“Right. I remember that now.” She holds her hands up and smiles bashfully. “Not really a team sports type of girl. I’ll go see if Ava needs any help in the kitchen.”
“Okay, but you don’t have to leave.”
“It’s okay, I want to.”
I watch her go and don’t turn back to Noah until she disappears around the corner. He’s got a big, dopey smile on his face as he lifts his beer to his lips.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He takes a drink. “Is that the ski instructor?”
“Yes.”
“You seem close.”
“We’re getting to know each other.”
“Intimately?” He wiggles his eyebrows.
“Fuck off.” I drop down in the chair across from him. “Where’s Ben? I saw his car.”
“In the kitchen with Ava.”
“Aiden?”
“Finishing up at the restaurant.”
I nod, since that was my assumption.
“Hey, man.” Ben walks into the room and extends his hand.
I slap it in greeting. “Hey. How are you?”
“I’m good. But we should be asking how you are. It’s your first holiday without Izzy.”
Noah sets his beer down while Ben takes a seat on the couch. I run my hand through my hair. The best thing about finding this group of guys is how easy they are to talk to. We might rib each other about shit, but when it’s serious, they’re always available.
“Not gonna lie, it’s rough. I've been an anxious mess since I watched her step onto the airplane.”
“That has to be hard. At least my kids are just a couple hours away in Denver,” Ben says.
“It is. If I could facetime her every hour on the hour, I probably would. But Monica and Jerry are both understanding. I’m so glad that they were open to hearing my side of everything and knowing we’re all on the same team.”
“That’s what is most important. Making sure Izzy is as supported and loved as possible.” Noah sips his beer. His ex-wife walked out on him and their son years ago, and his parents passed away in a car accident years before she left. The only reason Wyatt isn’t here is because he’s spending Thanksgiving with his girlfriend and her family in Idaho.
The conversation moves further on to work and other facets of life. While we talk and half pay attention to the game on TV, I also keep an ear toward the kitchen. Every so often I hear laughter drifting from the girls out to us. With each instance my body relaxes, it’s so good to know they’re getting along.
Aiden joins us about forty-five minutes after we arrive and disappears upstairs to shower quickly before dinner. Once he’s finished we all settle around the table. I pour both myself and Willa a glass of wine after she takes a seat at the table. Aiden apologizes for being late and launches into a story about how busy work was.
“But enough about me,” he says as the final dishes are passed around the table. “How has the season been for you, Willa?”
“Good. For as busy as it’s been, there haven’t been too many accidents on the slopes so far.” She taps her knuckles on the table. “Knock on wood.”
“Was the rescue the other day your first this year?” I ask.
“No, there was a girl who blew out her knee on the moguls the week before. Then there’s been all the usual issues, collisions on the slopes, etcetera.” She waves her hand.
“What do you do in the off season?” Ben asks.
