Page 59 of Crashing into Love

Drew nodded at the wall behind the sofa that Selma had overlooked somehow, where there were twelve small black-and-white photos with black frames organized perfectly above the sofa. Some photos were of only courses or a mountain, but others had Drew in them, boarding down either on a turn or in the air. A few had her hugging people who looked like her parents at the finish line.

“My best races,” Drew said. “Or, best courses. My favorite mountains. Stuff like that. My dad took most of them. I have more than that, too. I replace them every so often when I need a little inspiration or want a change.”

“That’s really cool, Drew,” she replied.

“You thought I’d have a whole apartment of trophies, didn’t you?” Drew laughed softly. “Because I was bragging at the hotel.”

“I guess I thought that, yeah,” she admitted.

“Not really my thing. I have the wins, and I have the stories that go with them. My parents can show off the trophies and stuff and do their parental bragging. I’m good with pictures and memories.”

“That’s a pretty good philosophy.”

“Where are all of yours?”

“Oh. Technically, in boxes in my closet. I don’t have as many as you do, but my grandma’s house is too small. My parents told me to take everything with me when they moved, and I didn’t want to damage the walls in the hotel by putting up shelves or something. I don’t plan on living there forever. It was always meant to be temporary. While it’s turned into semi-permanent, I don’t want it to be forever, if I can help it. I want them to eventually be able to sell that room. So, I let Gia put stuff on her walls that won’t damage them, if she wants, but I stick to the plain hotel-style mountain painting print over my bed.”

She turned to Drew, who still had both hands on Selma’s roller bag handle as she looked back at Selma.

“You just do nothing for yourself, huh?” Drew asked.

“What?”

“You won’t even decorate your own bedroom because you want your grandma to be able to sell it when you leave.”

“Well, yeah. It’s a suite. She’s missing out on a lot of money with us living there.”

“Ruth does not strike me as the kind of woman who cares much for money. She does strike me as the kind of woman who loves having you and Gia so close. I would imagine that after losing your grandfather and having your parents move away, you and Gia are probably all she has left so close anyway. She loves having you there.”

Selma nodded.

“I’m sure she does, yes. I love having her there, too, and not just because she takes care of Gia for me. We’ve always been close.” She pulled off her backpack. “Can I–”

“Anywhere is fine,” Drew told her. “I can show you to the bedroom and get you something to drink, like a decent host, too.”

Selma followed Drew into her bedroom and found it to be about what she’d expected. There were more of those photos on the wall above the bed, a TV mounted to the wall in front of it, with the dresser beneath it, and two bedside tables complete with matching lamps – which was better than she’d expected, actually.

“This is yours while you’re here. So, make yourself at home. I have extra pillows and stuff in the closet, if you need.” Drew pointed to a closed door next to another closed door. “The bathroom is in here, though, so don’t be scared if I have to come in here to pee in the middle of the night.”

“Okay. I won’t,” Selma replied.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“I’m okay. I had a bottle of water with me on the plane.”

“I can let you get settled in. Are you hungry, though? There’s a Mexican place we can walk to, if you want to stretch your legs. It’s real Mexican food and amazing, if you’re interested.”

“Sure,” she said. “Can I get changed first?”

“No problem,” Drew replied and let go of the roller bag. “I’ll wait out there.”

“I’ll only be a minute.”

“Take your time,” Drew said and left the room.

Selma felt strange closing Drew’s bedroom door behind her, but she did so because she needed a minute to herself, not just to change. She did change, though, tossing her airplane hoodie onto the bed and putting on a clean Henley instead. Since it was cold outside, she also pulled out her lightweight but still warm Patagonia jacket, which had been stuffed into her backpack, hoping it hadn’t wrinkled too much. Then, she went into the bathroom, which seemed very clean and had only a few things on the counter, like Drew’s electric toothbrush, which was charging, toothpaste, and a hairbrush. Selma took care of what she needed and walked back out to meet Drew, carrying her small purse, which had been shoved inside her backpack as well so that she didn’t have to check a bag.

“Okay. I’m ready,” she said.

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