“Uhhh, right now?” I ask him.
“Yeah, I know it’s late but we can have more one-on-one time. I have a key to get into the resort controls so I can turn the ski lift on and I have my board in the car plus an extra. All we would need to get is boots from the rental room,” he says like this isn’t his first rodeo.
“Okay!” I’m always up for an adventure. I’m just sorry that I wet my hair because now I’m going to be freezing!
We both get dressed quickly and I attempt to at least blowdry some of my hair.
“Let me just tell Lana we’re leaving,” I tell him.
I open the sliding door that leads to the outside and say, “Hey Lana, I’m gonna head ou– EW! OH MY GOD! I’M SORRY!!!” My eyes are blinded. I have no choice but to singe them until that graphic memory of Derek behind Lana leaves my mind.
Aspen comes by to the door to see what I’m screaming about and then has the same reaction. “Gross guys! Get a room!” He yells.
Lana and Derek nearly drown in the water with how far down they are trying to hide. They’re mortified, but serves them right for doing the nasty out in the open. Lana has really spread her wings on this trip. I just didn’t expect for her to spread her legs this much either if I’m being honest.
Go Lana though.
I stick my head out once more, keeping my eyes tightly shut. The only thing I leave open is my mouth area to speak.
“I’m not looking, but you guys have at it, Aspen and I are going snowboarding so you kids be safe,” I tell them.
“Okay, sorry!” I hear Lana yell as I slide the door back to be closed. Hoping to erase my mind from what I just witnessed.
Well, that was not what I expected.
But I can’t help but be happy for Lana, maybe this is the start of something new for her too.
14
Aspen
After being permanently scarred by something I hope to never see again—Derek’s dick—I take Genevieve down to the resort. Our mission: grab boots, turn on the ski lifts, and get up on the mountain. Quiet, quick, and under the radar.
I toy with the keys and slip the right one into the lock, my fingers working like I’m dialing in the perfect carve on fresh powder. We’re not supposed to be here. At least not for snowboarding, but an employee key gives me some leeway. As long as I don’t leave any tracks, I’m in the clear. But the second someone catches us on the lifts? That’s game over.
“We’re in,” I tell her, pretending like we’re on some sort of secret mission. I mean I guess we are, but only to get snow boots.
“You sure it’s okay that we’re here?” Genevieve asks.
“Trust me, they won’t even notice.” I don’t want her to think we are doing anything wrong and to hate me because of it. I want us to have a nice night, anxiety free. So I have to tell her a tiny white lie.
Although I don’t sense that Genevieve is the type of girl to care about getting in a little bit of trouble.
I turn the light on to the rental room and head to the back. My brother works here so I’m not surprised to find everything a complete and total mess. He’s the least organized person I know. We are so opposite in that department.
“What size are you?” I ask her.
“Size 10,” she murmurs, her gaze dropping like she's trying to avoid a spill on a tough run. This isn’t the confident Genevieve I know. I’d offer her something profound, but instead, I let the words flow like a quick trick.
“That’s hot.”
Her grin is instant. Mischievous looking.
I look for both of our shoe sizes and once I do, I place them on the counter so we can put them on. Then I leave our shoes in the cubby behind the counter.
We both tighten our shoes, making sure they’re comfortable to ride in and head over to the ski lifts. I open up the panel room where I used to work just three days ago and turn the lifts on. Once I flip the switch, the metal chairs begin to slowly swing and rotate around. I direct Genevieve where to stand and then I join her so we can share a seat together. She’s done this before, but I still like giving her instruction.
Once we’re seated comfortably and I’ve brought the protective bar over us to secure us in, I say, “Keep your left foot strapped and bring the board over your right—kind of like balancing yourself on a rail. Your right foot should be the anchor, holding you steady while the board stays in place.”
