Chapter Six
COLE
“Oh, it’s… ahem. I mean… well. We still have another person we’re waiting on, so while we do, let me pair you all off and go over the last rule.” He started matching everyone in twos, keeping couples together, until he came to Aspen. He blinked. He couldn’t believe she was here.
“I’m sorry, miss, but I don’t seem to have your name on my list.” His lips quirked into a sympathetic smirk, and then—just to her—a wink. “But I do happen to have an opening, if you’d like to join.”
Aspen let out a breath and shook her head.
“Tempting, but I was hoping to get a few runs in before the lifts open. Since you’re all heading the same direction I was, and I need a waiver, looks like I’m crap outta luck this morning.
” She tapped the snowboard strapped to her back and pivoted to leave.
He knew it was against the rules, but he had a way to get the waiver signed on his phone.
He’d only had to use it once before, for another pro snowboarder who had forgotten to sign and had threatened to sue if they couldn’t go on the run.
Something he hadn’t wanted to have to explain to Mr. Mynt, the resort owner.
This wasn’t an emergency, but if anyone asked, he could always say he was just afraid she might make a fuss.
Besides, he really wanted her to come. Watching her snowboard in action would be incredible.
He doubted anyone else would know who she was in the dark, but once the sun rose, some of the tourists would probably recognize her.
By then, though, they’d all be strapped into their boards and ready to fly.
“Hey…” He didn’t want to say it too loudly, so when she turned around, he motioned for her to come closer, hoping she didn’t have her knife on her again.
She shuffled her feet a little, eyebrows pulled down as she approached. “Yeah, what’s up, Kringle?”
He chuckled at the name and shook his head. “I might have a way for you to come on the hike and do the run, if you’re interested, but you’ve gotta be discreet about it. I don’t need these other guys finding out.” He motioned toward the tourists chatting behind him.
She crossed her arms and gave him a hard stare. “Well, that depends on this ‘way’ you’re speaking of. I’m not doing anything illegal here.” Her mouth lifted on one side in the darkness, and he knew she was teasing him.
He motioned with his finger for her to move closer, and she rolled her eyes as she did so, letting him whisper in her ear.
“It’s a form. On my phone. A digital version.
Easy peasy, Mac-n-cheesy.” Did he really just say that out loud?
He cringed as he moved away from her, pulled out his phone, brought up the form, and handed it to her so she could sign the waiver.
When he went to hand it to her, he noticed her hand covering her mouth, hiding what appeared to be a smile. She schooled her features before removing her hand and took the phone, shaking her head.
Before she could comment on his terrible joke, he spoke up. “I know, that was another awful one. I’m sorry. I don’t know what it is about you, but you bring out the dad jokes in me.”
She finished signing the form and handed him back his phone, and he slipped it into his zippered pocket.
“Though I would love to stand here making bad jokes at you all day, I’ve got a job to do.” He turned to leave, but her voice stopped him.
“Hey… King Cole, you forgot to pair me up with someone.”
He looked around, down at his list, and back up at her.
“It seems as though everyone is all paired up, so that means you get to be my partner today.” He continued walking and, after a few steps, looked back at her. “Well, come on already. The sun’s not gonna wait for us to rise.”
He heard her footsteps behind him as he returned to the front of the group, needing to tell them all the fourth and final rule.
“Okay, now that you know rules one through three, here’s the fourth and final rule.
If you see a black bear, stand your ground and don’t run.
We have a few regulars around here, and most of the time, they just want to get out of your way.
But if you run, they’ll play chase. So please, don’t.
And don’t scream— not only is that the stupidest thing you could do, you might also trigger an avalanche, which is the last thing we want, especially with all this new snow.
“Oh, and if the bear happens to be Harvey, our M you just wanted to know how I am.
My knee is a touchy subject—an injury I never thought I’d have to deal with—and that makes me angry.
But that isn’t your fault. So… I’m sorry for being a beast about it. ”
He looked back at her. She had turned around, arms crossed over her chest, looking uncomfortable in her own skin as she scanned the surroundings, avoiding his gaze.
“It’s okay to be angry. And I really am sorry about your knee.
I was going to say, I was watching when it happened, and when I didn’t see you get back up, I knew something was wrong.
I’ve been following your progress, read all about your journey to healing, and I have to say I’m thoroughly impressed with how dedicated you are. It’s inspiring.”
There. He hadn’t fumbled his words this time, and she didn’t look like she wanted to beat him with her board—so all in all, he’d take it as a win.
“Huh.” That was all she said as she looked him up and down, her eyebrows furrowed into a frown, her mouth pulled into a line, before turning around to stretch her knee while the tourists ambled around—some complaining about how hard the hike had been so far, others pulling out small snacks and drinking water.
But what did “huh” mean? Was she more upset with him now?
He replayed his words in his head, eyes on his watch, waiting out the ten-minute break and wondering what in the world she had meant by that single, enigmatic interjection.