Page 64 of Ski You Later
“Rhodes! Holy shit, I saw you didn’t finish on the board, and I was so worried.” His words come out in a ramble as he completely ignores Aurora and steps directly into my space.
His widened eyes scan every inch of my exposed skin, and his mouth purses as he tips my chin up to look at my neck. I flinch when his finger lightly prods my cheek, and his worry only intensifies.
“Aurora,” Roman’s authoritative tone immediately snaps her attention towards him. “Can you keep track of the rest of the women’s team? Make sure everyone’s times and places are documented, then help organize the start of the men’s team.”
He doesn’t even check that she heard him, just turns back to me with a tender expression on his face. “Let’s get you cleaned up, Langley.”
The concern in his voice threatens to bring the tears back, but I can’t let him ignore his captain duties because of me. “Roman, don’t worry about me. I’ll just ski to the rental and sort myself out. “
He proceeds to ignore me while he pops his boots into his bindings beside me. Lifting his eyes to meet mine, a dazed look is on his face, and he starts to wave his hands in front of me. “I’m not listening to you say ridiculous things as long as that blood stays on your face. I can’t even think clearly right now.”
Putting his poles and mine to the side of the course,he grabs my hand and slowly skis us down the hill. Nothing about my body hurts more than a throb, but he refuses to listen as he holds us both in a snowplow down to the rental.
It takes five minutes longer than it should by the time we ski to the house. Roman grabs my skis before I can as he puts them both on the rack for us. It doesn’t take another five minutes after that until I’m flopping on the couch and resting my body.
Once I’m settled on the couch, Roman leaves me to take off my gear, and I cringe at the blood on my helmet and gloves. I can’t help my groan at seeing all the red splotches that litter my pink and white suit. It’s hard enough to clean them, let alone getting blood out.
Roman comes back to the room, and I avoid looking him in the eyes. Not only did I hurt myself doing something stupid, but I also bet the coaches told him and he needs to lecture me on it now.Please inform Rhodes that her fall was completely avoidable and maybe she shouldn’t drink the night before a big race.
A warm towel touches my face, startling me out of my spiral and I jerk away from the contact. “Sorry, I said I was going to start cleaning off the blood.” Roman’s voice brings me back to this moment, and I try and fail to keep my head downward.
His crooked finger rests under my chin, but he doesn’t put any pressure on it. I guess it’s time for me to start lifting my own head when I fail.
After another quick breath, I look into his face and cherish the small smile I get from him. He sits on the coffee table right in front of me, hunching his body so that it is level with mine.
“Oh, I can do this,” I mumble and try to take the towel from his outstretched hands.
His other hand quickly catches both of mine, moving them to my lap as he returns his focus to my cheek. “Let me do this for you.”
I give him a small nod and look around the room as he takes his time. I only wince a couple times and feel so cherished when Roman immediately pulls away.
All the poking and prodding causes a small pain to start in my temple, the feeling only spreading as time goes on. I notice Roman lightly shaking my shoulder, but it’s too hard to focus on him as the room spins.
“Rhodes. Are you alright?” His voice seems far away as I look at his fuzzy form.
“Yeah, I just think that I’m going to lie down for a bit.” My words suddenly feel heavy on my tongue, and I push myself off the couch.
“No, hold on.” I hear, but it’s from an even farther distance now.
“Roman?” I say with a hint of fear as I stop feeling my body and start to lose my balance. There’s nothing stopping me as I fall sideways, and I fear for the moment I’ll hit the ground again.
A jolt goes through my body as my descent is rapidly stopped and I feel arms around me now.
“Hey, hey. No, no.” Light taps on my uninjured cheek wake me up slightly, and I realized I closed my eyes.
“There she is, let’s keep those eyes open.” There is pressure at my back and under my knees, as I find myself cradled tight to Roman’s chest.
“Rhodes, please stay awake. Stay up for me, love.”
I have nothing left in me as I nod. Hoping the motion distracts him for the minute as I close my eyes and drift off.
CHAPTER 25
This is what people mean when they say that suddenly all the songs are about her.
The sun streaming through the window blinds me as I blearily open my eyes. The wooden beams of the bed above me come into view, and I try to remember when I decided to take a nap. I’m tucked tightly into one of the bottom bunks in my room, two heavy blankets covering me up all the way to my neck.
My head has stopped it’s aching as I sit up and try to remember how I got here. Movement in the corner catches my eye, and I see Roman quickly come to sit at the end of the bed.
