He smiles. “More of this? Maybe go to that movie?”
I lean so my shoulder’s pressed against his. “I’d love to.”
We fall silent until we reach the top. The Bunnies are still there, watching the jumpers.
“Ignore them,” Blake whispers.
They’re in the middle of the lip so I hang back while Blake fastens his boots, then follow him to the jump. This time I’m leading. I crouch to gain momentum and hit the first jump at top speed. Spread eagle. Not super difficult but I’m dying to see how Blake handles that on a board. I barely notice my landing and am prepping for the next jump when a flash of neon orange alongside the jump catches my eye. I ignore it and launch a three-sixty. I’m going inverted for number three so I want to keep my speed up and—what the hell?
The spot of orange drifts into my landing zone.
“Watch it!” I shout, but it’s too late. I twist to avoid hitting her and land sideways, but instead of my skis popping off, I end up sitting on my skis, shooting sideways on the hill toward the tree line and the chairlift. A chorus of “Ohhhhs” sound above me but I’m too pissed to care. I roll to my side to stop and am back on my feet in a flash, but a bolt of pain rips through my knee and I fall back into the snow. I look up in time to see Kenzie glide away, her black ponytail swinging.
“I can’t believe she did that! What is wrong with you?” I shout after her, but she’s already gone.
A spray of powder above me makes me jump.
Blake.
He’s at my side in a heartbeat. “What happened? I didn’t see you land, just that you didn’t make the third jump.” He gives me a visual once-over, making me forget my anger for a second, and pauses on my knee.
I’m gripping it without realizing.
“Is it bad?”
“I don’t think so. I landed at a weird angle to avoid crashing into that stupid B. I should have just—”
He shakes his head. “Then you’d be just like them. And you’re not.”
I thrill at his words. I feel like I’ve been battling this impression he made of me when we first met—however right or wrong it was—and to hear him say that means he’s finally seeing me for who I am. Just Cally. Not some stuck-up rich girl who cares about stupid crap like money and clothes and—
The whine of a snowmobile stops my thoughts.
“No. Uh-uh. No way.”
Blake stands to look down the hill. “They’re coming this way.”
I push myself off the ground and am standing almost completely normally by the time they reach us. “I’m fine. Really.”
A patrol woman jumps off the back. “We have instructions to check more people after that boy hurt his neck last week.”
“Frigging Andrew,” Blake whispers.
She glances at him, then focuses on me. “Chairlift operator says you took a hard fall off the jump. Considering you’re still here I’m guessing he wasn’t making it up.”
I shift from foot to foot. There’s a twinge in my knee, but it’s nothing a little rest and some ice won’t fix. “It looked worse than it was. I swear.”
She looks at the patrol guy still on the snowmobile. “Whaddaya think?”
He shrugs. “She seems okay.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
She climbs back onto the snowmobile and they drive off.
When the whine of the engine fades, Blake leans his head close to mine. “I was really hoping to see those bunny pants again.”
“That’s too bad.” I smile. “Today it’s hearts and rainbows.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Really?”
I give him a half-smile. “Maybe.”
His eyes darken. If I had more experience with boys I’d guess that now I’ve got him thinking of me the way I can’t stop thinking of him, but I’m not sure. The moment passes and he rubs my arm. “You okay to get to the lodge?”
I bend my knee, but rather than pain, I just feel exhaustion. “Yeah. But no more jumps for me.”
I follow him to the lodge. He secures our gear on a rack and we head inside. Half the mountain seems to be in here. I eye the line snaking along the far wall, then take his helmet. “You get hot chocolate, I’ll find a table.”
He stuffs his gloves and goggles in the helmet and kisses my cheek, causing my pulse to skitter. I’ll take a sweaty boy with hair sticking all over the place over a neatly groomed one any day.
I meander through the lodge in search of a table when I spot Evan and the guys. I turn around but he calls my name and waves me over.
Their feet are propped on two empty chairs.
“Is there room for two more at the inn?”
Evan nods at the chairs and Austin gives him a sideways glance. Brianna and Kenzie are nowhere to be seen, but I’m sure these are for them.
“I’m not taking their seats.”
Evan shrugs. “They’re still skiing.”
“More like hiding after making me fall.” The words are out before I catch myself.
Evan sits straighter and gives me a once over. “What’d they do now?”
I wave his feet off one of the chairs and sit. “I’m sure Kenzie will claim it was an accident, but she cut in front of me when I was landing a three-sixty.”
Now it’s Austin’s turn to look concerned. “On purpose?”
I roll my eyes. “When do they do anything on accident?”
“That’s not cool.”
“Yeah, no kidding.” I look across the room to check on Blake’s progress and spot him halfway to the cashier, talking to two girls in line behind him. A stab of jealousy makes me grip the table, but I force myself to relax and stop being a hypocrite. While he’s in line talking to girls, I’m over here talking to boys. I turn back to Evan and he gives me a small smile, making me wonder for the hundredth time why he’s friends with the Snow Bunnies. If what Mike said was true about why they broke up, then he’s not into all that superficial crap, and while I get that he’s friends with Austin and Reece, that sounds like a miserable way to go through life. “I really don’t want to cause a problem when they get here. I’ve had enough drama this week.”
Evan leans toward me and lowers his voice. “Brianna doesn’t tell me who I’m friends with.”
I appreciate the sentiment but that’s not going to stop Bri from throwing a fit when she comes inside. “So why—never mind.”
“What?”
“I was going to ask why you hang out with them, but—” I nod at the guys. “I get it.”
He glances at Austin to make sure he’s not listening. “Some day Austin will realize what a raging bitch she is and put an end to whatever it is they have going on, but until then...” He shrugs.
Kind of like Mike. I smile, happy that she seems to really be free of them.
“Am I interrupting something?” Blake’s standing at my side, a cup of hot chocolate in each hand and a bag of chips dangling from his fingers.
I jump back, noticing how close Evan and I were and how it must look. I nod at the other chair. “I found seats.”
The guys shuffle so Blake can sit next to me and he sets the drinks on the table. He locks eyes with mine as he sits, seeming uncertain.
I lean so my cheek is pressed against his and whisper in his ear. “We’ve commandeered the Bitches’ chairs.”
I feel his smile. “Nice.”
The guys fall into an easy conversation and before long I’m laughing and joking like I’ve known them forever. Reece is in the middle of a completely disgusting joke about a pig and a bottle of baby oil when he suddenly falls silent, his gaze locked over my shoulder toward the entrance. I don’t need to turn around to know who’s there.
“The eagle has landed,” Evan whispers. “Repeat. The eagle has landed.”
Blake snorts. “You mean the vultures.”
&nb
sp; Austin gives him a dirty look but doesn’t contradict him.
I remain still, dreading what’s about to happen. I refuse to turn around. Blake slips his hand into mine and smiles like there’s no one else in the room. The distraction lasts all of five seconds.
“This looks cozy.” Brianna’s fake-sweet voice makes the hair on the back on my neck stand up.
I twist in my chair and smile up at her. “Sorry, this table’s full.” Go big or go home, right?
Her calm demeanor vanishes and her lips curl into a snarl. “I thought we got rid of you.”
I pat my knee. “Nice try, but I’m still here.”
Kenzie stiffens beside her. I won’t give her enough credit to think she feels guilty for what she did, but it’s nice to see she has a reaction other than total bitch.
Brianna nudges Kenzie’s arm. “Maybe next time.”
Blake yanks his hand from mine and is on his feet, toe-to-toe with Brianna. “When are you gonna realize this isn’t a game? She could have really been hurt.”
She lifts a shoulder and rolls her eyes at me. “Maybe your girlfriend shouldn’t go where she’s not welcome.”
I start to rise but Evan pulls me back by my shoulders.
The gesture doesn’t escape Brianna. “It’s not enough to have a Ski Bum trailing after you? You’re still stringing him along, too?”
I look between Blake and Evan. “What? No, I—”
She sneers. “Don’t play innocent. I invented that game.”
Austin cocks his head and there’s a flash of concern on Brianna’s face, like maybe she said more than she intended, but she shakes it off.
Blake moves a step closer to me, as if his body can shield me from her venom.
She crosses her arms. “Oh, so now you’re her bodyguard or something?”
“Enough, Brianna.”
“Since when do you care about anyone but yourself?”
“You’ve treated me like shit for years and I’ve never said anything. As of today, I’m done.”
The Brivolution is real!
But she’s not backing down that easily. “You’ll never be anything but a Ski Bum.”
Blake laughs, but it’s filled with disgust. “That name didn’t stick the first hundred times you tried calling me that. Give it up.”
I snort. “Ski Bum? Seriously?”
Blake turns his head toward me. “I guess it was supposed to keep me and Luke in our place. You know, as far away from the Snow Bitches as possible.” He turns back to Brianna, whose face has turned a garish shade of red that clashes with her bright pink jacket. She should really reconsider her wardrobe choices if her face keeps doing that.
“Snow Bunnies,” Brianna corrects. Her eyes have taken on a glassy sheen and I don’t think she’s blinked in at least a minute.
Blake matches her glare. “My mistake.”
It’s so quiet at our table that noise from the surrounding tables suddenly seems much louder. Bits of conversations from other groups drift over to us, but no one seems aware of the Blake vs. Brianna showdown.
Austin finally stands and tugs at Brianna’s arm, but she shakes him off without looking at him. She points at me and Blake. “You two are not welcome here.”
I cross my arms. “Funny, no one complained when I was invited to sit here.”
Her eyes flick to Evan, then back to me. “There’s no explaining some people’s taste.”
I glance at Austin. “I could say the same thing.”
She takes a step closer. For a second I think she’s going to launch herself at me but she just stands there with her finger frozen in midair.
I’m tempted to grab it like I sometimes do to Dad when he’s giving his Behave warning. That would snap her out of her power trip.
“I’m complaining now.”
I exhale loudly. I could keep going back and forth with her, or I could go someplace more private with Blake. Plus I can’t guarantee I won’t kick Kenzie in the kneecap if she decides to add her two cents. I rest my hand on Evan’s shoulder and he looks up at me. “Thanks for saving us seats, but we’re gonna take off.”
Blake quirks his eyebrow at me.
Evan smiles at me like Brianna isn’t fuming two feet away. “See ya, Cally.” He nods at Blake. “Blake.”
Brianna huffs. “Don’t act like this was your idea.”
I wave at the other guys. “See you at school.” I loop my arm through Blake’s and lead him though the maze of tables to the exit.
He chuckles when we step outside. “I can’t believe you caved.”
“Well, I figured I could trade insults with Brianna for the next hour,” I slide my arms around his neck and focus on his lips. “Or I could spend time with my Ski Bum bodyguard.” I barely notice his lopsided smile before his lips brush mine. “Does she really still call you that?”
“She tries. But nicknames are only fun when the person hates it and since I don’t ever react, she’s the only one who cares.”
“That’s a good strategy.”
“I don’t waste my energy on people I don’t like.” He pulls me closer and nuzzles my neck. “I have lots of energy for you.”
I know he doesn’t mean the innuendo that pops into my head, but he’s turned me into a lovesick horndog who can only think about all the inappropriate things we could do in an hour. “What did you have in mind?”
She’s still giving you crap?
Like it’s her life’s mission.
Winter break is this weekend. Want me to come kick her ass?
OMG that would rock. But really just to see you. I can handle Brianna.
You sure? I wouldn’t mind meeting Blake too.
Do it. Having Sophia come to visit would be amazing. Not that I need help with the Snow Bunnies, but not seeing her every day makes me feel like there’s a piece of me missing. A long weekend together might be enough to get me through the rest of the semester, when Dad’s promised I can go back for a longer visit.
:( I wish I could. Summer is too far away.
My phone dings with a text from Blake. I swipe to the other screen.
You write your paper yet?
I glance at my laptop on the bed next to me. I know I’m writing about moving to Colorado but I’ve been stuck on where to start. Sort of. You?
Almost done.
Show off.
What can I say, I like to write.
For real?
English is my favorite class.
I tilt my head in surprise. I assumed Blake wasn’t into school since he was late my first couple days, but I guess that wasn’t fair. I totally judged him instead of getting to know him first. I silently tuck that away with everything else I’m learning about him.
Actually...
??
I kinda want to be a teacher some day.
You would be an amazing teacher. And you already have groupies.
;)
Sophia dings. Go write your paper.
You have a camera on me?
I know you...
sigh.
xoxo.
I swipe back to Blake. Help me, oh wise one.
What’s the problem?
I don’t know where to start.
Write down what’s in your head, then fix it later.
Tell me more.
LOL.
I’m serious.
Do you know what you’re writing about?
Moving here.
That’s your worst day??
No! Simpson’s letting me do them out of order.
His text bubble bounces, indicating he’s typing, and my mind wanders to my paper. I need to go deeper than just ‘moving changed my life.’
What if you compare what you expected with what it’s really been like? I know you were freake
d out to move—
It occurs to me that he knows that from when we were texting right after Thanksgiving.
—and Bri’s been a bitch, but there’s been good stuff too, right?
My pulse quickens. Are you suggesting I write about you?
No! I meant... the text bubble bounces, then stops, then bounces again. New school, new friends. There has to be something worth writing about.
Thanks. This helps.
:)
See you tomorrow.
Sleep tight.
It’s not an xoxo but it’s got me thinking of his bed and that’s not going to get my paper written. Two hours later, I turn off my computer, still wrapping my head around the idea that while I may not have wanted to move here, now I couldn’t imagine ever leaving.
***
The happy glow lasts until I spot the Bitches at their usual table in the cafeteria. Let it go, let it go, I sing in my head as I carry my tray to where Mike’s already waiting.
But I can’t. I thought speaking up on Saturday would have some kind of effect, but they’re still laughing down their noses at everyone beneath them, oblivious to the torment they wreak on the little people. And frankly, I’m pissed they’ve killed my good mood.
I drop my tray next to Mike’s. “Be right back.”
“What are you—”
I shake my head. “I’ve had enough.” I spin on my heel and march over to Bitch Headquarters. Evan catches my eye when he sees me coming but doesn’t warn the girls, whose backs are to me. I stop near Kenzie’s shoulder and cross my arms. “You owe me an apology.”
Kenzie and Bri’s heads swivel toward me in unison.
“Excuse me?” Kenzie says as Bri’s mouth falls open.
My pulse pounds in my ears but it’s too late to back down now. “You heard me.”
Kenzie turns so she’s facing me. “And what, exactly, do you think I did that requires an apology?”
“I’d say you should apologize for that pathetic attempt at a jump, but I’m being selfish. An apology for making me crash will do.”
She turns to Brianna. “Do you believe this crap?”
A low voice behind me makes me jump. “What’s going on?” Blake touches my waist and meets my determined gaze with curiosity.
The Slope Rules Page 21