I glance over at her while she stares out the window, humming softly to the music. My chest tightens a little. Life before her feels like it belonged to someone else. Someone numb, just going through the motions of work, snowboard, sleep, repeat. When things got too heavy, I leaned on things I shouldn’t have; coke, isolation, distractions that dulled everything.
But now... now I feel things. I go out. I laugh. I make plans. I look forward to things. I look forward to her. Genevieve didn’t justwalk into my life, she flipped the lights on. Everything feels sharper now; brighter, real.
Sometimes I wonder if she realizes it. What she’s done for me. How much lighter everything feels with her around.
We pull up to the resort and I walk her in, leading her to the kitchen area just to make sure she remembers the way. She does, of course, but I like the excuse to be near her for a few more seconds.
“You good?” I ask.
“I’m good,” She says smiling.
I steal one last kiss, just a quick one on the lips and then head off toward my station, throwing one final glance over my shoulder.
“See you at lunch!” I say. She’s already tying an apron around her waist. That apron should be illegal.
“See you!”
My first lesson is supposed to be intermediate, which usually means I’ll spend the first ten minutes realizing I need to reteach the basics. Today’s no different, two girls in the group are clearly trying to impress someone; me, maybe? They keep laughing a little too hard at my jokes and crashing every five minutes like it’s a sport. Cute, but not my type. I’ve only got eyes for one girl. And she’s currently in the kitchen making burgers and looking like the hottest chef on the planet.
I wrap up my class and start making my way back to her when Becky intercepts me.
“Hey, Aspen,” she says, “your second class got canceled. Private group, the whole family missed their flight.”
That’s a first. But I’m not complaining.
“Thanks for letting me know, Becks.”
“No problemo.” She starts to walk away, but an idea pops into my head and I call her back.
“Wait. Hey, do you know if employees can use the spa?”
“You mean you’ve never taken advantage?” She laughs. “I go at least once a week. It’s totally free. You only have to tip.”
Bingo.
“You think you could schedule me and a guest for a full package in thirty minutes?”
“You got it!” She says with a wink.
“Thank you!” I call after her. I’m already half-jogging to the bar like a man on a mission. No idea if this’ll work but if I can pull it off, it’s gonna be worth it.
When I walk in, I spot Raul and Genevieve behind the counter. Raul’s got a rag thrown over his shoulder and Genevieve’s wiping down the bar, the two of them in what looks like mid-banter. It’s a weirdly warm image. I think Raul likes her, not that he’d tell me.
“Hey,” I say to both of them.
“Hey, Aspen,” Genevieve says with that sparkle in her eyes.
“Hey,” Raul says, completely void of sparkle.
No harm in asking, right? Worst he can say is no, and even then, I’ll find another way.
“I’ve got a question, boss.”
“Shoot.”
“My second class got canceled. Can I have the rest of the day off? And can you, maybe, possibly, pretty please, also let Genevieve off early?”
He stares at me like I’ve grown a second head, then he exhales slowly and says, “Sure.”
