Chapter 15
HANNAH
I bang on Maya’s cabin door, not caring who hears me. She opens on the fifth bang, almost hitting herself in the face, and looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Girl, are you trying to put a target on my back? What if Gift Card Dude sees me at this specific cabin!?”
I shoulder past her, not caring about her complaints. “Sorry, but Noah is insufferable.”
Shutting the door, she takes one look at my face and forces me to stop pacing. “You’re as red as a ripened tomato. What happened?”
“What happened? Maya, have you seen the girls basically dry humping him in the main building? In front of all the other guests? Kids can see that!” I throw my hands up, totally over him, everything, and everyone.
Maya keeps her hands on my shoulders. “I mean, yeah, it’s a little inappropriate, but they’re not straddling him and making out.”
“Making out? I saw them minutes ago doing exactly that!” Why is she defending him!?
“Was anyone else there?”
“No, but—”
“Then, as long as the kids didn’t see, I don’t see an issue.”
“How are you okay with this?”
Maya curls back into bed, patting the seat next to her. “Come here, my little cherub.”
I roll my eyes, kicking off my shoes, and join her under the covers. “Seriously, he’s so…gross and arro—”
“And a two-time Olympic gold medalist who can potentially save my family’s business. If he makes out with a few chicks and the kids don’t see, then, yeah, I’ll be okay with it,” she interjects, snuggling closer.
“What if a kid sees? What then?”
“Then I speak with my dad and Coach Jones, and we tell Noah to keep it in his goddamn pants.”
I snort, shaking my head. Noah is allowed to do as he pleases, but he came here willingly to Snowy Peak. However, I refuse to let him walk around like a god who can get away with anything. “He’s just…ugh!”
“You had maybe one interaction with him?” Then she pauses, watching my face change, catching on. “Oh, you spoke to him again? When?”
“Before I sounded the alarm at your door.”
“And?” she encourages, waving her hands at me.
“I tried to leave the foyer quietly, but tripped on the rug. We got into a heated exchange, and I told him to stay away from me,” I say in a rush.
Maya bursts out laughing, almost choking.
I smack her in the face with a pillow. “Stop laughing!”
She wipes her tears away. “I’m sorry!” Eventually, she gets herself to calm down, catching her breath. “I don’t know what’s funnier,” a few giggles slip out as I give her my dirtiest look, “Are you tripping or did you tell him to stay away from you?”
“How is this funny?!”
“Because you have to be around him for pictures!”
“I don’t have to take his photos…”
“Hannah, he’s basically the lead of the event.”
“So? He has other teammates!”
“Are you going to take weird photos from afar, then?” She waits for my response, but I just roll my eyes. “That’s what I thought.”
I groan and pull the covers closer to my chin. “There’s something about him, Maya. I’m not a fan.”
She eyes me. “Hannah, I’m actually surprised by your early judgment of someone. Are you sure you’re not basing it on the crap Liam put you through?”
Her words sting, and I know she isn’t bringing him up to cause harm, but I hate how she just knows what runs through my chaotic head. “Maybe.”
She pats my cheek. “It’s okay. I just want you to know you’re worth more than that bogus bastard who hurt you, and it’s okay to feel a little guarded of men.”
“As long as you remind me to ease up?” I gently kick her in the shin.
“Ouch! Yes, you little gremlin. Life is too short.”
“Speaking of life being too short, when are you going to stop hiding from Gift Card Dude and become part of civilization again?”
Maya gives me a dirty look. “When hell freezes over.”
“Don’t make me drag you out of here by your hair. I’m not afraid to make a scene.” I tug at a chunk of her beautiful, dark curls.
“Do that again, and I’ll put Nair in your shampoo bottle.”
“Very mature, Maya.”
I can feel something vibrate underneath my butt, and Maya retrieves her phone by pushing me over to the other side, almost off the bed. “Hey! I almost fell!”
“Your thick booty would’ve cushioned the fall.” She types a response to whoever’s on the receiving end. “Okay, tomorrow morning, you meet with Coach Jones and my dad, they want you at their practice to take behind-the-scenes pictures.”
“Are you coming with me?”
She stiffens up. “Maybe.”
“Maya,” I whine, shaking her body. “If I’m not allowed to sulk in my past, then you’re not allowed to hide from yours.”
“Way to throw my own logic back in my face.”
“You love me for it.”
“Fine! I’m starving anyway, let's go to the dining hall.”
“It’s closed.”
“You’re forgetting my parents own this place.”
I jump out of bed. “Really? You sure?” I dramatically clutch my heart, getting a few pillows tossed my way. I try not to laugh but fail miserably.
“I’m tempted to infest your cabin with bed bugs,” she threatens.
Maya stands next to me by the half-pipe, while I adjust my camera, deciding on the best position to catch the sun blazing overhead. Although it’s winter, the sun can still be an eyesore, and I dread not bringing my extra equipment to counteract the brightness.
Maya becomes my personal assistant, having the crowd join in on some photos, hyping them up, or simply asking one of the guys, especially Mark or Cody, to pose with fans or sign autographs.
We’re all having fun, and I even got some of Coach Jones fooling around with some of his guys.
I walk around, zooming in on more wholesome interactions, kids smiling, faces tilted up the slope as they watch the guys’ early practice, getting a glimpse of what they can expect during the live event.
Keeping a steady hand, I pan up, zooming in on the halfpipe, and find Noah adjusting his goggles, licking his lips.
Distracted, I watch through my lens; his concentration depicts someone who is about to take the most important test of their life.
He rolls his shoulders, stretches his legs, and listens to, most likely, a pep talk from Coach.
His jaw set, a muscle pulsating along his neck, he’s focused and ready.
Noah begins with no hesitation, effortlessly performing an Alley-Oop with ease, enticing loud cheers from the crowd watching.
With the shutter set, I end up capturing a shot of him in the air, then transitioning into the Crippler.
The execution is smooth, and I’m in awe as he continues his routine, snapping more photos when he lands the Double Mctwist, remembering how I had struggled when I was first introduced to it during my snowboarding days.
Noah makes it look natural, as if he were born to be one with the snowboard.
Something I can appreciate, regardless of his indecent behavior.
I can see why he’s a two-time gold medalist.
The rest of the men take their turns, showing off their skills to the crowd, hearing some of the kids shout their last names in encouragement. I make sure I get wider shots and eventually make my way up to the top, taking a photo of Mark’s back as he looks down at the halfpipe.
Noah stands close; I can feel his eyes on my back, most likely judging me for something. Maya is too busy chatting it up with Cody, asking all types of questions about their sponsorship to the tour they just finished up in Aspen a week ago.
I, however, became a victim of Noah’s presence. “Enjoying the view?”
I swallow, rolling my shoulders back. “Yeah, it’s nice to see the view from the snowboarder's perspective.” Now, please leave me alone, is what I should’ve said right after.
“It’s one of my favorite views,” he mentions.
“Didn’t know someone like you appreciates nice views.”
He’s leaning over my shoulder, looking at the screen on my camera, and reaches forward with a gloved finger, pointing. His body barely touches mine through our thick layers of snow gear, but damn, I feel the heat. “Here, where Mark is facing forward, you know he cares about what he’s doing.”
“You got all of that from one picture?” I’m afraid to look over my shoulder to see how close his mouth is.
“It’s all in his stance.”
I cave, taking the tiniest of peeks, and find his eyes unmasked, staring right at me. His lips, slightly pouty, are at eye level until I look up. Warm brown eyes with flecks of gold keep me grounded for the briefest of moments, until the crowd cheers after Mark’s run.
Snapping out of it, we step back from one another. “Right, well, I have a job to do, and you’re distracting me.”
“As long as you get my good side,” he comments.
I snort, trying to hold back a laugh, but fail. Then again, I really didn’t try to hide the humor at his cocky attitude. “I don’t think you have a good side.”
Noah gets close, and I panic that he might see a chin hair if I missed any from this morning's pluck-fest. My insecurities creep in the closer he gets, then he moves his lips to the shell of my ear, a hint of cockiness laced in his words. I want to step away, to hide, but he has me ensnared with his heated stare.“If I’m being honest, I prefer my girls good, Red.”
A shiver runs down my spine when he steps back.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Call you what?” He brushes past me.
Anthony surprises us by coming up with Coach Jones. “Hey, Hannah Banana! Taking some good photos?”
I want to die, right here, right now. My childhood nickname makes Noah do a double-take, then a sly smile creeps up his face, knowing he can use it to his advantage.
My heart rushes up my neck, flaming my cheeks. Fuck me.
“Hannah Banana?” He’s laughing, a dark eyebrow rises.
“Don’t call me that either, or I’ll kick your teeth in.” I’m done playing nice.
“Oh, don’t worry.” He walks around me, only to stop to move my hair aside. “I like Red better.”
He leaves me with his haunting laugh, joining his teammates.
I have half a mind to turn around and swing, hoping to damage that pretty face of his, but remember, he has more than a few inches on me, and I’d just end up hitting his chest.