Page 19 of Snow Balled

He dug around in the second bin until he pulled out something from the bottom. “Would these fit you?” He held out a pair of blue and gray ski boots.

I took one, hope filling me. If I had boots, I could go outside. Maybe I could even make it down to my cabin to get my things once the ice melted. But then I took a closer look at the boots. “I think they’re for children.”

“Really?” Drew frowned. “This place doesn’t strike me as a very family-friendly destination.” Then he pulled out a yellow bucket, the kind a kid might use on a beach. “But maybe I’m wrong.”

“You never know.” I set the boot down on the floor and placed my foot next to it. “It looks pretty small.”

“Yeah, but your feet are small.” That was true, but right now I was wearing large, fuzzy socks, so I didn’t know how he could tell that. “Try them on.”

I hesitated, looking at the boots. They were puffy, with synthetic colors that must’ve been bright and festive at one point.

Drew cocked his head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

Feeling foolish, I looked away. “Nothing. It’s just… they’re shoes.”

“Which is what you desperately need.”

“Yeah, but they’reused.” My cheeks heated. I knew I was being ridiculous, but still, I couldn’t help it. “I just… I’ve never been a big fan of feet. And toes kind of gross me out.”

Drew chuckled. “Haven’t you ever worn bowling shoes?” He stood up.

“I’ve never been bowling.” Between filming and working with tutors, there hadn’t been much time growing up for things like that. Nor had I had many friends to do recreational activities with.

He winked down at me. “I’ll show you what they do at the bowling alley.” Plucking a canister off a dusty shelf above the dryer, he bent down again, a can of disinfectant in his hand.

“Good idea.” I held one of the boots open while Drew took aim. A cloud of noxious scent filled the air.

“Hold your breath,” Drew gasped, and I quickly grabbed the other one. Once he sprayed that too, we both ran out of the small room, coughing and sputtering.

Tristan looked up from his laptop. “Please tell me you two didn’t blow up the laundry room.”

When I stopped coughing, I couldn't help returning the grin Drew gave me. I liked the way Tristan had lumped Drew and me together—as if we were the mischievous children and he was the adult. Drew was a few years older than me, but he was the least intimidating of the three men. He seemed like the kind of guy I could actually be friends with someday.

When the fumes cleared from my lungs, I got some water, restarted the washer and tried to get back to work, figuring I should get some writing done before the next distraction.

As things turned out, it didn’t take long for that to happen.

10

SIERRA

“It’s three o’clock, bitches.”

My head snapped up at Carter’s words, and then my jaw dropped.

Again.

Because he had just appeared in the hallway half naked.

Again.

This time, I looked quickly away, but the image of his broad, bare chest and black running shorts was seared into my memory. Did this dude think he was at a beach resort or something?

He crossed over to the table and waited until I looked up. “I meant those guys, not you.”

I nodded, trying not to stare at his sculpted pecs.

Tristan shut his laptop. “Probably best to retire that one from your vocabulary.”

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