Page 38 of Second Chances
Freddie interrupted. “He was the captain. The best guy the Chance Rapids SAR has ever had.”
“He’s exaggerating. He just wants me back on the squad.”
“Everybody does, buddy. Everybody does.”
Then Freddie did something that seemed out of character, he reached his arm around Josh and squeezed his shoulders in a side hug.
“Maybe this year, Freddie.”
Freddie turned to face Josh, a huge grin on his face, “Really J.J? I’ll go tell the guys now.”
Freddie started to walk away but Josh grabbed his arm. “Don’t say anything to the squad just yet. That was just a thought.”
“Ok, bud. Well, when you’re ready you know that the crew will be waiting for you.”
“Thanks.”
“How’s the tour going?” Freddie turned to Megan.
“It’s great. I’ve eaten a beaver’s tail, toured the main street, and am now getting drunk in a part-time strip club.”
Freddie guffawed, “Josh has captured the essence of the town to a T. But there’s something missing from that tour.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” Josh’s voice had a hint of warning in it.
“You mean to tell me that you’ve had this gorgeous woman on your arm all afternoon and she hasn’t done a shot ski yet?”
“What’s a shot ski?”
“It’s a Tuesday.” Josh turned away from Freddie. “It’s 4:30 on a Tuesday.”
“What’s a shot ski?” Megan repeated.
Freddie stood on the bar rail and leaned across the bar to pull a ski off the wall. There were four shot glasses glued to the top of it. He grinned. “A shot. Ski.”
Josh grabbed the ski from Freddie’s hands. “You usually do this after skiing, you know après-ski, not après-work.”
Freddie held his hands up in front of him. “You want to give her the whole Chance Rapids experience, don’t you?”
“Maybe I should take her skiing first.” Josh put the ski back in its rightful place on the wall.
Megan felt her head start to spin and wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the thought of strapping skis to her feet.
“No.” Megan practically leaped off her barstool to grab the shot ski from the wall. “Let’s do it now.”
“Are you sure?” Josh looked at her and she swore there was concern in his eyes.
“Yep.” Megan was damn sure that she could handle one shot of alcohol if it was her get out of jail pass from actually going skiing.
“Alright. A shot ski it is.” Freddie whooped. “Charlie. Maple whiskey.” He shouted to the bartender.
Charlie poured the amber liquid into the four shot glasses and the three of them lined up in front of the ski. Freddie turned and yelled to his group of friends, “Shot ski.”
A young shaggy-haired guy jumped up from the table and jogged over. “I knew you’d be the first guy over here,” Freddie said to the fresh-faced blonde kid who looked like he couldn’t be a day over twenty-one. “This is Ethan,” Freddie said, and Ethan shook Megan’s hand. “You’re in the presence of snowboarding royalty right here,” Josh said to Megan and then to Ethan, “Nice to see you. You home for the holidays?”
“Yeah,” Ethan drawled. “My exams are all done and I’m helping the mountain set up the half-pipe and terrain park. Let’s do this,” Ethan rubbed his hands together.
“How do we do it?” Megan asked eyeing up the contraption.
