A guy.
Pushing that thought from my mind, I plaster a scowl on my face and trudge after him. “Rentals? Don’t fake legs have to be custom fit and shit?”
“Prosthetics, yes,” Frosty says through gritted teeth as he rounds the counter. “But, not everyone in this program is an amputee. There are people with learning disabilities, sensory issues, or blindness. We rent helmets, skis and boards, poles, guide straps, all of those things to them.
I don’t remember that from the training I had to do. Hell, I barely remember the training since I wasn’t planning on putting it to use. No matter, everyone who grew up in this town has worked at a rental counter at least one season.
“You can handle rentals, right?” His clipped tone riles me, but not in the way it should. Instead of grating on me the way he clearly meant it to, it makes me feel alive. Skin crackling with restless energy as cutting retorts flare up like wildfire in my mind.This. This is what I want instead of the gentle words I’ve been getting from everyone else, which make me want to scream.
Hayden’s saucy attitude fuels the rage in me—not in a violent way—more like a wicked one. It pierces through the fog in my head, priming me for a good verbal sparring. The only question now is which of the remarks ping-ponging in my skull will have the greatest impact.
I pick up the reservation list to see what equipment I’ll have to pull, studying it for longer than necessary as I bait him.I think I’ll go for the slow attack.
“Do you assume all your helpers are idiots, Frosty, or just me?”
“Just you.” His voice almost sounds cheery.
“How’d I get that distinction?” I lift my eyes to his.
“Court order.” He smiles with false sweetness.
“Touché.” I can’t stop the tiny chuckle from passing through my lips.Score one for the ice prick. “But growing up here I’ve spent enough time in the rental shop to know how it works, so if you want to hand me tasks you think I’ll fail, best to pick a more challenging one.” I shift the toothpick from one side of my mouth to the other, a movement his eyes track closely.Interesting.
“And yet, moments ago, you thought we don’t do rentals.” He grabs a rag from beneath the counter and starts wiping it down. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be a dismissal or a distraction, but I’m not ready to fold.
I toss the clipboard on the counter and cross my arms. “Maybe if you hadn’t kept me hidden in the back, I’d know more about the shit you do here.”
“Maybe if your breath wouldn’t knock out a linebacker, I’d have put you up front sooner.”
“Mint flavored.” I point to the toothpick in my mouth.Score one for me.
“The toothpick or your last shot?” His cheeks are tinged with red, and I have to fight back a satisfied grin.
“Such a clever retort. I can see why Carter put you in charge.”
He gives me a dramatic eye roll. “You don’t sound very complimentary toward the guy who’s pulling strings for you. I thought you were friends.”
The reminder of his ultimatum deflates me faster than a popped tire loses air. “Business associates,” I correct, wiping an imaginary smudge off the counter.
“You must be good for business if he’s going to stick my neck out on your behalf.” Frosty swats my hand away so he can wipe off the mark it left.
“I was.” I shove my hands in my pockets, so I’m not tempted to bash them on the counter.
“Past tense?” He pauses to look at me. “Lovely. And he wonders why I won’t put you on the mountain.” Frosty purses his lips and looks me over.
Have they always been that plump?Wait, what?
“I suppose that’s why Carter asked why you weren’t on the mountain.” His indignant huff brings his face back into focus. “You tattled about having to play janitor. Trying to get back in his good graces?”
“I didn’t breathe a word.”
Hayden’s full lips part into a little ‘o’ as the next zinger he prepared to sling dies. His eyes soften, not to the point of total remorse, but they lose some of their ire.Didn’t see that coming.
The gesture stifles some of my bitterness toward him, and, testing a theory, I float the toothpick back to the other side of my mouth, curious to see if he’ll follow the movement like he did before.
Yep.
Focus, Ryder, you’re supposed to be pissing him off, not toying with him.
