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‘So it made sense to marry Christina for business instead? For your love of food.’
‘Exactly. A marriage of convenience.’
‘That explains a hell of a lot,’ I said, realising this perfect, married man, wasn’t married at all, and was in fact just… perfect. ‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’ I asked, lost in thought.
‘Very few people know. It’s rare for me to let anyone in – especially these days, after everything that happened with Chantal – and then you showed up. The arrangement with Christina is a delicate matter and it isn’t just my information to share; it’s her life too. I was going to tell you on your birthday, but with Luca there, we didn’t get any time on our own and the moment passed.’
I’d tried so hard to ignore my feelings for Xavier, knowing he was married and off limits and now he’d dropped this bombshell, I couldn’t bring myself to trust how I felt. Things could have been so different between us if I’d known he was secretly single. But then,he knewand he could have told me sooner if he’d wanted something to happen. Why was he bothering to tell me now? When it was too late? He’d been such a wonderful friend, but that was clearly all it was on his side –friends.
We waited for everyone else to ski down before setting off, so there was no fear of being hit from behind or colliding into anyone in front.
‘I got you these,’ Xavier said, handing me some hand warmers. I shook the two little bags of magic sand to activate the heat and put them in my pockets.
‘You’re always one step ahead,’ I said. ‘The best I could think of were glow sticks.’ I pulled out a handful from my inside pocket and cracked them all awake. Luminous pink, blue and green glowed bright, as I made a crown for Xavier and three bracelets for myself.
‘Very stylish,’ he said, when we were both glowed up and ready to go. We stood side by side and peered over the edge down the fire-lit run.
‘Ready?’ he asked.
‘Ready,’ I replied.
We set off together, gliding over the fresh snow and for the first time, I didn’t feel like I was slowing him down. Me on skis and Xavier on his board, shlooping down the piste together, taking forty minutes to do the twenty-minute run at a smooth and gentle pace. Enjoying the moon and the flames and the freedom.
Thirty-One
14th March
Xavier was poring over his recipe notebook, chewing the end of his pen, brow furrowed deep in thought, with a week to go to the party. It had been two weeks since Luca had gone back to Paris and weirdly, I hadn’t missed him at all. I’d missed the free Champagne, though. I’d really missed the free Champagne.
‘Once you’ve decided on the main dish, I’ll have a chat with David about the wine,’ I said, interrupting his reverie.
‘I’ve already decided,’ he announced. ‘I’m going with Duck Magret. Indulgent but unexpected and ducky: the prince of meats.’
‘The duckiest of meats,’ I laughed.
‘We’ll do stuffed mushrooms, tempura vegetables and potato croquettes with local cheeses. I’ll make it finger food, so people don’t need to sit down.’
‘Nice one, Xavier,’ Liv said, ‘then we can take it in turns to run the bar and enjoy the party ourselves. Bella’s bringing her decks, so that’s all sorted.’
‘I’ll go up and see David now then,’ I said. ‘Shall I ask Rachael about the cakes on the way?’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Xavier said. ‘I’ve got something specific I want to ask her.’
I popped back to my room and threw my jacket and snood on, tying my hair into a high ponytail and smoothing it down with a headband. My hair had now grown way past my shoulders and was always in a tangle. I gave it a quick brush to glossy it up, catching myself in the mirror and stopping for a second. For the first time in a long time, I looked kind of… right. The London vibes had gone. My skin was smooth and tanned and my eyes were shining. My outfit was sleek. I looked like a skier. Like I belonged here.
I swung by the kitchen to get Xavier.
‘Are you coming too?’ I called to Liv as she poured herself a coffee.
‘Nope, I’m on episode nine of “Be What You See” to align more with nature,’ she said, pointing at her headphones, which had been permanently glued to her head for weeks. ‘I’m going to stay in and finish it up.’
Xavier and I headed outside. The weather was now bright sunshine every day. March was a joy in Verbier, and I stuffed my snood in my pocket the second we left the chalet. Xavier was much more weather-savvy in a long-sleeved Beatles T-shirt and faded jeans, his green eyes pinging against the violet in his top.
‘I had some good news yesterday,’ he said, as we walked up the hill, the sun on our cheeks.
‘Go on,’ I said, ‘don’t keep me in suspense.’
‘I got the job in Tuscany.’ He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. ‘I’m going to be running the cookery school in San Gimignano, for an old, Italian, Michelin-star master.’
