Page 27 of Midnight Mate
“Just dinner,” he repeated in a voice that left no doubt he intended on dinner—and a whole lot more.
9
Easton
Despite the ache in my knee, I felt lighter than I had in months. After a cup of coffee and a buffet breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage, I escaped the noisy B&B and headed for the ski shop. Maybe my old buddy from high school was still behind the counter, but even if he wasn’t, I had a mind to ask the guys about business on the mountain these days. Not for any reason, of course. Not because I’d ever entertained staying, but maybe a weekend trip back at some point for a follow up with my physical therapist wouldn’t hurt. And if I took her out for a snowboarding lesson, hoping to catch her when she fell, that wouldn’t hurt anything either.
The bell over the door jingled as I entered. The guy behind the counter looked up.
“Stone.”
It took him a split second before recognition registered, then he grinned. “Easton. How the hell are you, man?”
He came around to give me a slap on the back; the universal man hug.
“Not dead, so I guess I’m good,” I said.
He laughed. “Guess I’ll claim the same then. Where you been hiding? Haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Got an instructor gig at a resort out in Breck,” I said. “Doing some competing on the side.”
“Congrats, man. You were always a stellar boarder.”
“Yeah, it was a pretty nice gig until I busted my knee a few weeks back.” I patted my leg and gave Stone the quick version of what happened.
“A supercat, huh? You crazy or just stupid?”
“Both, obviously,” I said with a snort. “Landed the wildcat okay before that, so I thought what the hell, right?”
“Right.” He laughed.
“So, you runnin’ the place now?” I asked, gesturing to the nametag he wore that said “Manager.”
He shrugged. “Yeah, been managing for about five years now.”
I glanced around at all the life vests lining the walls. “Looks like you branched out.”
“I talked Len into expanding so we could do year-round business,” he said. “It’s kind of what landed me the promotion, actually. During off-season, we rent canoes and kayaks and do rafting tours.”
“How’s business on the slopes?”
“Gets busier every year.” He glanced at me with a gleam in his eye that, in high school, had always been the signal for some kind of scheme. “You wouldn’t be looking for a job, would ya?”
“Not looking for much of anything until this knee heals up,” I said. “Why?”
“Bobby Potter moved back East with his new wife, which means we’re down an instructor for the season. Len’s already freaking out, and we’re weeks from opening.”
“Len freaks out about everything,” I said, and Stone laughed.
“You’re not wrong. Hey, isn’t that your pop?”
I frowned and followed his gaze to the window. On the sidewalk, with both hands on hips and a scowl on his weathered face, stood my dad. He glared at me pointedly, obviously waiting for me to come outside.
I gritted my teeth together.
“Guess I’ll let you get back.” Stone clapped me on the shoulder. “Good to see you, East.”
“Good to see you, too,” I said distractedly as I headed for the door.
