Page 95 of The Season
Later, I would think about that look and wonder how I didn’t see it for what it was.
“I love this song,” Tessa says, pulling me to where a group is clustered on a makeshift dance floor in a smaller room connected to the living room. An entertainment room, going by the projector hanging from the ceiling. It’s empty though, music blaring in the small space. Someone has set up a few colorful lights that flash playfully, giving the darkened room an almost club-like feel.
I recognize a few of the other female instructors, and they give me welcoming smiles as Tessa introduces me, even though I’ve spoken to a couple of them before in the lineup.
“Vivian does the offseason in France,” Tessa explains, raising her voice when someone turns up the volume on the music. “Up at a glacier that’s open all summer.”
Vivian tips her head in acknowledgment, her eyes half-shut as she moves to the music, a half-drunk beer clutched in one hand. “It’s a pretty sweet gig,” she agrees, her French accent thick and warm. “Could stay there all year, but ze tips are better in ze States.”
I tip back the last of my champagne, depositing the empty glass on a nearby bookshelf.
“Ashley is another Kiwi,” Tessa continues, her voice full of mock disdain.
Ashley flips Tessa off with a grin, reaching up to pull the brim of her cap down over her eyes, the silver sticker glinting red as the lights change color.
“Lily is a new instructor,” Tessa explains. “I’m trying to convince her to come train in Australia in the offseason.”
Ashley wrinkles her nose. “Don’t do it.” She drops low when the beat of the song intensifies, then gives me a wry grin. “You should train in New Zealand if you’re going to train anywhere.”
I huff out a nervous laugh, grateful for the champagne Tessa gave me warming my blood, for the dim lights hiding my blush.
Ten minutes ago, I hadn’t even considered what I would do in the offseason. I suppose, if I ever thought about it, I just assumed I’d go back home. Pick up the pieces of my life where I’d left them scattered like sea glass on the sand. Go back to university. Hang out with my friends. Surf. Try to win back the approval of my parents. Visit my grandparents on the weekends.
Now, it’s like someone has opened up all these doors I didn’t know existed, and places that I’d once only thought of as vacation spots suddenly seem like real possibilities. Not to visit, but to live. To train.
To become a real instructor.
“Here’s your drink.”
I start in surprise as Tom appears in my periphery, his face shadowed by the flashing lights, the bright doorway at his back casting him in dark silhouette.
“Oh.” I take the glass from his hands automatically. “Thanks.” I give him a tight smile, but I can’t tell if he returns it.
“Sure.” There’s something uncertain in his voice, as if there is more he wants to say, but silence falls between us, tense and uncomfortable.
“What about mine?” Tessa pouts, bringing her hands to her hips.
Tom clears his throat. “Yah. Sorry. I didn’t want to spill them. I’ll bring yours next.” And then he’s darting from the room.
“Such a spaz,” Tessa comments idly. “Is he always like that?”
I hum noncommittally, not wanting to say he’s actually acting moderately normal for once. Instead, I take a sip of my drink, wrinkling my nose at the pungent tang of alcohol and whatever odd mixer Tom added in. Something bitter and weirdly salty, mixed with some sort of sugar syrup.
“Shit, that’s strong,” I cough, and the girls next to me chuckle.
My cheeks heat, and I take another sip, determined not to look like a complete wimp in front of them. This time, the bitter flavor is more palpable, and I sway in time to the music, stepping closer to them as a few guys I don’t know come in and start dancing too.
“So New Zealand…” Ashley continues, ducking her head close enough to my own that the brim of her hat taps against my temple. “Probably the best place to train is Cardrona. It’s a hard exam though. You’d honestly want to start training this season, if you can find someone to help you.”
“She lives with Liam,” Tessa cuts in.
“Oh.” Ashley pulls back, tilting her head as she eyes me appraisingly. “You do?”
“Um, yah.” I take another long sip of my drink, grateful for the calming rush flooding my veins. “We’re roommates.”
I remember the feel of his hands on me in the hot tub, of his mouth and teeth against my neck, his dark whispers brushing against my ear.Roommate. He’s been nice to me since then, smiling at me, sitting close to me. But we haven’t done anything like that since.Roommate. I wonder if that’s all I am to him.
“Well, that’s good.” Ashley says with a decisive nod. “He’s a trainer, so he’ll be able to tell you what to practice. What to focus on. If you can get him to talk.”
