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Ben looked at the hill and back at me, raising his eyebrows.
“You said in your report that you don’t know how to ski.”
“I know what I said in my report, I just… want to make it a challenge.” I threw as much confidence in my voice as I could muster. Admittedly, there wasn’t much.
“Or you’ll make another viral video because you hilariously face-plant on the snow, or worse, paint it red with a horrible accident,” Mark chimed in helpfully, finally catching up with us.
“Look, I hate that it seems that we’re ganging up on you, but there are dangers to consider, Olivia,” Ben said urgently, but it didn’t really feel like he was completely opposed to my idea. I guessed he was just being factual.
I sighed as I started to feel hot from the ridiculous amount of clothes I wore during summer in Norway.
“Alright, fine, then why don’t you just teach me how,” I suggested as I took off my puffy coat. “Because I hate to tell you this, Mr. Oviatt, but me sledding down the hill is going to generate the wrong kind of attention.”
Ben contemplated my suggestion.
“Sure,” he answered much more quickly than I thought he would. “It’s not that hard if you’re just going to perform a simple glide down, anyway. Follow me.” He started walking toward the cabins.
I looked at Mark, kind of surprised at how easily that conversation went down. I mean, I was clearly being demanding of my boss. I would expect some sort of repercussion, but… nothing. Nowthatwas out of character for him.
Ben
Not long after I agreed to this absurd plan, Olivia and I found an open spot with a small slope. I was trying to ignore how sexy she looked in her borrowed ski gear. I helped her get into her boots and strap on her helmet. When she was ready, Mark would set her up with the action camera on her helmet, but I figured we’d learn without it.
It was a tiny slope, really. Just a bunny slope. Olivia seemed fit enough to handle this challenge.
“Alright, so what you’ll need to do first is get your stance right,” I said, trying to model how she should set herself. But she just looked at me with an utterly confused expression.
“Stance?” she asked, baffled. “And have you done this before?”
She looked sheepish, like maybe she meant to keep that part inside her head. I bit back a chuckle.
“What? Skiing or teaching someone how to ski?”
“The latter.”
I couldn’t help the grin that tipped the corners of my lips.
“Maybe. Don't worry about it.”
Her face faltered a bit, and I had to fight back a laugh again. She just looked so adorably bewildered right now. Olivia was so far out of her element and, quite frankly, I was a little impressed. I’d hold final judgment when I saw the final product of this whole thing, but she was willing to get out of her comfort zone, and that was a brave start.
“Nothing,” she muttered, adjusting her goggles. “I just thought I would be your first.”
“This definitely isn’t my first time, sorry.” I wasn’t sure where the teasing tone came from. Something about the sunshine and fresh air was making me feel a little more playful. It was Olivia, too. Somehow she brought out two completely different sides of me—ruthless and critical, and playful and teasing.
“Oh,” she said, her voice unreadable. Or was that a hint of jealousy? She stared straight at me, and I wished I could see her eyes. “Tell me about her.” It sounded like a dare.
She tried gliding in place and almost fell on her ass. I showed her how to do it.
“I could tell you abouthim.” The shock on her face was clear, and I barked out a laugh. “It was Eric. He sucked, and I laughed at him for hours.”
Olivia cracked up laughing.
“I’m just imagining Eric falling flat on his face. I mean, don’t tell him I said that. But the thought is hilarious.”
She slid her goggles up and swiped under her eyes. The golden flecks in them burned brightly in the mountain air. I held her gaze for a long moment, before she moved the goggles back down and cleared her throat.
“Alright, enough of that. Tell me about that stance thing.”
