Chapter 3
three
I t’s freezing balls. Actually, it’s probably a good thing I don’t have any because if I did, they’d be popping back up inside my body, trying to get warm. You’d think I’d be used to this extreme cold going to school in Eastern Washington, but the wind chill is no joke this morning.
I leave my board and gear in the car while I head for the lodge. The place is packed this close to the holidays, with everyone on Christmas vacation. No one cares that the sun still isn’t up and the lifts don’t start running for another forty-five minutes.
My family is only one of many that come up here every Christmas. I’m sure I’ll bump into the other regulars. We typically get together during the week to hit the slopes and meet at the only bar in town. When we were younger, we had to stick to the pizza parlor instead.
The person before me steps away from the window, revealing Jennifer.
“What the hell. You’re working up here this year?” I ask before she can grasp who I am under all these layers.
“Dakota! I knew you’d be the first one up here. I’m just filling in this morning for my mom. She had an appointment down the mountain and won’t be in until later. You pulling a full day?”
“It’s been a year since I’ve got up on my board, so I highly doubt it. I’ll need a soak in the hot tub after today. I already know it.”
“Oh, shit. No doubt. But you know what’s better than sitting in a plastic tub making your own batch of soup?”
“Eww.”
Jennifer laughs at my interruption. “Drinks at the saloon. Zach and Luke will be in town by then. We can all meet up.”
“Yeah, you know what? That sounds great. I could use a few drinks.”
“Are you guys almost done?” A man behind me cuts in.
“Sorry, yeah. I have a pass can you get it for me. It’s under my dad’s name.”
“Yeah, of course. Just a second.”
She types away on the computer, and I shift awkwardly, looking over my shoulder, half-waving at the man I’ve irritated. “Sorry, again.”
He nods but otherwise ignores me. Asshole.
“Here you go, girl. If my mom gets back early enough, I’ll come look for you.”
I snag the pass from between her outstretched fingers and drop her a mock salute.
I hear her sickly-sweet customer service voice as she helps the guy behind me. I wonder if he realizes how thick she’s putting it on. Probably in hopes he doesn’t report her. Not that it would really matter, nepotism and all that.
The sky’s a muted gray, filled with thick clouds that should drop us some fresh powder overnight, but nothing was in the forecast for this morning.
The parking lot is full when I switch out my boots, gather my board, and shove all my stuff into my many pockets. I’m popping in my headphones, lining up at the lift, when I notice the same guy from the ticket booth waiting in front of me.
“Next two, move up to the line.” the liftie calls over the creaking metal of the chair lift.
My back foot pushes as the board glides against the snow until I’m on the left side, ready for the chair to swing around and take us. We’re some of the first to make it up the mountain this morning. I only spy three on their way down as we ascend to the top.
My stomach drops when we’re second from approaching the top. I’ve never been very graceful when it comes to getting off. It doesn’t matter that I’ve done it hundreds of times. My ass still worries about falling off and getting taken out by the following riders.
I nail it this time, getting my foot on the stomp pad so I don’t slip. I get off to the side and strap in, tapping the play button on my earbuds. The beginning notes of M83’s “Midnight City” pour energy into my veins, pumping me up to go. Checking my surroundings, I hop up and head for the trail.
There’s nothing like the feeling of flying down a mountain at the same speed you’d take through a school zone—twisting back and forth, with the frigid air whipping against your skin.
I lose track of how many rounds I take, but I’m ready to call it by noon. My knees are killing me. I’m undoubtedly sporting a wind rash on my face, and if I don’t eat in the next thirty minutes, my stomach might revolt. That means, delicious, totally not good for you, Lodge food.
Unstrapping from my board, I dig it into the snow with everyone else's lining the outside of the building. The heat is overwhelming the minute I step inside. I pick off my gloves, hat, and jacket and unstrap my bibs to peel off my sweatshirt. Dumping the pile of clothes at an open table, I take in my options.
Burger and fries or loaded nachos? Both sound delicious, but the shorter line takes the win, nachos it is. The flavor combination might be a mistake, but I need an extra caffeine boost, so I add an energy drink to my tray.
Sliding into the booth, I shove all my clothes into the seat beside me. I’m enjoying my food when a body plops down across from me.
“Hey, stranger,” Zach says, dimples popping into place on his gorgeous face.
“Where’s the rest of your duo?”
“Bothering Jennifer about plans for the week. Something about their parents having dinner at some point together.”
I nod and shove another chip in my mouth.
“So, how have you been gorgeous? That boyfriend of yours here this week, too?”
I don’t miss the crinkle in his eyes when he asks the second question. He reaches across the table and steals a chip from the plastic container.
I let out a slow puff of air. “No, that fucker is not here with me. Nor will he ever be again.”
His body shifts, leaning closer, eyes wide. “What the hell happened?”
“I don’t want to get into it. Maybe you can pry it out of me tonight at the bar after copious amounts of liquor. But I’ll say I ended things yesterday morning, so it’s still fresh.”
“What’s still fresh?” Luke asks, sidling up to the table, his arm thrown around Jennifer’s shoulder.
“Our Dakota here finds herself single for the first time in, what, five years?” Zach answers for me.
Luke rubs his hands together like an evil genius. “Oh, this week is going to be great.” He throws Zach a wicked look.