Chapter 3
HANNAH
My head leans against the pane of cold glass in the back seat of the taxi. I’m exhausted after having procrastinated the night before to pack all my shit. Time flies when you forget your best friend gave you a month’s notice.
We finally got off the highway thirty minutes ago, and the populated areas became thin, civilization weeding out until neighbors are few and far between. Roads are getting tighter to maneuver, but that just means we’re reaching my favorite part of the drive.
I catch my driver, Glenn, peeking through his rearview mirror and smile. “We’re only five minutes away, Miss.”
“Thank you, Glenn,” I say, smiling back.
His gray, handlebar mustache twitches as his smile lights up his whole face. “It’s perfect timing that I picked you up. I have grandkids not too far from where you are.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes! I plan to surprise them, maybe take them out to dinner.”
“That sounds wonderful! What are their names?”
Glenn digs in his coat pocket, pulling out a worn-out, brown leather wallet. With one hand controlling the steering wheel, he flips it open. I reach for it and see a picture of two brunette girls smiling ear to ear, holding a chocolate lab puppy.
“Oh, Glenn, they’re adorable!”
“The one on the right is Annette, and the one on the left is Beatrice. Twins, only a minute apart.” He flips the wallet back and tosses it onto the passenger seat.
We talk about them for a few minutes, what their hobbies are, and how they’re freshmen in high school. It’s a nice conversation, one that isn’t centered around me or my health.
Glenn drives carefully through dirt roads covered in freshly fallen snow, winding around patches of forests, coating bare branches, and creating a winter wonderland. It’s our climb to my favorite place, heart fluttering with each turn.
My leg bounces, thinking back to my first time on the slopes as a kid, how my love for them led me to meeting my best friend in the entire world.
Throughout high school together, we did it competitively, more so me in the end, resulting in awards and recognition, but my love for photography took center stage shortly after.
It may have taken the back seat for a while, but it’ll be nice to return, especially here.
I take a deep breath, lean my head back against the seat, and continue watching the landscape change as we drive higher in into the mountains, the sun reflecting off the ice-covered branches making them shimmer as we drive by.
Glenn hums to the radio, a jazz station that I quite enjoyed for the ride.
I cross my arms over my chest, warm inside my pink winter jacket.
Glenn takes one last sharp turn, revealing a familiar sign, its wooden structure weathered by years, its words reading Snowy Peak Resort.
Beyond the tree line widens as he circles us around to the front.
Christmas decorations are already on display, gold garland strings along railings and the front porch.
I give Glenn a nice tip, thanking him for driving me out.
“It was my pleasure, Hannah. This place is beautiful. I might have to bring my granddaughters here sometime!” He opens the car door for me and starts to unload the trunk of my belongings.
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Glenn.
” Readjusting my blue winter hat, I hear Maya’s voice calling my name and turn to see her running down the steps, her curly, dark hair tamed by a yellow winter hat and a black coat.
Her boots skid to a stop, only for her to tackle me to the ground, hugging like she’s convinced I’ll disappear forever if she lets go.
Our bodies land in a pile of snow, our laughter an infectious sound that fills my heart with joy. Her hugs are like a warm blanket wrapped around my body after a long night in the cold; reassuring and comforting, something I’d needed for a long time.
She starts to squeeze me tighter, her weight pushing me down into the snow.
“Maya, you’re crushing me!” I complain, feeling my body sinking like quicksand.
She sighs with contempt. “Good, because it’s been too long without seeing my best friend.”
“My funeral is going to arrive real quick if you don’t give me some air!”
“Dying by my hands is quite climactic.”
I try to throw her off, but she keeps a firm grip. “Maya, I’m freezing!”
“All right, you whiny baby.” She rolls off of me, but not before hitting my arm. “Want to make snow angels?”
I snort, hitting her back. “Maybe after the snow dries inside my pants.”
Maya gets up and offers me a hand, pulling me to my feet. She smirks, then grabs my face with her leather gloves, pinching my cheeks. “Stop hermitting, I missed you too much.”
Maya’s face is red from the winter air, dark curls wild, peeking from underneath her winter hat. “I missed you, too.”
Our fifteen years of friendship remain unbreakable, no matter the distance, and it fills me with elation to know it will always stand the test of time.
She releases me from her grasp and slings my duffel bag over her shoulder. “Get your snowboard, girlie, I made sure Mom and Pops gave you the cabin across from me.”
“Oh? We’re not sharing this time?” I take my snowboard from Glenn and wish him a good day.
“You missed the arrival of delicious men. A bachelor party. I need room to get exercise, if you know what I mean.” Her wink has me rolling my eyes. Leave it to Maya to find the nearest pack of horny, drunk men ready to make mistakes.
I wave Glenn off as he honks away from the resort, then follow Maya up the steps to the entrance of Snowy Peak Resort.
Maya’s parents, Jill and Anthony, have owned it for over twenty years, and it has always been a place I find myself coming back to whenever the holidays roll around, except when I dated Liam. He never wanted to go.
More gold garlands drape the reception desk and banisters, with lights strung around columns that hold up the foundation.
Guests gather in clusters, some by the fireplace.
Children laugh, playing a game of checkers on the coffee table while their parents converse with one another.
A fully decorated Christmas tree is displayed by the bay window, presents tucked just beneath its branches.
The smell of fresh coffee and pastries is just too intoxicating to ignore.
We give each other a knowing look and beeline toward the table by the fireplace. Maya pours us each a cup of coffee as I inhale a chocolate doughnut, moaning from the taste alone.
“Cream and three sugars?” Maya asks, holding up a blue porcelain creamer.
“Just cream,” I correct, wiping my mouth on the back of my hand. She smiles, understanding my need to control my sugar intake. The doughnut was pushing it.
Stupid PCOS.
I take a sip of my warm coffee. It coats my throat and pushes the chill out of my body. “Fuck, this is a good cup of coffee.”
Maya laughs. “I forced my parents to switch brands. Let’s see if I can swindle my way into other things.”
“Like?”
Maya blows on her coffee. “Iced coffees.”
“Yes, because coming in from a chilly day on the slopes, someone is dying for an iced beverage.” I take another sip, instant warmth heating my veins. I wiggle my toes in my boots.
Maya eyes me over her cup. “Shut up and stop wiggling your toes.”
I stick out my tongue. “Don’t be a brat.”
Suddenly, I hear my childhood nickname coming from upstairs. “Hannah banana!”
I wave enthusiastically at Jill. She greets us at the bottom of the steps, embracing me in a soft hug.
I hear another round of footsteps descending and peek over her shoulder to see Maya’s dad in a blue sweater and khakis.
It’s not hard to see how Maya is the spitting image of her father, tan skin, dark wavy hair, but his eyes are a striking blue, something that completely skipped over his daughter.
Jill’s eyes are stunning, deep brown, naturally blonde hair, and fair skin.
“Is that Hannah banana I see?” He waits for Jill to step back before giving me a bear hug, nearly crushing my lungs.
“Easy, hun, you’re going to knock the wind out of her,” warns Jill.
He takes a step back, checking me over. I catch my breath, still smiling from their love.
Maya’s dad, Anthony, stepped in when my father passed away from cancer when I was sixteen, becoming the rock I needed during difficult times.
I will be forever thankful to him for teaching me how to drive and making sure Maya and I were brought home from any party we got invited to.
My mother worked long nights to keep a roof over our heads, and Maya’s family was always there for after-school activities and ceremonious moments when my mom couldn’t be. No fault to her, she just had to work hard to prevent us from being homeless.
My dad had been the breadwinner.
It was more than just friendship; they had become family over the years.
“Anthony and Jill! I love what you’ve done with the place!” I beam, giving the new lounge space another look.
“Thank you, Hannah! I’m so glad you like it! Make yourself comfortable for the rest of the day, we’ll work on all the technical stuff tomorrow.” Jill maternally brushes my arm, reminding me to call my own mother once I’m alone in my cabin.
“And,” Anthony adds, “it's pot roast tonight in the dining hall. Make sure your bellies are empty, and be prepared for a round of charades.” Anthony pats my shoulder and leads Jill over to the front desk, collecting a key. “At Maya’s request, here is cabin eighteen, next to nineteen.”
Maya snags them, twirling them in her hand. “Thank you, parentals, see ya later!” She grabs my bag and forces my snowboard into my hands.
I wave sheepishly at her parents and follow Maya out the door. “Do you have fire ants in your pants or something?”
Maya gives me a quick look over her shoulder. “I have some tea to share, and I didn’t want my parents to overhear or be anywhere in the vicinity.”
That piques my interest while we make our way over to cabin eighteen. Maya unlocks the door, tossing my duffel bag on the bed. I prop up my snowboard on the nearest wall, joining her. “Alright, what happened?”
Maya fiddles with the thermostat and sits on the small sofa near the fireplace. Draping a blanket across her body, she dives into her story. “Remember that guy I went out on a date with a month ago?”
I nod, unsure where she’s going with this. “Gift card dude?”
Maya stares up at the ceiling, embarrassed to even look at me when she says, “He’s here.”
“What!?” I gasp.
She groans. “He. Is. Here.”
“Purely a coincidence? Right?”
Maya keeps quiet, finally looking at me.
“RIGHT?”
“No, because my dumb ass told him about my family’s ski resort and that he should check it out!”
“Maya! You didn’t! Even after he used the gift card?”
“It was before! Gosh, we were having a good time, and then he pulled it out, waving it around like he was made of a million bucks. Now he’s in the lobby with his family, and I had to get out of there before he cornered me into another date!” She sinks low into the couch, groaning.
I bite my bottom lip.“And we have the pot roast dinner in the dining hall. How are you going to avoid him? Your dad always makes you start charades.”
“I decided I’m not going.” Maya’s face resembles a toddler throwing a tantrum.
Covering my mouth, I swallow my laugh, trying my best to compose myself. Maya, however, doesn’t find it funny and throws a pillow at my head. It hits me square in the face, knocking an obnoxious giggle out of me.
Eventually, she breaks her stern expression and joins me on the bed, laughing, her shoulders shaking as she settles next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “If I fake being sick, will you cover for me?”
“And miss the gift card dude, trying to get your attention? Never.”
She groans and falls backward on the bed. I follow suit, resting my head against hers. “Maybe he won’t show?”
“Maybe.”
“What does he look like? You know, so I can warn you or tip him off that you’re here.”
She pulls my hair hard enough that I let out a yelp. “I’m sorry! It was hard to resist.”
“Right, anyway, he’s kind of stocky, short-cropped, black hair. Big, brown eyes. It’s sad because he’s quite handsome.”
“And you can’t get past his gift card usage?”
“Not for a first date…or ever. I am the best liquor on that damn shelf. I deserve someone who can afford it.”
Maya never thinks less of herself; she is always putting herself on a pedestal, and only the worthiest of men are allowed to step up and try to prove it. I wish I were more like her.
“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t show up,” I say reassuringly.
“Or magically gets run over by a reindeer.”
But he does, in fact, show up, and Maya nearly trips one of the kitchen staff members trying to avoid charades, almost knocking over the dessert table, leaving me in a fit of giggles and her parents shocked and confused by her sudden departure.
It feels so good to be home.