Page 81 of Ski You Later
A distant expression crosses his face, and he pulls away from me slightly. “I don’t really want to talk about it, if that’s alright.”
I can’t stop the fear I feel at that kind of reaction, but maybe he just needs time to think. “That’s fine.” I lie to his face and plaster on a kind smile. I don’t want to push him on this anymore, so I think it’s the perfect time to give him my gift.
“Alright, well, I have something for you.” His interest peaks at my words, and I immediately retrieve it from the hallway where I left it. As I run back towards him, I can’t stop smiling like an idiot as I hold this book behind my back and jump up and down. He seems takenaback by my enthusiasm, but the confused smile now on his face makes me feel like a winner.
“Close your eyes, hands out in front,” I say excitedly.
“Rhodes,” he deadpans and raises an eyebrow at me. I don’t waste a second as I glare right back up at him and wait for him to do what I said.
As he grumbles and closes his eyes, I place the green book in his hands when he cups them in front of him. Impatient as ever, he opens them the second the book’s in his hand and wordlessly flips through it.
He continues to rifle through the pages, emotion slowly trickling into his expression as he reads. It’s impossible not to be embarrassed about this since we haven’t actually been dating for that long. But all his kindness was getting too much to go unreturned.
He still hasn’t said a word, and I finally hit my capacity for letting the silence sit. “Yeah, so it’s just a normal planner, but I changed a bunch of stuff around. Like here, you can put all your notes from the team captain meeting, and maybe jot down things to remember here.”
I tip the top of the book down so I can see it and point to all the modifications I made just for him. “Oh, and here’s where you can put in your meal preps for theraces,” I say excitedly. “I just know you like things organized, and I thought this would really help.”
Looking back up at him, I’m almost taken aback by the look of pure adoration splayed across his face.
Before I can even think of something to say, Roman steps right into my space. His hand cups my face as he presses a quick but firm kiss to my lips. It wasn’t our most passionate kiss by any means, but there was something behind it I can’t quite place.
“How can I ever show you how much this means to me.” His words are almost a whisper as he goes back to flipping through it. Probably reading the random notes I left throughout the whole thing.
“It’s nothing, seriously. I just wanted to help you out. You know, like how you’re always helping me.” Reaching up to place both my palms on his face, I brush my thumbs over his clean-shaven cheeks. “I’m really happy to be with you, Roman.”
I can’t help the moisture that forms in my eyes as my words thrum a cord in my chest that sits just right. His hands come to rest atop mine, and the most emotional gaze I’ve ever seen from him reflects back at me.
“Langley, I’ve had a real shitty couple years. It has been a constant struggle, just with friends and skiing,and always something happening to make me feel like crap.” Closing his eyes, he pulls me flush against him and tucks me in close. “I’m so thankful for you,” he says into my hair.
“I’m just treating you the same way you treat me,” I say into his chest and hold him tight.
CHAPTER 31
It’s only really a win if she’s at the finish line.
I wince and cover my ears as Aurora’s scream fills the air, her hands waving wildly as she jumps up and down. The ladies’ race went swimmingly in the morning, with Aurora snagging first place, and me fitting into eighth. The entire place is now packed as we watch the men’s race; the netting surrounding the finish area is full of people screaming and ringing cowbells.
“Alexander Huxley, bib thirty-five, has landed himself in to third position.” Another round of cheers goes up, and Aurora’s voice knocks them out of the park.
Xander comes to a stop before us, snow spraying everywhere as he looks up and sees his position. I watch as his arms shoot in the air and his poles dangling down his arms as he starts to punch the sky. As Aurora gives one last blood-curdling scream, his whole-body tenses as he quickly turns towards us.
My best friend suddenly goes quiet as his eyes stay on her, but I can’t help smiling as he blows her a kiss. “Is there still nothing happening between you two?” I lean close and yell to Aurora, hoping she’s able to hear me over all the noise.
Not surprisingly, she doesn’t respond. Scoffing in my direction, then promptly ignoring me to cheer for the next racer. I have a strong desire to pry, but Roman is in a couple of racers, and I can’t risk missing him.
That blue and white ski suit catches my eye as he crests the pitch above us. His movements are precise as he pushes himself to the brink, and the finish line’s only ten gates away now.
The guards on his pole are neon yellow and stand out stark against the snow. As he approaches the next gate, he positions his body perfectly so that he’ll make contact at the exact point he wants. This all happens in a matter of seconds, and before I can blink, he’s already flying towards the following gate.
It isn’t long before he pushes himself all the way to the finish line, and his hand shoots out before him and stops the timing.
“Roman Huxley, bib thirty-nine, has just slotted himself into first place, everyone!” The announcer roars, and the crowd starts to lose their mind.
I can hear the obvious sound of Xander and Landon making a scene on the other side of the fence. But it’s the sound that rips itself out of my own throat that manages to make the loudest noise.
An immense swelling of pride fills my whole body as I sprint towards the racer exit. Once I’m around the bend, I see him handing his racer bib to the attendant and thanking her for volunteering. His goggles are on the rim of his helmet now, and an immense look of happiness is plastered on his face.
His eyes are alight as he seems to be scanning his surroundings, and I can’t help but think he’s looking for someone in particular. That feeling in my chest only intensifies when he makes eye contact with me, and his smile becomes bigger than I’ve ever seen it.
