Page 4 of Kiss Me

“Do you really want to make it up to me?”

Her forehead scrunches in confusion. “How?”

I spin toward the table, not even thinking about it as I lower my leg from the chair, shoving my foot back into my boot before leaning in conspiratorially.

“You could go talk to that very cute waiter, who’s obviously into you,” I reply.

She sputters but isn’t given the chance to reply.

“Oh my god, that’s Tania Casey,” a young, female voice says.

I glance over upon hearing my name to see an adolescent girl with big, curly hair and wide eyes coming my way.

“You’re amazing,” she gushes. “I never thought I’d even want to try skiing, but then my dad and I watched the X Games last year when you won gold. You were amazing.”

A genuine smile spreads across my lips, and for a moment, I’m back to being the thirteen-year-old girl looking up to the few women snowboarders I watched do their thing on the slopes.

None of those women looked quite like me though.

I move my waist-length black and blue braids over my shoulder.

“It’s nice to meet you …” I pause, waiting for her to fill in the gap.

“Eve Townsend,” she finishes at the same time a deep voice calls her name from somewhere across the dining area.

I glance over to see a tall, handsome man coming our way. His hazel eyes are planted on the young girl in front of me.

“Dad,” she says, “this is Tania Casey.” She gestures to me over her shoulder. “She’s here at the same resort as us.” She turns back to me. “Are you here for Christmas, too? What about your ankle? How is it healing? Are you still going to participate in the Games in January?”

“Eve, you were supposed to only go to the bathroom and back. Your aunt and I were waiting for you,” he scolds before looking over at me.

He gives me a polite nod. “Please excuse her,” he tells me. “She’s a huge fan of yours.” He looks down at her before turning his attention to me again.

“I’m Kyle Townsend.” He extends his hand, and I take hit.

He then wraps his arm around the little girl named Eve. She leans into his side, covering his arm with hers.

My heart squeezes. The scene reminds me of one of my favorite pictures of my dad and me in a very similar pose. Except we were out on the slopes, a huge mountain of snow behind us.

And the woman behind the camera laughing at the goofy face my father made was my mom.

The picture was taken only a few shorts years before everything changed.

“Can I get your autograph?”

“Eve,” her father admonishes.

She looks up at him. “What? You always say to go after what I want. No apologies.” She blinks up at him with what I know are puppy dog eyes.

He looks at me, a half-smirk on his face. It’s at this moment, I recognize this little girl has him wrapped around her finger.

“She’s a fan,” he says, almost apologetic.

“Kyle, what are you two doing?” A beautiful Black woman comes up behind the two, an infant in her arms.

He immediately wraps his free arm around the woman.

“Eve spotted Tania Casey and just asked for her autograph.”

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