48. Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Felix
T he first few days after Alisha left, I felt quite numb and lost. Mira had been quick to check in on me daily to stop me from going mad. I’d been grateful for her company, especially as her shifts were keeping her busy, and she was already exhausted. But family mattered to us Bauers. Christmas Day had been calm. I’d eaten a lot, and this year, I’d gone all out on presents. Aunt Brenna had been very grateful and now she was resting, as she had really ensured we had the best Christmas yet.
It was the 28th of December and every single day and night, I’d be on the phone to Alisha. We’d usually switch to FaceTime, talking about what we did during the day and then plans for the next one. It didn’t stop me from missing her like crazy though. My feelings were beyond intense at this point. I still hadn’t told her I loved her but I had my reasons. I wanted to tell her to her face.
I had just finished teaching my first official lesson and it had gone extremely well. I had taught a kid who was eight years old and his parents were really keen for him to ski so that he could join them eventually. I agreed that it was good to start young, having started my ski lessons when I was eight years old too. Aunt Brenna had booked the lessons for me and Mira. She had no problem spending money on us especially as it benefited us.
“Good job, buddy.” I gave the child a high-five, whose name was Declan. He was from the UK and loved dinosaurs. He couldn’t stop talking about them as soon as I asked him what his hobbies were. It was very cute.
“Thanks, Felix. I had so much fun!” Declan cheered, his blue eyes wide. He then ran into the arms of his dad, who proudly lifted him up in the air. His parents had booked him in for another two lessons before heading back to the UK. They thanked me and then made their way to a nearby restaurant.
I had a few more lessons to do today, and my mentor would be observing to see how I did. It was actually Hilde, as I already knew her and she had great advice.
A couple more hours passed until it was time to close up and Hilde said that I’d done well today, that I had just the right amount of patience and wit. It was good to hear and I felt ready for the next day.
“See you tomorrow, Felix,” Hilde said.
“See you.”
The ski school though would be closed after the 30th for a few days, to ring in the New Year. The staff deserved a break as they worked incredibly hard and wanted to prepare for a busy year ahead.
I clocked out from my shift, eager to just get back home and dive into my bed, but Mira was calling so sleep would be out of the question. I knew she’d want to meet up, to check in on me again. I hung up my ski jacket and gear in the locker room and then made my way to the cable car. It always felt weird now, travelling down in one alone.
By the time I got home, Mira was already waiting for me in her car. She must have just got here as she had a key for the house but didn’t go straight in.
“Hey,” I said to my sister as soon as she got out of her car, keys dangling in her hand. She was still in her scrubs and like always, pulled me into a tight embrace as if she hadn’t seen me for days. She’d only just seen me yesterday.
“You look good today, Felix.” Mira’s eyes scanned my face and then she let out a deep breath, shaking her head slightly.
“You know I worry,” Mira continued. I knew that, maybe others would call it overbearing but it didn’t bother me in the slightest.
“Come inside,” I told her, taking my keys out from my trouser pocket. I offered my sister some tea once we got inside and she accepted, flopping down on the sofa and propping her feet up on the coffee table.
“Wow, that was a tough shift.” Mira rested her head on one of the cushions.
“What happened?” I asked her, as I took two mugs out of the cupboard. I’d add a little lemon and honey to her tea to make her relax. If she wanted to stay the night, I’d let her as well.
“Someone died.” Mira wrinkled her nose and then turned to look at me. I didn’t know how she managed to do her job but she loved it so much. She wanted to help people and in that process, sadly, people died.
“I’m sorry,” I couldn’t say much. All my sister could do was shrug and scratch behind her ear before replying.
“I feel sorry for the family, especially as it’s Christmas and nearly the New Year. Can’t imagine losing the one you love.” Mira sighed. She was right.
Once the tea was made, I placed her mug on the table and then went back to finish making mine. I’d decided on chai, I liked the spice and cinnamon especially. It reminded me of Alisha, fucking hell I missed her so much. The distance between us was bordering on agony and I knew I really needed to see her soon.
Once I returned, I could see Mira was scrolling through her phone. Until something caught her attention and she swung her legs off the table to read whatever it was she came across intensely.
“What?” I furrowed my eyebrows, stretching my own long legs in front of me and resting them on the table. I was totally tired too but I kept my attention on my sister, who shoved the phone in my free hand.
“Read it. I think you’ll cry. It’s already made me,” Mira said, sniffing her nose and visible tears were in her eyes. What the hell?
“Okay,” I said hesitantly, angling the phone so that I could get a better look. It looked like an article and once I saw the name of the journalist who wrote it, I froze in my spot. Alisha. I’d already read her most recent article about Ischgl and it was very good. I especially loved the part where she spoke about meeting me and what she learned about a traditional Austrian family.
I started to read the first paragraph and I already felt winded once I processed what the article was about. Me.
I didn’t expect to find someone on my travels to Austria.
Until I met him.
I really thought I knew everything about love, but I was wrong.
The first day I arrived in Ischgl, I was hesitant about even being there and my best friend was the only comfort I had.
When I finally had my first ski lesson, my limbs were so sore I felt like I couldn’t move.
I then crashed into the most handsome man I’d ever met and from then on, I was completely under his spell.
We spent the most amazing two weeks together, getting to know one another.
I met his family, who are one of the kindest and most welcoming families I’ve ever met.
I discovered a new part about myself and I owe it to Felix for teaching me to believe in myself, because I didn’t before. Skiing became so much more fun when he was guiding me and
Felix Bauer is everything and more. He’s kind, funny and makes you laugh until your lungs hurt.
If he is reading this, I want him to know that this was so much more than a holiday romance. If he’ll have me, I will do my best to give him the happiness he deserves. He knows that I express myself better with written words and there are three I want for him to read.
I love you. Thank you for coming into my life, for teaching me so many things but most of all, how to love again when I didn’t believe it was possible.
“Isn’t that adorable?” Mira had waited to speak to me once I had finished reading. My heart was pounding in my chest and all I wanted to do now was see Alisha. But not over a video call. No, in person. There was no point in staying here in Ischgl for New Year, not when I really wanted to spend it with Alisha. I didn’t want to start the year without her, I wanted to begin it with her.
“I need to see her,” I said in a firm tone. My mind was made up. This moment reminded me of the many cheesy romance movies I’d watched with Alisha the past week. I’d almost scoffed at them but here I was, in the same position as the movie characters. Fighting for the woman I loved.
“Yes, you do,” Mira agreed. I was quick to move, grabbing my laptop so I could look up flight details. It would be difficult to get a last-minute flight and we had to look at a lot of comparison sights until we finally found one for the 30th of December. A perfect one too, as it meant I could still finish up at work and then get myself off to England.
“That was lucky.” Mira let out a deep heave as I managed to check out and pay for the flight online. The next few days were going to be crazy but I was a determined man. I’d do anything for love. I’d do anything for Alisha.
And my family would help me do that. Mira supported me in my decision and once I told Aunt Brenna later in the evening, she cheered over the phone. All I wanted now was for the clock to tick faster.
“Where will you stay once you get there?” Mira asked.
“I’ll book a hotel nearby, just need to ask Ophelia where Alisha lives. Do you think she can keep a secret?” I was hopeful she could.
“Yeah, she is very trustworthy. I’ve told her a lot of things and so has she. It feels like she’s a sister in a way.” Mira smiled.
“Okay. I’ll text her, can you give me her number as I don’t have it?” I asked. Mira provided me with the number and then announced she’d make another tea for us. She also asked if she could stay over and perhaps we could hang out in the morning since her shift didn’t start until the late afternoon.
I made sure to text Ophelia when Mira was making the tea to ask for the details of Alisha’s apartment and where she’d be for New Year’s Eve. She was quick to reply to me and extremely supportive, saying that Alisha seemed quite down the past few days. Well, that would change. Once I had the details, my next task was to book the hotel where I’d stay for a few days. I’d also let the ski school know I’d be away, that I needed to see someone important.
We’d finally be together and I’d tell her how much I’d been thinking about her for the last two weeks, that there was no future without her and I’d move the whole galaxy for her if it meant we’d be together. I’d never be so spontaneous like this but it felt right. New Year’s Eve couldn’t come quick enough.
***
A few hours later, with the flight booked and accommodation sorted, I was struggling to keep it all a secret from Alisha. I wanted to hear her voice though so I decided to ring her. She picked up just as quickly as I called her.
“Hi!” she said rather excitedly, which warmed my heart. I loved that she felt this way about me; this caused my own feelings to become stronger.
“How are you, gorgeous?” I asked, eager to hear about her day and what she got up to.
“I’m happy now. I’ve just been heckling my brothers about something and they riled me up,” Alisha said. I could almost imagine that right now, she was rolling her eyes. She’d told me that her brothers were her world but they weren’t always mature.
“Want to talk about it?”
“Nah, I want to hear about you and what you’ve been up to,” Alisha replied. Oh, if only she knew that I’d be with her on New Year’s Eve. I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms and tell her exactly how I felt. The time was right.
“Teaching my first lesson was fun. I feel like I’ve finally found something I was meant to do.” I smiled as I said this, but really, I had a lot to thank Alisha for. She was my motivation. My reason.
“I’m so glad for you,” Alisha told me. In the background, I could hear some clinking and I could only assume she was either washing dishes or putting things away. It reminded me that I needed to tidy up. Mira had offered earlier but I declined because I could see how tired she was. My sister worked hard and deserved a break.
“I miss you,” I told her truthfully. It was like a whole other piece of me had been torn away and I would only feel complete once I was with her. Three days felt too long but I had to be patient.
“I miss you more, Felix. Maybe we can arrange to see each other after New Year,” she suggested.
But little did she know that I’d be with her much sooner.