Page 38 of Head Over Skis

‘They know how to make hot chocolates right up here,’ Penny agrees with a knowing nod.

I point to her brandy. ‘You’ve gone for something different though.’

I turn to Stephen. ‘Maybe we should’ve followed their lead, gotten ourselves some liquid courage.’

Stephen grimaces at the burnt orange liquid, and I can tell he’s not a fan. ‘If Patrick was here he’d definitely have ordered me one. I remember him telling me they start drinking with breakfast on his family ski holidays.’

He shivers like he can’t imagine anything worse, then taps his thumb on the mug cupped in his palms. ‘I think I’ll stick to tea. I’m finding it tough out there today, and usually whenever I’m out of sorts, a cup of tea is exactly what I need to make things better.’

He takes a sip, and I look over to Rory to see if he heard. He’s nodding along, a smirk stretching his lips as he’s clearly thinking of the same moment I am, back in his kitchen. He takes a sip of his drink with his pinkie finger sticking out, and I chuckle, which draws the attention of the others around me.

‘Sorry, um, I totally agree. Probably safest for everyone else that we stick to the hot drinks anyway.’

I turn towards Penny and Bill to change the subject. ‘How long have you two been married?’

Bill huffs. ‘That question makes me feel old.’

‘That’s because you are old,’ Penny replies in jest, before answering. ‘We hit forty blissful years last August, isn’t that right, darling?’

‘Blissful would be one word for it,’ he replies sarcastically, but when he squeezes Penny’s hand on the table, something about their simple touch communicates hundreds of memories and inside jokes all at once, and I find myself wondering if my relationship with Adam could ever blossom into something like theirs.

As we chat, I don’t realise how much time has flown until the door opens and Lucas, David and Adam walk in, meaning it must be gone past the end of our lesson.

‘Oh, you found us!’ Meghan says as they walk closer. ‘But I hadn’t texted you yet?’

She looks over at me, but I shake my head. I haven’t used my phone since before our lesson started.

‘Tilly texted David about twenty minutes ago, so we thought we’d come over and join,’ Lucas clarifies, coming up behind Meghan and leaning down to place a kiss on her cheek.

The other boys knock snow off their boots against the doorframe, while I swivel towards Tilly. She pauses with her beer lifted towards her lips as she meets my tilted stare.

‘Oh yeah, I did. I was taking a photo of the view as we finished the run and thought I may as well kill two birds with one stone.’

She shuts down the conversation by turning and asking Rory about the best bars in town. Usually Meghan texts the boys after each lesson, and I can’t help thinking it’s odd that Tilly didn’t say anything about it earlier.

There’s a space that’s now unoccupied to my left, which David slides into while Adam fills up the rest of the table by taking one of the other gaps. He’s seen Rory, but given the fact we’re on opposite ends of the table, it doesn’t seem to bother him. Stephen, Penny and Bill continue their conversation, while I turn my attention to the others.

‘You guys ready for blacks yet then?’ David asks before reaching across the table and stealing a swig from Tilly’s glass.

‘Hey, fuck off and get your own beer!’ She swats his hand before dragging the glass towards her chest and encasing it with her arms.

‘Oh come on, Tills, we both know it takes you forever to finish a full pint.’

‘Yeah well, that doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. Who do you think you are, my boyfriend or something?’

That pulls a giggle out of me, and a grimace from David, but I swear the tops of his ears flush crimson.

‘Are you kidding? You and your morning breath and your weird fascination with Henry Cavill.’

‘I literally had one poster of him and it was only up for a few months! God, why do you even remember that, you stalker.’

‘He was really hot in Man of Steel, you can’t blame her,’ Meghan chimes in, and I nod in agreement, laughing as I watch David and Tilly continue to verbally spar.

‘Okay, someone break those two up so we can get back on track,’ Lucas says, arm now slung around Meghan’s shoulder, holding her like he’s spent all morning missing her and doesn’t want to let go.

‘Maybe not blacks, but now the weather’s cleared back up, you guys are still down for joining us for some runs after lunch, right?’

‘Hmm I don’t know, what do you think, coach, reckon we’re ready for it?’ Meghan asks Rory, who is seated on her other side.