Page 45 of Ski You Later
Lifting my eyebrow at him as he just stares at me, he takes a breath and slowly extends his hand in my direction. With no choice considering the crowd all around us, I gently place mine in his.
With a quick tug, I’m pressed into his jacket as his arms wrap around me.
“I’m sorry, Rhodes. It wasn’t fair of me to ask that.”
“Hmmm,” I narrow my gaze up at him.
“You know I don’t appreciate telling you my feelings and you responding with, hmmm.” Frustration enters his voice at this, and I crack a small smile.
“Well, I don’t appreciate someone who knows my history, believe I want anything to do with that loser ever again!” I rear back, surprising even myself on that one.
Usually, I would apologize right away, but instead, I own it as I stare back at him.
He lifts his head from mine as a small smile graces his face. “Fair enough, Langley.”
After walking me to the door, Roman gently squeezes my hand before he walks away. I can’t help but stare at him as he leaves, the fond memories of our first fake-date replaying in my mind.
A peaceful smile tugs at my lips, and I let it take over my face as I head to the kitchen. I barely manage to walk through the door before I stop dead in my tracks.
Standing in the middle of the vase, surrounded by withered up flowers, is one living pink rose.
CHAPTER 16
I think arguing with Rhodes is the only thing that could make me feel better at this point.
“Where’s my race suit?” Aurora yells from the garage, our connecting door currently being propped up with a pile of gear. She does a drive-by past the front entranceway as she tosses another bag of equipment onto the ever-growing pile.
The season's first race means that most athletes are scrambling the night before to ensure everything is ready to go. Our group chat is blowing up my phone, with everyone double checking they have the essentials packed since the race is a seven-hour drive away.
I decided to be productive and pack up everything early this morning, so now I can just relax on the couch while Aurora runs around in a panic.
Roman and the guys were nice enough to offer us a ride to the van tomorrow, meaning we don’t need to leave our car in the university parking lot for a week. Ichance a look back at our mountain of bags and inwardly cringe.
It'll be a tight fit for sure, but I feel better when I remember that Roman has a truck. Usually, we would’ve driven with Charles, Liam, and Isla, but Aurora needs a break fromsomeof them, and Roman was offering.
Against my better judgment, I check my messages from him and see the same confirmation text from a couple of hours ago staring back at me.
Roman: Do you and Aurora want a ride to the van tomorrow?
Rhodes: Really? Do you mind?
Roman: I was the one who offered, Langley.
Rhodes: Oh, ha-ha, yeah. Fair point!
Roman: … Is that a, yes?
Rhodes: Yes, please!
Roman: Alright. Be there at five thirty.
I grimace at my phone, dreading that our texts have the same energy as the ones I share with my aunt. Not that I expect everything to change after one very fake date, but I was hoping things between us would become more casual.
I can’t stop the mixed emotions I have after that whole night, the way his defenses were completelylowered, and he seemed genuinely happy. Surely, he didn’t fake that; he doesn’t strike me as the type of guy to fake any emotions. Then, with Jasmine throwing herself into the whole mix, I can’t help but start tapping my foot in a fit of nerves.
Did Jasmine manage to scare Roman off? Will he stop wanting to help me now that he knows how mean she can be?
Biting my thumbnail, I re-live the entire night and try to pinpoint every moment that could have scared him off.
