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With a successful first run down the bunny slope behind us, we moved on to the green trail. I told her to keep her legs loose. I showed her how to zigzag more smoothly. I pretended everything was fine as I offered tips on each subsequent trip down the slope.
We drifted into a comfortable rhythm, riding the lift and going down the green slope. With each run, Layana’s performance and confidence improved. Her cheeks grew more flushed from the cold. Hours passed.
Eventually, my internal clock warned that it was time to eat something more significant than we had yesterday. We both required proper sustenance.
“We must go in for lunch,” I told her.
“One more time first.” Layana put her hands together and batted her eyelashes up at me. “It won’t take long. Plus, if we’re avoiding typical meal times, we’re also avoiding all the people.”
She knew exactly what to say to manipulate me. “Fine.”
A pleased grin overtook her face as she took off toward the lift.
We went down twice more before I successfully convinced her we needed to eat. Back inside, we went to the little restaurant. We took a seat at our table, but before we even received menus, the vultures descended.
The back of my neck prickled at their approach.
“Gabriel!”
It was too late to cover my face, too late to pretend I hadn’t heard and run away. After my conversation with Peter this morning, I should have seen this coming, but I’d thought I had until dinner to prepare myself.
I looked to Layana, hoping she had some sort of excuse for the both of us. Footsteps grew nearer. Layana wasn’t looking back at me. She was busy tipping back her glass of water as if she was completely dehydrated.
The host set menus in front of us and started listing wines of the day.
Layana asked questions about the listed vintages, still not looking at me.
Peter was growing closer. Desperate, I nudged Layana’s leg with my toe.
She shot me a dangerous scowl. “What’s that for?”
“I—”
Peter reached us. It was too late.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Peter laughed.
I’d been consumed with thoughts of Layana’s kiss. I’d made a fatal error. We should have gotten room service or a quick snack.
“It’s been a long morning on the slopes,” I said.
Layana’s attention was completely focused on me now. She wasn’t saying anything, or shielding me as she had before.
“Come on. You’re coming with us,” Peter said.
The host picked off some imaginary lint from his chest. “Wherever you sit, your server will be with you shortly.”
“Don’t be silly,” Peter said. “We’re all one big happy family at Biotabloom, right, Gabriel?”
The host looked from me to Peter and back again, and slowly backed away.
“Of course,” Layana said. “We’d love to.”
Any hope of her helping me escape died.
I glowered all the way to a private room where Biotabloom had gathered.
I couldn’t do this again. Say I suffered through lunch, and didn’t completely alienate the people I was supposed to be connecting with. What was next? Dinner tonight? Breakfast tomorrow? Then another lunch and dinner? I was trapped in an infinite loop of dining torture.
