Page 37 of Ski You Later
He looks up for the first time since starting this task. His face is set in a teasing glare as he lets go of my ankles and going back to lightly holding the beds of my feet.
Turning back to the coaches, I mutter a quiet apology and hope Aurora was listening to everything I missed. “You’ll be racing Giant Slalom on Friday and Saturday and then Slalom on Sunday. You’ll get yourbibs Friday morning, and you’ll keep them for the whole weekend. The inspection will start at eight in the morning. The girls race will then start at nine and the boys will follow with the start at ten thirty.
The course will be reset at lunch and then this schedule will be repeated in the afternoon. If any of you have any questions, contact Roman and he’ll talk to us.”
All the heads turn towards Roman who puts his hand up in a quick wave but doesn’t bother to lift his head. His hand goes back to grasping my feet immediately, with his grip having succeeded in melting the sock off my foot.
“Coach? What if Roman’s too busy to pass on our messages?” Jasmine’s hand is raised so high that one would think she’s trying to help a plane land. A mask of mock innocence is displayed across her face as she acts as if her question is legitimate, and not a dig towards Roman.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Liane’s voice sounds intrigued as she turns and faces Jasmine.
“Well, just because he’sapparentlydating Rhodes now, so he probably doesn’t have time to maintain his team captain responsibilities. I mean, he’s not even paying attention to our first race meeting.”
If everyone wasn’t already looking at us, they sure are now. The coaches have even turned their full attention to the spot where Roman and I are sitting.
I freeze under the weight of everyone’s gazes and try another desperate attempt to pull my feet back. Roman’s hold is as firm as ever now, and he just shoots an annoyed look my way.
He takes a big breath in front of me, and lets it out in an annoyed fashion as he sits to his full height. I watch as he lifts an eyebrow towards the coaches and casually crosses his arms over his chest.
“What do you have to say for yourself Huxley?” Liane asks, her tone clipped as she grows bored with the conversation.
“Not much honestly,” Xander answers immediately, crossing his ankles as he puts his hands behind his head.
“Shut it Xander!” Rachel yells, stepping around Liane to point his way.
I cover my smile as Xander gives Rachel a bewildered expression. Placing both hands over his heart as he looks to the team in shock.
Everyone’s lips quirked up at Xander’s antics but quickly focus on Roman again as he responds. “Not much honestly. I’m quite happy with the responsibilitiesI have on my plate at the minute.” This is probably the happiest the coaches have ever heard Roman sound, and Liane’s wide eyes confirm my suspicion. She quickly narrows them at the pair of us and seems to think about her next words.
“If it starts to affect your team captain responsibilities than we’re going to have an issue, understand?” Liane’s voice leaves no room for argument, and she turns to leave when Roman gives her a curt nod.
“Everyone in the van in five minutes,” Rachel yells to the group as she follows her girlfriend.
Roman just reaches past me and grabs my puffy boots from the floor as if nothing happened. Carefully slipping each shoe onto my sore foot, and even ensuring that the laces at the back are tied.
I’m stunned to silence as I watch him gently place my feet back to the floor. “Is that better?” He asks, the slight hint of nervousness in his voice making that flutter feeling return with a vengeance.
Fake or not, my feet are feeling a million times better, and he deserves to know how much that means to me. Looking him dead in the eyes, I don’t hesitate as I wrap my fingers around his hand that rests on his thigh.
“Roman, that was the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me. Thank you so much.”
A furious blush rockets up his neck, and he quickly breaks eye contact and looks at the wall of the lodge. He brushes me off as he puts on his own boots, but I smile at his sudden shyness.
“Sorry about all that, by the way. I didn’t even think about the coaches finding out and how that will probably make your life harder.” A wave of nerves overwhelms me at my words. If anything happened to his position as team captain because he was helping me, I would never forgive myself.
“Oh yeah, I would be devastated if I had to stop posting last minute training on Teamchat because the coaches are lazy as hell.” He says this under his breath, but still loud enough that it’s easy for me to hear.
I swat his shoulder, my mouth open in shock as he sits up and looks at me with confusion. “Roman Huxley, did you just make a joke!” I accidently yell the last part, but I don’t regret it as an embarrassed half smile forms on Roman’s face.
“Maybe,” he muses, sending me a questioning glance as he picks up his bag.
Wanting to continue to tease Roman, I quickly shovel my gear into my own bag and sling it on my back.
I try not to fumble as I strap the booster strap of my ski boots together and put them over my head. This common ski racer trend would be the same as tying shoelaces together and letting them rest on the shoulder straps of a backpack.
When my boots sit snug on either side of me, I face Roman with a smile, and only then does he start to walk away. He holds the lodge door open for me as we head towards the spot where the team leaves all our skis and poles.
“Are you nervous for the first race?” I ask casually as I watch Roman slow his gait to match mine.
