Page 9 of Ski You Later
Another fit of laughter bursts from her as I sink deeper into my comforter. I have about three months to figure out what to do about this whole mess, and I can only think of two things.
Either find a boyfriend in three months or admit to everyone that I lied, and just show up alone. There’s always the option to call mom before she submits the invitations, but something holds me back.
The thought of seeing my ex attend Julian’s wedding with the girl he cheated on me with shoots a familiar pang of betrayal in my chest.
As I sit with this feeling, I realize there’s something else there too. A burning that simmers low in my gut and is more intense than my hurt.
I realize that I’m not mad. I’m furious.
I let out a huge yawn on the chairlift, as I mindlessly adjust my forearms guards and relax.
Today we’re training giant slalom, meaning the gates are farther apart and we’re able to go much faster than in normal slalom. It also requires less protection, the only guards we need for this discipline are strapped to our forearms.
Yesterday has been running through my mind all day, and I channel all those emotions into my training. The only upside to this whole disaster is that I can use these feelings to push myself like never before.
My strategy seems to be working flawlessly since both Liane and Rachel radioed me at the end of my run. Telling me how impressed they are and giving me feedback I actually found useful.
I now dangle my feet high above the ground and reach to pull out my phone, just as the chair lift jolts violently. The entire thing swings forward as my body swings back, and I quickly grab the bar with both hands.I hold steady when the chair gives a stomach-churning swing in the other direction and wait for it to settle down.
Muttering breaks out from the chairlifts surrounding me, since most people aren’t accustomed to the frequent stopping of this crappy lift. Luckily, I was the third chair out of the station, so I’m positioned right above the flat cat track that leads back to the main lodge.
“This is going to be a little while, folks.” The liftie’s voice reaches me from the station, and I can’t help but groan into the wind. Not only am I stuck on one of the most unreliable chairs ever, but I’m also only wearing my race suit.
The wind howls through my helmet as the flurry of snow continues to pour down, and I try to move my fingers for warmth. The only thing keeping me distracted at the point are the people skiing underneath me. From other ski racers to beginners, none of them are safe as I pretend to squash them all.
I hit a record of pretending to squash thirteen people in a row when a cluster of neon red skis in my direction at the same time. I first notice the distinct helmets of Charles and Aurora, with the pair spotting me at the same time. Our course today is just above this chair lift, and I’ve been waiting for them to come by.
“No! You got stuck! Girl, that sucks!” Aurora yells up as she sees me. “Coaches said we could head inside until the chair started again,” Aurora screams up.
“Sister, you must be freezing up there!” Charles then unhelpfully adds, “I would give you my jacket, but I’m also freezing.”
I give him a thumbs down, both his statements being completely useless to me. Aurora turns to her side, pushing Charles into the pile of snow behind him without a second thought. Sending my best friend two thumbs up, she chuckles as she starts to unzip her ski jacket.
“Alright, girl, you ready?” Rora yells as she bunches up her jacket and crouches down, preparing to throw.
I fail repeatedly to catch this silly jacket. Each time the whole thing unravels, and blows away before it reaches me. Eventually, Charles attempts to throw it a couple of times, which is even sadder than watching Aurora do it. The jacket doesn’t even make it to the height where I could catch it with my skis.
The wind really starts to pick up suddenly, and with everyone already inside, I beg them just to head in and leave me. With some arguing and a sad wave, they both ski toward the lodge.
I accept my fate and decide to use this time for resting my body and focusing on my training. I’m unsure if it counts as rest if your limbs are numb from the cold, so I swing my legs to keep the blood flowing.
The constant sound of the wind, mixed with my overtired brain, slowly starts to lull me to sleep. These past couple of days seem to hit me all at once, and my eyelids become heavy as my head rests in my hand. I can hear someone yelling my name in the back of my head, but the haze of sleep impairs my other senses.
That is, until a ball of snow smacks me in the mouth, and my exhaustion evaporates in the blink of an eye.
I whip my head below me to see Liam looking up at me, with his hands covering his mouth in utter shock. Isla stands beside him, her hands covering her mouth in the same expression.
“Liam, what the heck man,” I yell down at him. I’m cold, tired, and now have a raw face from the snowball. There’s only so much a girl can take in one day, so I don’t even try to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.
“Well, it’s kind of your fault, Rhodes. I called your name, and you didn’t answer.” He phrases hissentence as if I had this whole thing coming, and I just glare down at him.
I like to present myself to the team as calm and collected, and I work very hard to maintain that reputation. Currently, I’m using every ounce of peace I possess to maintain that facade. Liam’s my friend; there’s no benefit from screaming at him for his actions.
Closing my eyes and taking some deep breaths, I quickly open them again when I hear a pair of skis coming to an abrupt stop below me.
Roman’s standing beside a snow-covered Liam, leaning in close and stabbing him in the chest with his finger. Even leaning over the bar, I can’t hear a word they’re saying, but I can see Isla’s wide eyes.
It isn’t until Liam turns and skis off in a huff that I realize they didn’t have a friendly conversation.
