“I do Pilates,” I said defensively. Every Tuesday and Thursday. Which actually reminded me, I really needed to cancel that membership. It wasn’t like I’d be using it any time soon, and I couldn’t exactly afford to be squandering away one hundred dollars a month on a gym membership while there was still no end in sight to my unemployment.
Oliver let me walk in front of him before letting out a low whistle. “I can tell.”
My eyebrows shot up as I turned around to find him smiling at me. “Like you can tell what my body looks like through all these layers.”
“Maybe I’ve noticed before,” he said, a sly grin creeping onto his face.
Heat rushed into my cheeks that had little to do with the exertion of the hike.
Oliver, seemingly oblivious to the effect he had on me, fell into step next to me. “So, no sports then?” he asked.
“What like adult intramural volleyball?” I snorted. “Hard pass.”
When I glanced up at Oliver, he looked deeply offended by that. “Adult leagues are a great place to meet people, Frankie.”
He had me there. Maybe I shouldn’t be poking fun at any extracurricular activities when my life currently held none.
“Maybe I’ll give it a try one day.”
“Yeah, right,” he said with a laugh. “What about high school? Did you at least play sports then?”
“Aside from my failed attempt at track and field, not really.” My snowshoe hit a hidden branch, and I stumbled a little. Oliver’s hands were around my waist in an instant, steadyingme. “I was more into academics,” I continued, stepping away from his touch. “You know, debate team, student council, those types of things.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Our paths wouldnothave crossed in high school.”
Oliver in high school. Without even having to ask, I was sure he was the popular, jock type. I had been popular in my own way. I hadn’t had too bad of an awkward phase, and I did have friends. But all my overachieving left little time for a social life.
“Oh yeah? Not big into studies,” I teased.
“Not even a little. I made sure I passed because I wanted to get the hell out of there and never think about school again, but I wouldn’t say I thrived. Plus, a passing grade was necessary for sports.”
“Which I take it you did in abundance.”
“Yep.” I could hear the smile in his voice even though my gaze was fixed on my steps. “Soccer, basketball, baseball. My dad was always irritated I couldn’t commit to only one. He told me I might actually amount to being more than average if I did that. I think that just made me want to spread myself even thinner.”
I winced. He’d hardly shared anything about himself, his past, or his family. Even though I wanted to know more, Oliver gave off a “ask me personal questions, and I might bolt” vibe.
“He sounds like a dick,” I said.
Oliver snorted. “You have no idea. I couldn’t wait to get out of that house. Moved to Colorado as soon as I graduated and never looked back.”
That caught my attention. “You went to school out here?”
“Nope. Moved out here with my friend Harrison. We shared a shitty apartment and both got minimum wage jobs.”
My mouth went slack at the admittance as I forced myself to take steadying breaths. Talking while trudging through the snow was proving a good distraction, but I was still basically panting. “You didn’t go to college?” I asked.
Oliver turned to see my shocked expression. Instead of being offended, a laugh escaped him as he rolled his eyes. “What? You’re seriously surprised that I didn’t go to college? Do I seem like the type?”
“I don’t know,” I said, scrambling to keep up with him. It was like these snowshoes were a second skin for him.
“You thought, I—who’s never had a stable job in my life, who comes out to teach snowboarding lessons on a whim, who hated school and has called your corporate career soul sucking—went to college?” He raised his eyebrows.
“There are lots of reasons to go to college.” My tone had taken on a defensive edge.
“Yeah. To get into debt and get scammed out of a whole lot of money.”
“Or to meet lifelong friends, get an education, study abroad, kickstart your career.”
