13
The conditions today are the worst so far. Or at least, that’s the excuse Rory gives us for why we’re all struggling so much this morning.
We’re halfway down the slope when the visibility gets so bad I can barely see the person in front of me, which in my case is a very wobbly Stephen.
I try to avoid him, but my skis keep sliding over dark patches of ice, and I nearly barrel into him a few times.
I manage to stop myself with a sharp turn to the left, which has definitely become my stronger side, but my heart rate becomes more frantic as the morning goes on in the same way.
We’re all grateful when Rory decides we should call time on the lesson to wait out what feels like a blizzard, and thankfully there’s a coffee shop only a short ski away from where we’ve stopped.
We’re halfway down the mountain and it’s the only building here, which makes its sloped wood roof and panoramic glass sides look even more stunning as it sits in isolation on the edge of the piste.
Lots of other people have had the same idea as us and the cafe is heaving by the time we’ve unclipped our skis and left them in a pile on the snow outside.
We head to the queue first, and I find myself slotted between Bill and Rory, who drums his fingers on the countertop, which displays a tempting selection of pastries. Skiing’s made me so hungry I think I could eat one of everything.
‘You got an answer for me yet?’
I’d been hoping Rory had forgotten about yesterday’s hot tub inquisition, and I groan as he brings it up again.
‘If you think it’s such a simple question, why don’t I ask you the same thing? I want a list of what excites you, Rory? About your life in London, or here.’
I give both options, still not sure where he spends the majority of his time, and he doesn’t even hesitate before starting.
‘Watching the sunrise from my balcony before I go for my first run, and shots with Kevin that end with us duetting “Bohemian Rhapsody” at Friday night karaoke. Getting to watch people who’ve never tried skiing before start to enjoy the sport I love…’
His list only ends because he reaches the front of the queue and places his order. He then turns back to me and hands over a brown bag with one of the pastries I was eying up a minute ago, even though I hadn’t asked for it. I take it, my stomach rumbling in thanks, and he shrugs.
‘I don’t think it should be a difficult question.’
He carries his drink over to the table which Penny has managed to secure, leaving me feeling off centre as I consider his words. Maybe it’s the break-up putting a dark cloud over everything, or maybe he has a point. Why is it so hard for me to come up with a list?
I let Bill jump ahead as I’m yet to decide what I want. He orders two brandies, I settle for a hot chocolate and Stephen goes for a herbal tea.
Tilly walks over with a beer, and alongside Meghan and Rory they end up sliding in at the other end of the bench from the four of us, still within earshot, but with a few other skiers dividing the two groups.
I catch eyes with Rory, who shrugs, clearly not thrilled that we’re not all sitting together. I lift my mug in return, bringing it to my lips and taking a tentative sip to check the temperature.
‘Oh wow,’ I say, swallowing down a gulp of melted chocolate.
‘They know how to make hot chocolates right up here,’ Penny agrees with a knowing nod.
I point to her brandy. ‘You’ve gone for something different though.’
I turn to Stephen. ‘Maybe we should’ve followed their lead, gotten ourselves some liquid courage.’
Stephen grimaces at the burnt orange liquid, and I can tell he’s not a fan. ‘If Patrick was here he’d definitely have ordered me one. I remember him telling me they start drinking with breakfast on his family ski holidays.’
He shivers like he can’t imagine anything worse, then taps his thumb on the mug cupped in his palms. ‘I think I’ll stick to tea. I’m finding it tough out there today, and usually whenever I’m out of sorts, a cup of tea is exactly what I need to make things better.’
He takes a sip, and I look over to Rory to see if he heard.
He’s nodding along, a smirk stretching his lips as he’s clearly thinking of the same moment I am, back in his kitchen.
He takes a sip of his drink with his pinkie finger sticking out, and I chuckle, which draws the attention of the others around me.
‘Sorry, um, I totally agree. Probably safest for everyone else that we stick to the hot drinks anyway.’
I turn towards Penny and Bill to change the subject. ‘How long have you two been married?’
Bill huffs. ‘That question makes me feel old.’
‘That’s because you are old,’ Penny replies in jest, before answering. ‘We hit forty blissful years last August, isn’t that right, darling?’
‘Blissful would be one word for it,’ he replies sarcastically, but when he squeezes Penny’s hand on the table, something about their simple touch communicates hundreds of memories and inside jokes all at once, and I find myself wondering if my relationship with Adam could ever blossom into something like theirs.
As we chat, I don’t realise how much time has flown until the door opens and Lucas, David and Adam walk in, meaning it must be gone past the end of our lesson.
‘Oh, you found us!’ Meghan says as they walk closer. ‘But I hadn’t texted you yet?’
She looks over at me, but I shake my head. I haven’t used my phone since before our lesson started.
‘Tilly texted David about twenty minutes ago, so we thought we’d come over and join,’ Lucas clarifies, coming up behind Meghan and leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek.
The other boys knock snow off their boots against the doorframe, while I swivel towards Tilly. She pauses with her beer lifted towards her lips as she meets my tilted stare.
‘Oh yeah, I did. I was taking a photo of the view as we finished the run and thought I may as well kill two birds with one stone.’
She shuts down the conversation by turning and asking Rory about the best bars in town. Usually Meghan texts the boys after each lesson, and I can’t help thinking it’s odd that Tilly didn’t say anything about it earlier.
There’s a space that’s now unoccupied to my left, which David slides into while Adam fills up the rest of the table by taking one of the other gaps.
He’s seen Rory, but given the fact we’re on opposite ends of the table, it doesn’t seem to bother him.
Stephen, Penny and Bill continue their conversation, while I turn my attention to the others.
‘You guys ready for blacks yet then?’ David asks before reaching across the table and stealing a swig from Tilly’s glass.
‘Hey, fuck off and get your own beer!’ She swats his hand before dragging the glass towards her chest and encasing it with her arms.
‘Oh come on, Tills, we both know it takes you forever to finish a full pint.’
‘Yeah well, that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. Who do you think you are, my boyfriend or something?’
That pulls a giggle out of me, and a grimace from David, but I swear the tops of his ears flush crimson.
‘Are you kidding? You and your morning breath and your weird fascination with Henry Cavill.’
‘I literally had one poster of him and it was only up for a few months! God, why do you even remember that, you stalker.’
‘He was really hot in Man of Steel, you can’t blame her,’ Meghan chimes in, and I nod in agreement, laughing as I watch David and Tilly continue to verbally spar.
‘Okay, someone break those two up so we can get back on track,’ Lucas says, arm now slung around Meghan’s shoulder, holding her like he’s spent all morning missing her and doesn’t want to let go.
‘Maybe not blacks, but now the weather’s cleared back up, you guys are still down for joining us for some runs after lunch, right?’
‘Hmm I don’t know, what do you think, coach, reckon we’re ready for it?’ Meghan asks Rory, who is seated on her other side.
‘If you take it slow, stick to blues max, then I can’t think of a reason why not. Just…’ He pauses and addresses the rest of his sentence mostly to me. ‘Be careful, okay?’
I nod, smiling at the genuine worry in his voice. ‘I promise we’ll all arrive at tomorrow’s lesson in one perfectly functioning piece.’
Satisfied with that promise, his gaze shifts up to the clock on the wall. ‘Okay I better get going, I’ll see you all tomorrow.’
He stands and I think he’s going to head for the door, but he stops behind me before he gets there. ‘I meant to ask yesterday, but I don’t suppose you have my jacket with you? I’m going to need it for some après events later.’
‘Oh, actually yeah I do, let me grab it.’
I open up my rucksack and fish out his jacket. Now wasn’t the ideal time for this exchange, but it’s his so I want to make sure he gets it back, and sneaking off to do it furtively would only make things worse. I hold out the jacket that everyone already knew I had. Except Adam.
‘Thanks again for letting me borrow it.’
‘Anytime,’ he says, and the way he says it, almost like it’s an inevitability that I might end up wearing it again, makes me blush more than I care to admit.
He walks away, saying a quick goodbye to Penny, Bill and Stephen. But before disappearing into the snow, someone appears in the doorway and stops him in his tracks.
‘There you are, I thought you were going to bail on me.’
I recognise her red hair and realise she was the other quiz host. She throws her arms around Rory’s neck in a way that’s too comfortable for mere colleagues.
When they pull apart, she playfully prods his shoulder before folding her arms across her chest. ‘Not that I should be surprised. You were over an hour late to our first date.’
Rory holds his hands up in surrender. ‘I would’ve made more of an effort to be on time if I’d known you’d hold a grudge for all these years.’
She rolls her eyes, and I hear their laughter continue once they’ve moved out of my sight. Another familiar figure strides through the door and I’m pleased when Kevin heads in the direction of our table.
‘Glad that you’ve still got all your arms and legs, Bambi.’