CHAPTER FIVE DIEGO #2
“It’s okay. We’ll go step by step. Today’s lesson is all about balance, so we’re just going to focus on keeping you up and standing on those skis, okay?”
She nods eagerly, her eyes brightening with hope. “And by Friday we’ll run down a slope?”
I nod, a wobbly smile touching the corners of my mouth. I wish I could ski with her – with them all – but I know I won’t be allowed to. Honestly, seeing all these people around me makes me want to scream and punch a wall. I’m telling you, it hurts to be forbidden from doing the only thing I love.
Lou jumps up then and grabs my hand in her gloved one. “My skis are over there.”
I straighten myself, bite back a groan because of the discomfort in my leg, and laugh at the kid pulling me along.
My arm brushes against Alara’s, our eyes meeting for what feels like the longest second ever.
She doesn’t say anything, neither do I, but I don’t miss the tender gleam shining in those hazel eyes.
“Good job, Lou! Look at you go, girl.”
Lou squeals in excitement and jumps to high-five me, but in the process forgets that her feet are strapped to her skis. She falls to her knees, using her hands to catch herself, then looks up at me before letting out a belly laugh. I can’t help but chuckle too.
“Did you see that?” She grins widely. “I didn’t fall!”
The lesson is coming to an end, and I spent forty minutes teaching Lou one-on-one.
From teaching her how to stand and adopt the right posture, and giving her the confidence to move forward, it’s obvious that she has a lot of progress to make, but at least she isn’t terrified of mounting a pair of skis anymore.
Pride rushes through me at the sight of the twinkling stars in her eyes.
I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel when she runs down that first slope at the end of the week.
That is, if Alara still wants me as her assistant.
I highly doubt she will, as I haven’t stopped grumbling under my breath or huffing discreetly.
“I saw.” I smile down at Lou. “You did a good job today. Now why don’t you get out of the skis like I showed you?”
Once she’s holding the skis, she gives me a wide grin, and we high five. “Will you be here tomorrow?”
I hope not. “Yep. All week long.”
I glance up to see Alara approaching us. When she gives me an approving nod, relief crashes through me. I notice the whole class has dispersed.
Lou squeals. “I can’t wait!”
Alara’s laugh sounds exactly like a melody, one I want ingrained into my brain.
She touches Lou’s helmet, looking down at the little girl, who’s practically bouncing with excitement.
Oh, to be a kid again, fueled by adrenaline and simple happiness.
“Lou, your parents are here to pick you up. We’ll see you tomorrow. ”
After Lou waves to say goodbye and runs to her parents, I direct my attention to Alara who’s staring incredulously at me.
“What?” I ask, frowning. I almost touch my face to check if there’s something on it, but then I realize she’s just trying to read me.
I fight the urge to crawl in a hole, because I know she can see past the walls I’ve built around me.
I know I can’t exactly hide from her, and it’s terrifying how someone as sweet as her can look at me, a guy who keeps repeating his mistakes, with such gentleness.
Shaking her head, she turns on her heel. “Nothing. I wasn’t expecting you to have a soft spot for a kid.”
Neither was I, but I guess spending time with Lou reminded me of the days when I used to take care of Valentina while both our parents were at work.
“I’m full of surprises,” I say dryly.
“I can see that.”
She makes a beeline for her pair of skis that she’s set to one side, but I cross the space between us by jogging. I ignore the pain shooting up my leg as I race toward her, and gently grab her elbow to make her pivot.
Her eyebrows pinch in subtle confusion when her gaze connects to mine, but she makes no move to step away.
With the sunlight streaming down her face, her irises are green and utterly mesmerizing.
A natural tint of rose colors her cheekbones, and I wonder if it’s because of the cold air biting at her skin or how minimal the distance is between our chests.
Fuck, she makes me really nervous. Being in her vicinity makes me lose all sense of control over myself, and I don’t like that.
Now’s the time to make up for my crappy attitude.
“Alara,” I breathe out, her name tasting like spun sugar. “I’m sorry. I’m really fucking sorry.”
Her shoulders drop just as I release her arm. I tug off my gloves, rubbing the back of my neck with a sweaty palm.
She only blinks, so I take that as my cue to continue. “I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way on Friday. Hell, I shouldn’t have treated you so badly ever since I arrived. I’m really sorry if I hurt and upset you, but it wasn’t my intention at all. I was having a terrible day—”
“Week,” she corrects.
A dry chuckle escapes me. “Yeah. It was a pretty shitty week, and unleashing my anger on you was uncalled for.” I adjust my beanie, sighing heavily. “Can we start over?”
Those wide eyes study me for a beat, for an eternity, then drop to her feet. She shakes her head, ready to turn around again, but I catch her hand. Even though her fingers are gloved, electricity rushes from her palm to mine. “Depends,” she says. “Are you going to keep being a jackass?”
“A sarcastic jackass.”
Her unimpressed look makes a laugh rumble in my chest.
“Too bad for you because that appears to be my exact type of man.”
“Ah.” I grin, my eyebrows shooting up to my hairline. “Look who’s hitting on me now.”
She all but crosses her arms over her chest.
“I promise I’ll be a good boy.” I even give her puppy-dog eyes, which makes her gently swat my arm.
“I’m serious, Alara. Can we move on from last week and start over?
Please? I’d really appreciate it if you could continue training me at Rock Snow.
I just— I really need your help, but I’d also like for us to be friends. ”
My gaze drops to her lips as she twists them in contemplation.
Rubbing the back of my neck once again, I let my head fall forward and chuckle bleakly.
“My life has always revolved around snowboarding, and I’m realizing I could lose it all if I don’t get my shit together.
I want to be good, Alara, not only in Coach’s eyes but in yours too.
I’ve been in so much pain and anger lately that I said things I didn’t mean, and you’re the only person who can help me here.
I want to get back on my board as soon as possible.
I don’t know what you know about what Coach Wilson expects from me, but I’m not working at Rock Snow for kicks. ”
It feels nice to get this off my chest.
I was expecting judgment, resentment, but all I see is understanding.
“I figured.”
“But I swear on everything I have that I will do and be better. I’ll learn everything there is to know. I’ll even take pictures with customers who come in to speak to me. I’ll do anything, but, please, forgive me. I want us to get along because, to be honest, your company is . . . tolerable.”
I lie on the last word because her companionship is much more than simply tolerable. It gives me a sense of peace I’ve never felt before, a thrill I only get with her when she pushes my buttons and I retort back.
“Well, I’m finding you tolerable too,” she deadpans, but her smile betrays her. She’s got a really pretty smile. Like, super fucking pretty, one I can’t look away from.
“I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me after the way I spoke to you. And just to be clear, I’m not using you. I’m genuinely interested in being your friend.”
“Diego,” she says softly. “I was going to forgive you after your first apology.”
Oh, shit. Really? She’s forgiving me?
Motherfucker, I could happily dance right now.
I poke my tongue against the inside of my cheek to keep myself from smiling. “You enjoyed me groveling, didn’t you?”
“It was a pretty sight,” she admits with a shrug. Then, her eyes mist over with something I can clearly decipher – pity. “I’ll help you. Only if you promise to try with not only me but everyone else. Gaby included. She might be your sister, but she worries about you.”
I make a mental note to speak to Gaby tonight. And Joe too. I don’t want him to think I’m disrespecting his daughter, because I’m not. I don’t want him to think I’m not taking Coach’s orders seriously either.
For Alara, I will try. I will do my damn best. Because, for some reason, she’s managed to see the good in me despite everything I’ve put her through.
I nod vigorously. “I will. I promise.” I almost tuck her into my chest. Instead, I just smile. “Thank you so much.”
“We’re stuck together for the next couple of months. Better if we get along, right?”
What I don’t tell her is that I’m hoping to be out of here as soon as I can. Possibly by the end of this month. “You’re right.”
Her lips pull up in a small smile. “Good.”
I breathe out in relief. “Good.”
Fuck, yeah. I think I’m on the right path.
Before I can get lost in her eyes, I lean around her and grab her pair of skis.
“What are you doing?” She regards me with suspicion.
“Being a gentleman,” I reply, matter-of-factly. Also, I think I need to touch the closest thing that comes to a snowboard, or else I’ll lose my mind.
Alara blinks. “I’m going to need some time to get used to your kindness.”
I bark out a cold laugh as she falls into step beside me. I have no clue where we’re going, but I find myself following her as though we’re already tethered by some invisible thread. “You’re so lucky I don’t make a snowball and throw it at you.”
“That is so chivalrous of you,” she bites back.
I can’t refrain my grinning. “How about we get a snack before our next lesson?”
She smiles and nods, and then we’re walking toward the chairlifts. I know she’s planning on taking me to the Glacier – they serve a delicious hot chocolate I haven’t had in years.
As we sit next to each other, I revel in the sight of the mountains encircling us, feeling like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest. I don’t even know what I would have done if Alara hadn’t forgiven me. Probably weep and fall to my knees?
As reluctant as I’ve been about staying here for months, I can admit now how good it feels to be back at Blue Ridge. There’s nothing like home, and I don’t think this sense of nostalgia will ever leave me.
“Do me a favor,” I ask, turning my attention to Alara and her pink cheeks.
I’ve always loved the view from here – the endless snow-covered mountains lined up, the tall pine trees dusted in white – but as I stare at Alara, I wonder why I suddenly find it impossibly hard to look away.
A realization hits me square in the face: her beauty is incomparable, and it outshines everything surrounding us.
Alright, I need to keep myself in check. No matter how attractive I think she is, she is my boss’s daughter. My friend’s sister. My sister’s best friend. Besides, I’m leaving as soon as I can.
She glances up at me. “What?”
“Please don’t push me over.”
Her laughter booms, and fuck if it doesn’t make me elated. I want to hear that sound more often. I want to be the one who makes her laugh like this. “No promises here. You’d be less of a pain in my ass.”
“Liar. Just admit that you were bored until I came into your life.”
She rolls her eyes. “I refuse to stroke your humongous ego.”
I chuckle. “That’s probably for the best.”
In that moment, there’s something blooming inside my chest – something that feels like a flower starting to sprout with the first ray of sunshine in the spring.
Hope.
And maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.