”
Now I’m wishing I was back in the cabin. Just me and her, and no other shit to bug us.
“Okay, beautiful,” Sean says to her as I sidle up. She melts into him as he puts his hands over hers and talks some crap about gripping. He moves her from side to side, and it looks like he’s pressing his junk into her back. All I hear is the grinding of my own teeth.
“I think she’s got it.”
They both jump, as if they didn’t realize I’ve been here the whole time. Lex shoots me an evil look, and the flush in her cheeks flares up again. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.
“Okay… then let’s all go together.” Sean glances at me and chuckles. “You rea—”
I shove off before he can finish. Lex lets out a tiny yelp when she takes off too. She passes me within seconds. Whoa, she’s pretty good, especially for her first time. I’m trying to keep my legs together, and she’s swerving left, right, left again, tagging a flag with her pole.
“Did you see that?” she calls. “I hit the flag thingy!”
I want to give her a thumbs up, but my death grip won’t let me. Sean skis right up next to her and flashes his dickhead smile. Flattening my back, I try to speed up, catch up to them, but I lose my footing and my legs go into the splits.
Holy freaking shit!
Moving my ass back and forth, I attempt to jump back into position, but it just makes it worse. If my legs go any wider, I’m going to tear off a ball. Lex and Sean are so far ahead of me now, I can’t see them. I take a deep breath and jump. Shit, I better land on my…
Face.
I biff it, face in the snow, then I roll. Roll, roll, roll, over small bumps, and I swear the snow is made of rocks. And I’m screaming like a damn girl. Just when I think I’m about to lose my breakfast, I come to a stop, slamming my nose into a twig that I think is supposed to be a tree.
“Holy crap, Ry!”
I sit up, take the snow covered goggles off my face and blink a few times. Lex is running across the snow, skis abandoned by the chair lifts. Did I really roll to the bottom of the hill?
“Are you okay?” She slams down to her knees in the snow next to me. “Oh yikes! Your nose.”
Taking off my glove, I swipe under my nostrils. It stains my finger bright red.
“Look at that.” Maybe I left my brain on the hill, since that’s the genius line that comes out of my mouth.
“Here…” Cold needles jab me in the face as Lex shoves a snowball up my nose and holds it there. “Okay, how is everything else? Anything bruised? Broken?”
I chuckle as she tilts my head back and rests it on her lap. “Just my pride.” My eyes close. “Did Nate and Kaylee see?”
She laughs, taking my hat off and running her fingers through my hair. She does this all the time because she knows it’s my “off” button. I forget about pain when she’s massaging my scalp. I involuntarily groan.
“Nope. They were already on their way back up when Sean and I got down here.” She stops rubbing my head for a minute to pat it. “Does that mend your pride a little bit?”
I open my eyes and connect with hers. She’s smiling a two dimpled smile. And I’m lying here in the snow with a snowball shoved up my nostrils.
“Not really.”
She laughs again, and puts my hat back on. “Come on. I’ll help you back to the cabin. Mr. Miller said the buses go down every half hour, so one should be leaving soon.”
“Don’t you want to stay here and make googly eyes at lover boy?” I nod toward the douche, who’s standing by the lifts, tapping his foot like an impatient turd.
She socks my shoulder, but it’s not as hard as she usually does it. “I’m not going to leave my best friend alone. Especially the guy who made it possible for me to even be here.” She pushes me up to a sitting position and helps take off my skis.
There’s nothing more pathetic than hobbling back to the bus using Lex as a support beam. On the other hand, she smells so good, I’m not sure I care.
She’s also laughing. Shaking her head and laughing.
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
“Liar.”
We get to the bus, and I drop the bloody remains of the snowball Lex shoved in my face. I dab my top lip to make sure the bleeding has stopped.
No one else is on the bus. Why would they be? We’ve been here two seconds, and I’ve already hurt myself bad enough Lex thinks we’ve got to head back. Not that I’m complaining. It’s just
me and her now.
She’s still laughing.
“What is so funny?” I say, nudging her with my elbow.
Her eyes flick to mine, and she busts out again. “I’m sorry, Ry. I don’t mean to laugh it’s just, you’re not bad at anything. Basketball, swim team, guitar lessons, tennis… you’ve been so good at it, and I totally suck. It’s just weird seeing you fall on your face when I rocked that hill.”
I toss my hands up in the air and smile. “Thanks. That makes me feel so much better.”
She pulls off her hat and gloves, her hair making static pops as it flies in my face. “Well, I think it’s good for you. No one should be perfect at everything.”
My eyebrows go up. “You think I’m perfect?”
“Oh no. I’m not going to throw a bunch of compliments at you. That will make all my bragging rights in this moment less significant.”
Forgetting I’m not supposed to be touching her, I wrap my arm around her shoulders as the bus driver starts the engine.
“Then I challenge you to a game of poker when we get back.”
She snuggles into my chest, and my whole body starts sparking.
“You’re on.”
Chapter 11
Lexie
Stupid ass. There’s no other explanation for it. Ryan was trying to be all big brotherly and look where it got him. Face down in the snow. He’s lucky the sight of blood doesn’t make me all squirmy like most girls.
Not that I can be pissed at him. It was kind of cute actually. Besides whooping his butt in poker is always a guaranteed good time.
We get back to our room, and I strut in with confidence. The forest green comforter adorned with black bears is wadded up in a ball in the middle of the bed, a reminder of our morning. No wonder Kaylee thought more was going on.
He points at me and nods in my direction. “What’s that about?” he asks as he plops down on the bed and pushes the wadded comforter under his head.
I toss my hair over my shoulder. “Just getting my victory walk on.”
He rolls his dark eyes then settles them back on me. “We haven’t even started playing.”
“I know.” I flutter my eyelashes in the innocent way that comes across more cocky than sweet. When I look back at him, he stretches his arms up over his head, his shirt rises, revealing his happy trail.
I never really paid attention to it before, and now it seems I can’t go a day without it making an appearance.
“So let me guess. You’re psychic now?”
I remove my eyes from the flash of hair and skin and cock my lip into an off-centered grin. “Don’t need to be, considering you can’t even win a game of Go Fish.”
“Those are fighting words.” He sits up on the bed, rolls up his sleeves, only able to get them to his biceps before the material won’t budge another inch, then tilts his head down, eyes up and looks at me through long dark lashes. “Get the cards.”
“Where are they?”
“I thought you had them.”
“Oh sure. Hold on let me pull them out of my back pocket.” I reach behind me and pull my hand back out. “Empty. I’m not Nate.”
Ryan snaps his finger and points at me. “That’s it. I bet Nate has a deck of cards.”
“Yeah, too bad he and every other person are on the slopes.” A light bulb clicks in my head and a mischievous smile tugs at my lips.
“Oh God, what are you thinking?” His hand reaches to the back of his neck and starts rubbing. Perfect. He’s nervous about what I have in mind. And he should be. We’re going to get those cards, and I have the perfect plan.
***
“Hell no!” Ryan stands, hands in pocket, eyes dark with refusal.
“Oh come on.” I blink repeatedly, then hit him with the ultimate secret weapon. I stick out my pouty lip, drop my head in sadness and let my eyes droop until the lashes half cover my eyes.
“No.” He does everything in his power to avoid eye contact with me.
I lift my head slowly and with as much dramatics as possible I sigh and let my shoulders slump. His eyes meet mine, dark to dark, and the scar above his eye twitches. A constant reminder of something I’ve tried so hard to push to the back of my mind. I take my eyes from the scar, and focus on his eyes.
“Fine!”
My hands come together, and I jump up and down unable to control my excitement.
Ryan shakes his head, eyes in mid-roll. “Stop.”
“Why?” My teeth slide over my lip, but not even they can stop the smile from forming.
His poker face is no match for my smile. He lets out a short laugh, shakes his head again and points to the corner. “Just go.” I jump up and kiss his cheek before heading for my position.
It’s like Mission Impossible without the all black outfits. Oh we totally should have donned all black. How badass would that have been?
Ryan takes his position, arm poised on the desk, muscles flexing underneath his shirt, charming smile turned up to its full potential. He starts talking to the girl behind the lobby desk.
She’s young, our age, maybe a little older. Probably on winter break like us. She’s all blond and blue eyes, tall and lanky. Totally not Ryan’s type though. Not that I have much to compare it to. He hasn’t dated anyone in over a year. And Tiff the stiff wasn’t his type either. Seriously, the girl was pulled tighter than a facelift.
He rests his chin on his hand and looks at her through his long lashes just as he did to me earlier, but this time he has a sideways smile cocked in her direction. Eyes narrowed, causing the skin above the bridge of his nose to wrinkle in that way that makes him look all…all Ryany.
The girl runs her fingers through her hair, eyes fluttering like she’s having a seizure. She lets her hand fall from the strand and trails it down the front of her shirt, pulling any attention to her heaving boobs.
Oh no, she did not just do that! It’s the ultimate slut move. Ryan better not fall for it.
His hand slides behind his back, and he waves me on. Good boy. Too bad for her he’s only playing the game, and she’s just a piece he’s moving around the board so I can jump in and win. Even if he is only doing it for me. Ry would never play a girl like that. But he can never resist the pouty lip and innocent stare.
I look around, wait for the coast to be clear, and make my way to the keys hanging behind Blondie. I pretend to look at the stack of brochures featuring all the town has to offer.
Ooh ice fishing! I pick the brochure up and open the glossy pages. How fun! I turn to Ryan, hold it up and point while the blond leans her head on her hands and looks up into his eyes.
His eyes widen slightly and his scar really twitches. Okay okay. I put the brochure back where it came from and wait for him to give me the signal.
His hand reaches up, and behind the girl, he waves to me then settles his hand on her cheek and tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. Seriously, Ry? Ugh! Poor girl has no clue.
I move fast, grabbing for the keys and sliding them into my pocket before his hand is even off her hair. Time to abort. I run over to the counter, grab Ryan’s arm and pull. Hard. He practically trips over his boots as I tuck his arm under mine.
“Back off. He’s mine,” I say to the bug-eyed blond and drag Ryan out the door before he has a chance to utter a goodbye.
“What in the hell was that about?” Ryan asks when I release the death grip on his arm and give him a quick smack to the shoulder. “I did what you told me to do.”
“I told you to flirt with the girl, not have sex with her with your eyes!”
“What can I say? I’m that good.” He nods, lip curled up in the corner, eyebrows raised so arrogantly they’re practically in his hairline.
I throw my arms up. “Ugh! You’re impossible.”
“You got the key didn’t you?”
I reach into my pocket and let the single key hang from the black keychain with Kaylee and Nate’s room number. Ryan moves toward me, chests only inches apart, juniper and sandalwood assau
lt my nostrils, and I close my eyes for a quick moment to take it in. The boy does smell good. I have to give him that.
His hand wraps around my monkey mittens. My eyes open and settle on his, the copper that I only noticed this morning takes center stage and sparkles in the early winter sun.
“I’ll take those,” he says, and before I have a second to react he takes off. Oh hell no. I run after him, propelling myself farther with each step on the snow-packed ground.
Snowflakes start to fall just as Ryan’s foot gets stuck in a snow mound. I don’t stop. I take a running leap and fly through the air and smack into his back. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull our weight backwards until we are both head down in the snow.
The key falls from his hand, and this time I don’t hesitate. I dive at it, covering it with my body. The impact freed his foot and just as quickly as I’m covering the key he’s on top of me, arms reaching under me.
“It’s mine!” I scream and laugh as his cold hands slide under my coat and start tickling my sides. Not fair! He’s a dirty fighter.
Laughs erupt from deep in my stomach. “Okay, okay! You can have it. I roll over and let him take the key.
Snowflakes sprinkle his hair, and one falls on his nose. I lean into him and reach my hand out. His eyes narrow in on me, and like a portal to his mind, I can see the battle going on. He doesn’t trust me. Not that I blame him. I never call truce.
“You have a snowflake,” I say and wipe it off his nose. The cautious tension in his shoulders lessens, and his body leans toward me, hand instantly reaching for his nervous ticker. “How’s your nose?” I ask and let my hand run across his jaw line, stopping at his chin. I push it up so I can get a better look. No black and blues, no visible cuts. He drops his hand from his neck.
“Better. The snowball helped.”
“Just what I wanted to hear.” I pull my arm out from behind me, smile and push a handful of snow into his face. Taken by shock, his fingers go to his nose, and I grab the key out of his hand.
