Page 21 of Crashing into Love

“Grandma has the little house right next to here, and I have a suite upstairs with Gia. That makes it easier for her to watch her when I’m gone. Right now, they’re probably video chatting because Grandma has been worried that she’s still contagious, even though the doctor said she’s not. She’s older, so it’s just taking her a while to get over it completely, but she doesn’t want to risk getting Gia sick.”

“You’re a single parent, taking care of this place and your grandma, but you’re also a professional snowboarder? That’s impressive, Selma,” Drew stated and leaned back in her chair.

“It’s not, really,” she replied with a little laugh. “It’s a lot of balancing, and I’m not very good at it. Right now, the thirteen-year-old daughter of an employee is upstairs with my kid because I had to check on the lodge. I should be up there with her.”

“Are you done working now? Or am I keeping you from getting things done so that you can get back to her?”

Selma smiled and said, “I’m done for the night. Kelly is here, and she knows more about this place than I do, I think.”

“Then, go. Don’t let me keep you.” Drew stood up. “Gia seems great, by the way,” she added and smiled softly at Selma. “She looks just like you; even has the same stance.” Drew crossed her arms over her chest to imitate what she’d seen earlier that day and tapped her right foot for good measure.

“Yeah. Yeah.” Selma laughed as she stood up.

“I’m going to grab some dinner, but tell her I said hi, if that’s okay with you.”

“Sure. I’ll tell her. Have a good night, Drew.”

“You too,” Drew replied.

CHAPTER 9

“Hi, Drew.”

Drew looked up from the coffee cup she’d just brought to her lips and saw Gia standing in front of her on the other side of the table.

“Oh. Hi, Gia.”

“What are you doing?”

Drew looked down at her bowl of oatmeal.

“Having breakfast. What are you doing?”

“I don’t have school today,” Gia replied. “Snow day.”

“I looked out my window and saw that a lot had really come down last night, huh?”

“Yes, a ton. I go to this special school, and it’s really small, so when the snow gets bad, they have to close. Mom says it’s because they have a parking lot that people can’t get into because of the snow, but I think it’s because the teachers want a snow day, too.” Gia smiled wide.

“Well, I’m sure you’re both right.” Drew took a sip of her coffee. “So, you’re off today?”

Gia sat down in the chair opposite her and said, “Yes. And I asked Mom last night if you could be my coach. She said no, but could you?”

“Your coach?”

“For snowboarding. I know I’m new, but I can be good. My mom is really good, but I know you are, too, because we watch videos of you.”

“You watch videos of me with your mom?” Drew asked.

“Yeah. And she takes notes on her phone. She showed me.”

“Your mom…” Drew smirked. “She takes notes on me? Where is your mom right now, exactly?”

“Gia!”

“Ah, there she is.” Drew turned her head to see Selma hurrying over to the table.

“What are you doing over here? You were supposed to wait for me on the sofa.”

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