“Size seven,” I corrected without thinking about it.
He winked. “Great. It’s settled. You’re coming.”
I shook my head, trying to rid myself of whatever trance Oliver had me under. “I didn’t say that.”
“I’ll have a board and boots ready at seven a.m. Lifts open an hour early on Friday for locals. It’ll be perfect to get you started. It’ll be fun. Ever heard of the concept?”
“I’m fun,” I challenged.
“Really? Could have fooled me.”
I let out a loud, exaggerated huff. “I have nothing to wear.” My resolve had shattered by this point. Why shouldn’t I give this a try? I was fighting it so hard, and for what? To sit alone in my sister’s basement, stressing about my severe lack of prospects?
“Mattie has extra gear. I already asked her.”
“What? When? You’re conspiring with my sister now?”
He laughed at that, his eyes glinting. “I saw her at the lodge yesterday. Figured I’d ask.”
“Uh-huh.” I folded my arms across my chest, a small sign of resistance, but we both knew he’d won.
He knocked on the bar before walking backward to his table. “I’ll see you Friday. Bright and early.”
NINE
Oliver
“Nice outfit,”I said through a chuckle.
“It was all Mattie had.” Frankie glared at me while adjusting the arms of the cream snowsuit that had lines of neon color circling the elbows and knees. She looked freaking adorable.
“Sorry for wanting to look good out here,” Mattie said, wearing her own emerald-green and white snowsuit.
“You can say that again.” Giles grinned and ruffled her hair.
“Hey!” She swatted him away before tugging on a beanie.
Frankie sighed and eyed the board and boots in my hands. “Those for me?” she asked.
“Yep.” I handed her the boots, and she took them without complaint. “You need more coffee or something?” I asked. “I was expecting about a dozen more snarky comments from you this morning.”
“Wait until we’re on the hill and I’ve fallen on my ass the first few times. You’ll be begging me to shut up.”
She furrowed her brow and squinted at the hill behind us.I glanced back at it, attempting to see it through her eyes. It probably seemed pretty ominous to her, though I was so used to speeding down that steep hill that I barely gave it a second thought.
Her lack of enthusiasm only made me more determined to drag her up the mountain. I had a bit of a habit—okay, a full-blown complex—of roping people into adventures they had no interest in.
Just ask my brother, Nathan. We were never particularly close until he moved to Denver, at which point I had made it my mission to introduce him to every hobby I’d picked up since landing here. Despite his endless complaints, I took him rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding. Apparently, forcing people to do the things I enjoyed was my love language.
“Maybe you’ll be a natural,” Giles offered as Frankie looked warily up the hill. “Mattie picked it up pretty fast.”
Frankie raised an eyebrow. “Was this before or after she wound up in the hospital?”
Giles winced and Mattie rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you, that wasn’t my fault.”
“We’ll be on the bunny hill. Chances of hospitalization are low,” I reassured Frankie. I had taught plenty of lessons over the years and so far hadn’t had a single injury on my watch. Well, other than a few bruised butts. That couldn’t be helped.
“But never zero,” she countered.
