Page 61 of Fresh Tracks
“I know,” I say, sighing in frustration and put my phone away again. I level a glare back at him. “You know, you still haven’t told me why Kelsey hates you. So we’re not talking about this either.”
He cocks his head to the side and gives me a smug grin. “Fair enough.”
A few minutes later, we finally reach the top and get out of the gondola, seeing the crowded area just outside the mid-mountain lodge. He takes one look at the crowd before turning back to me.
“Seriously, TJ. I know you like her, but why are we out here today? She’s not even skiing here. I can’t remember the last time you asked me to go out and ski, especially on a powder day with fresh snow and crowded lift lines. And for someone who used tobe in front of huge crowds all the time, you really always hate them now.”
I shrug. “I don’t know. Seemed like it’d be fun.”
He lifts an eyebrow, narrowing his gaze on me and I can tell he doesn’t believe me, which is fair because I don’t believe myself either.
Sutton’s right. I like skiing, but I never go on busy days at the resort. I just know that when I woke up this morning and looked out in my driveway to see her van gone, I wanted to be close to her some way, somehow.
Being out on the mountain that she loves just called to me.
CHAPTER 23
GRACE
EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE
This is nothow I wanted my Tuesday morning to go. Instead of being back at Tommy’s house, Josie and I are still on the other side of the mountain pass at Grand Targhee, sitting in my van waiting for the resort to open.
I click call and hear the phone ring through my van’s speakers.
“Morning, Rainbow.” Tommy’s deep, smooth voice comes through my speakers after picking up on the first ring. “You almost here? Can’t wait to see you. I still can’t stop thinking about how good you?—”
I cut him off. “Morning! You’re on speakerphone.”
“Hi, Hot Boss,” Josie says, snickering to herself and quietly mouthing his pet name for me. Still, every time I hear him say it, the butterflies in my stomach get kicked into a frenzy.
I hear him clear his throat. “Morning, Josie.”
“So, good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” I blurt out, sounding way too excited from trying to hide my disappointment because I hate to deliver bad news.
“Is everything OK?” he asks, his voice instantly taking on thatcommanding tone I’ve become so familiar with. I can just picture the imposing look on his face right now.
“Yeah, we're totally fine. We’re just not going to be back until tomorrow at the earliest.”
“What happened? Are you guys having van trouble? That snowstorm that came through the last two days has been brutal here,” he says and I can hear concern in his voice.
“So good news first. Nope, the vans are totally fine and toasty warm. The storm has also brought tons of fresh snow and the skiing has been epic.”
“Seriously, it’s been crazy,” Josie chimes in between bites of her breakfast burrito.
Tommy’s bright laugh comes through the speakers. “Yeah, I know. I went out skiing on Sunday. I even dragged Sutton with me. So what’s the bad news?”
“Well, there might be too much snow. Teton Pass and the backup route are both closed because of avalanche hazards until tonight. We might just stay here and get some more skiing in. I’m still going to work remote a bit since we have good cell service though. This presentation is coming together. I can’t wait to show it to you.”
Normally, it might only be a two hour drive, but with the weather like this, the detour is nearly six hours and an absolute headache.
“Totally fine. We’re not leaving for Seattle until Thursday. So just stay safe and have fun.” There’s a hint of disappointment and concern in his tone, but it’s subtle. It’s nothing like the overbearing way my Dad and brothers can be. They would have probably already been in the car, taking the six hour detour around both passes to get here. While that might make some girls swoon, I appreciate the trust and the space he’s giving me to take care of myself.
“Oh, we’ll have fun. Don’t worry,” Josie says, leaning back into the passenger seat.
He chuckles. “Well, don’t let me keep you two any longer. Have fun getting first chair. See you soon, Rainbow.”
“Bye, Tommy,” I say, trying not to sound too much like a girl freaking out over how much I’m into him.
