Page 29 of Ski You Later
His immediate dismissal doesn’t come as a shock to me; the bigger surprise being the fact that I might’ve beaten one of the fastest guys on the team.
“I don’t know, man. Maybe you’re just slow,” Xander says with a smug smile. The surrounding team members lightly chuckling at his words.
I smile with the rest of them, ignoring how his comment doubles as a jab at me. Just because my time was faster than Calvin’s doesn’t mean he’s slow. It could also mean that I’m quick.
I work up the courage to say as much when another member of the group makes themselves known. “I’m going to disagree with you on that, Xander. My thoughts are that Rhodes is just fast,” Roman says in his usual bored tone.
His white race suit stretches with his body as he walks into our makeshift circle. Extending his hand outward, Xander wordlessly hands him the timing box. The joking atmosphere dies in an instant, everyone tensing as Roman presses buttons and examines the screen.
“Based on the times before and after Rhodes, the timing works fine. Looks like you’re going to have to speed up if you want to beat her, Calvin.” Roman’swearing a devious grin, the comment hitting home as I watch Calvin’s pale face redden.
As I brace for Calvin to spit venom back at Roman, it’s Jasmine that pipes up. “What are you playing at, Roman? Isn't the team captain supposed to be impartial about his athletes’ times?” She says with conviction, crossing her arms as if she’s preparing to win a battle.
“What are you yammering about now?” He asks dismissively. The way I know he’s rolling his eyes under his goggles has me stifling a laugh.
Jasmine’s hands ball into fists at her side, and I swear I can hear her tooth crack from how hard she’s clenching her jaw. “I’m talking about the fact that you’re blatantly taking Rhodes’ side, even though you are supposed to remain neutral to everyone as our team captain.”
Her entire speech is garbage; the team hasn’t respected Roman’s position all season. It’s only when Jasmine needs a basis for her argument that she pretends he’s this role model figure.
“Let’s just say I have an invested interest in Rhodes,” he says plainly.
“And what interest would that be?” Jasmine immediately shoots back.
“Well, Jasmine,” he says with mock sweetness. Taking his eyes off the timing box, he finally looks up and he wraps his arm around me. Pulling me close to his side, he lets his arm hang off my shoulder as he locks eyes with Jasmine.
“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t intervene?”
I can feel the team’s movements freeze at his words. Even I can’t help but whip my head towards him, thankful for my reflective goggles, otherwise, everyone could see how wide my eyes have become. Did he just? In front of everyone?
My bafflement is completely ignored by Roman as he keeps his gaze in front of him. His form leaning in closer to my cousin, and his voice lowering as if he’s sharing a secret with her. “I know of some pretty pathetic boyfriends. Boyfriends that lie, some that steal, and one that cheats.” He emphasizes the last word, standing back up to his full height as he keeps me glued to his side. “I’m not going to be anything like those men,” he says, his harsh features softening as he looks down at me.
Even though this whole thing is fake, and both of us know it, his words soothe me. I don’t think I even knew how much I needed to hear them, and him sayingthem all on his own makes them so much more meaningful.
I can feel the anger pouring off Jasmine in waves now, the double meaning in his words evident to only us three.
Roman promptly pulls us away before we can feel her wrath; his touch gentle but firm as he walks me to our skis.
I chance a glance back to the group and find all eyes on us. Shock and confusion splayed across the team’s faces, apart from devious smiles coming from both Xander and Landon.
Roman doesn’t seem too bothered, though, not even looking up as he clips in his boots and skis away. Without thinking this through, I clip in my skis and chase after my newboyfriend.
We both fly down the hill, Roman periodically turning his head back as he does practice turns ahead of me.
Usually, I would savour the groomed snow under my skis and the freedom of my turns.
But Roman’s words succeed in cycling through my mind and take away any appreciation I have for my current skiing.
Let’s just say I have invested interest in Rhodes.
It’s like a broken record in my mind, the way he leaned in close as the words flowed effortlessly from his lips. From my angle, all I saw was the sharp cut of his jaw as he spoke the words that doomed us both.
I’m overwhelmed with feelings as I file in lift line beside Roman. My brains in such disarray that I just stare blankly at the liftie who tries to scan my pass. With a light chuckle from Roman, I promptly unzip my suit and remove my pass from the secret inside pocket.
With a glare at my new boyfriend, I just skate towards the entry slots and file onto the loading platform without looking back. A deep laugh comes from behind me, and Roman quickly places himself beside me. We both put our poles between our legs, as the chairlift scoops us up.
Without acknowledging the man beside me, I quickly pull out my phone and text Aurora about the situation. This would be the fastest fake relationship in the world if Jasmine caught up to Rora and she unknowingly blew up this whole plan.
She must be on the chairlift ahead of me because her response comes immediately and in the form of a thumbs-up icon. I don’t have any delusions that shewon’t want all the details, but I’m grateful she’s not hounding me right now.
