Oliver
Four laughingcustomers spilled out of Marie’s as I grabbed the door and slipped right by them. My eyes scanned the lively space. It had a long wooden table in the middle and smaller mismatched vintage tables surrounding it. The bar on one side had a neon sign above it and Bev, along with another bartender, hustled behind it, trying to catch up with drink orders.
Giles waved at me from one of the smaller tables across the bar, by the windows. I nodded in acknowledgment before striding over to him. My lips instantly curved when I saw who he was with.
“Mattie, good to see you again,” I said, throwing her a smile before turning to Frankie. “Hello, Frankie. Fancy running into you at another bar.”
Frankie looked up from her plate before giving me a flat, “Hey.”
God, I could still remember what those lips felt like pressed against mine. Theoretically, I knew that Frankie madeabsolutely zero fucking sense. Career motivated was practically a con when it came to what I looked for in a woman. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about a repeat of that kiss.
I pulled out the seat next to hers and sat down.
“How’s your first week going so far?” Mattie asked, a mischievous gleam in her eyes as she glanced between her sister and me.
“Honestly, amazing.” I tipped my head in Giles’s direction. “I’m glad he thought of me for this gig. I couldn’t think of a place I’d rather be this winter.”
“I’m just happy you could make it on such short notice,” Giles said, leaning into Mattie and slinging an arm around her chair.
“Trust me, there was no way I was turning this down.”
“Not a lot of prior commitments and responsibilities you had to untangle yourself from?” Frankie asked in a sarcastic tone.
“Frankie, don’t be rude,” Mattie hissed, but I chuckled.
Frankie rolled her eyes. “I was just messing with him. Oliver and I go way back, right?”
My grin widened as I turned to take her in. “Way back,” I confirmed.
I didn’t even care that I was supposed to be insulted by her jabs. She was right. I went through life with a low commitment level. It wasn’t like I was unreliable. I’d held plenty of steady jobs: teaching lessons at the climbing gym, working at a wilderness sports store, and a few other things depending on the season. But onecouldargue that I wasn’t the most stable person around—and I was proud of that.
“How were conditions today?” Mattie asked, changing the subject.
“Pretty good,” Giles said. “The powder we got last week is packed down by this point.”
“I’m pumped to check out some of the backside,” I said, referring to the more challenging terrain.
“We can all go together. Mattie is pretty good at this point too.” Giles pointed to his wife.
Mattie held up her hands. “I don’t know about that.”
“What about you?” I asked, turning to Frankie. “When are we going to get you out there?”
She recoiled at the thought. “How about two days after never.”
Mattie laughed. “Careful. I thought that once and now I love it.”
“Didn’t you also almost get yourself killed your first year learning?” Frankie retorted.
“That wasn’t her fault,” Giles said, his jaw clenching at the mention of whatever accident must have happened.
Before I could bug Frankie more on the subject, Bev stopped by our table and put her arm on the back of my chair. I had met her when I first arrived, and we’d run into each other a few times as I was getting to the apartment and she was leaving the house. She seemed warm and welcoming from what I could tell.
“Hey, you all have everything you need?” she asked, looking down at me and patting my shoulder.
“I just sat down,” I said. “I’ll head to the bar and grab a drink.”
“Don’t bother.” She waved her hand. “I’ll have someone send over a bottle of wine and another cheese platter.”
