Page 28 of Ski You Later
Stopping in front of the timing box, I pop off my skis and approach the device clipped to the side of the fence.
My first run was my slowest, which doesn’t surprise me. As the team’s skis continue to compact the snow, my times will gradually speed up.
Although, it’s essential I work on perfecting that first run since that’s all we get on race day. With our first race just around the corner, I make a mental note to work harder on those initial training runs.
Smiling at my results nonetheless, I lift my goggles to swipe at the sweat that’s now pooling on my face.
Even though it’s only training runs, I’ve been putting everything I have into each lap. Using my feelings from last week as fuel as I push myself even harder.
“Rhodes, can you pass the timing box?”
I whip around in surprise as the voice catches me off guard. Calvin’s standing behind me with Nico and Kai at his flank. I must’ve been so absorbed in comparing my times I didn’t even hear them behind me.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I say kindly. Smiling as I pass them the handheld device.
Walking to my skis, I turn back when one of them calls my name. “Are you number fourteen?” Calvin asks, trying to peer at my bib, but it has bunched up again.
“Yeah, why?” I ask back, blowing out an annoyed breath as I pull it back down.
“You’re the fastest girl so far,” he says casually. Not even bothering to take his eyes off the device.
“What!” I run back over, squeezing past Kai to look at the box.
He turns the box to the side, showing me the top standings, with number fourteen being the highest for the girls.
I hear the guys talking to more team members who stopped near us, but I can’t take my focus off the timing box. The fastest female time of the day was from me, two-hundredths of a second faster than Aurora’s best.
Passing the box back to Calvin, I walk to my skis in a daze. Happiness and pride are at war with each other, both emotions flooding me when I think about how hard I’ve been working and how it’s paying off.
Blue ski boots suddenly come into my vision, and I look up to meet the eyes of their owner.
“Hey, Cous. How was your run?” Jasmine stands in front of me, her bright red racing suit drawing in the light and making her even more of a focus on the hill.
“Fine. How was yours?” I ask hesitantly. Jasmine never talks to me, and I never talk to her; that way, everyone stays happy.
So, my guard immediately rises as she smiles at me like a fox in a hen house. “It was horrible. I’m skiing terribly today, and my times are garbage.”
It’s obvious that she’s seen the times for today. I know as soon as she saw that I was much faster than her, there’s no way she could admit that her runs were good.
“Dang, that sucks,” I say awkwardly. Lifting my shoulders and pointing behind me. “I was actually just leaving.” I manage to get the words out before I’m tackled from the side, and lifted into the air.
“SHE’S THE FASTEST WOMAN ALIVE!” Xander roars in my ear.
When did he even get here?
Taking a look around, I notice over half the team is now congregating at the timing box, as they wait for their turn to look at the times. Unfortunately, becauseeveryone on the team loves Xander, we’ve caught all their attention.
Murmurs of my fastest time start to spread around the group, but as Xander puts me back on my feet, all I see is Jasmine. Taylor and Sofia have joined her, but she pays them no mind as she stares daggers at me.
“Dang, this is an amazing time! Holy shit, Rhodes, you were flying,” Xander exclaims even louder than before.
Landon walks over and gives me a high five, leaning past me to see the time for himself.
I can’t help but blush slightly. Xander and Landon don’t owe me anything, so this encouragement from them is hard to disregard.
“In what world do we believe she actually got this time?” Jasmine’s outburst startles everyone around us. People are looking back and forth to try and figure out if she’s serious or just making a weird joke.
After no one responds, Calvin decides that inserting himself in the conversation is a great idea. “I mean, she beat me on that last run. There’s a chance the timing wand is just busted.”
