Page 12 of Staging Love
To her surprise, Jade kept pace with her, matching her movements with a grace that spoke of years of experience on the slopes. They weaved around other skiers, their movements synchronized as if they'd been skiing together for years.
As they approached a steeper section, Camilla called out, "Ready to kick it up a notch?"
"Bring it on!" Jade shouted back, her voice carried away by the wind.
Camilla crouched lower, streamlining her body as she picked up speed. The world became a blur of white and green as she flew down the mountain, the cold air stinging her cheeks. She could hear Jade close behind her, the soft swoosh of her skis a constant presence.
They navigated a series of challenging turns, each one pushing their skills to the limit. Camilla felt her muscles burning with the effort, but the thrill of the race kept her going. She was impressed by Jade's ability to keep up - clearly, the actress had been modest about her skiing prowess.
As they neared the bottom of the run, Camilla spotted a narrow gap between two large snowdrifts. It was a risky move, but if she could thread the needle, it would give her the edge she needed to win the race.
Without hesitation, she aimed for the gap, her heart pounding as she approached at high speed. At the last moment, she shifted her weight, expertly maneuvering through the narrow space. She emerged on the other side with a whoop of triumph, certain she'd left Jade behind.
But as she glanced over her shoulder, she was shocked to see Jade right on her heels, having followed her throughthe treacherous shortcut. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Camilla saw the same mix of exhilaration and determination she felt reflected in Jade's gaze.
The finish line - marked by a large banner strung between two poles - was now in sight. Camilla dug deep, pushing herself to go faster. She and Jade were neck and neck, neither willing to concede even an inch.
In the final seconds of the race, Camilla’s concentration slipped. Her ski caught on a small bump, throwing her slightly off balance. It was all the opening Jade needed. She surged forward, crossing the finish line a fraction of a second before Camilla.
They both came to a stop in a spray of snow, breathing heavily. For a moment, they just looked at each other, flushed with exertion and excitement. Then, she burst out into laughter.
"I can't believe you beat me," she said, shaking her head in amazement. “I know this slope like the back of my hand.”
Jade grinned, pulling off her goggles. Her blue eyes sparkled with triumph. "I told you I you’d eat my snow. That was incredible, though. I haven't had a race like that in years."
As they caught their breath, Camilla became aware of cheering. She looked up to see her family gathered at the bottom of the slope, applauding their performance. Uncle Robert was beaming with pride, while even Theresa looked grudgingly impressed.
"That was quite a show, you two," Uncle Robert said as he approached. "I didn't know you had it in you, Jade. You've been holding out on us!"
Jade laughed, her cheeks pink from the cold and exertion. "I may have downplayed my skills a bit. I didn't want to make Camilla nervous before our big race."
Camilla felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the physical exertion. She admired not just Jade's skiing ability, but the easy way she interacted with the family. It made their charade feel almost... real.
"Well, I think this calls for a celebratory hot chocolate," Aunt Vivian declared. "Why don't we all head to the lodge?"
As the family began to make their way towards the nearby lodge, Camilla hung back, falling into step beside Jade. "That really was impressive," she said softly. "Where did you learn to ski like that?"
"My dad taught me when I was little. Those were some of the happiest times of my life."
Camilla felt a pang of something - envy? regret? - at the warmth in Jade's voice. Her own childhood ski lessons had been with a professional instructor, her parents too busy with work to teach her themselves. "That sounds wonderful," she said sincerely. "Are you close to your parents?"
"Yes, we’re close. We talk often, but I only get to see them about twice a year. I tend to take any job I can get, so it's not always easy to make time for visits."
"Were you planning on spending Christmas with them before you signed up to come here?" Camilla asked.
"I was," Jade admitted. "But don't worry about it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep you away from your family during the holidays."
Jade waved off her concern. "It's okay, really. I'll visit them next month. Besides, if any other job had come along, I would have taken that too. That's just the nature of my work right now - I can't afford to pass up opportunities."
As they approached the lodge, Camilla suddenly remembered their act and leaned in close to Jade. "We should probably look more couple-y," she whispered. "My family's watching."
Jade nodded almost imperceptibly, then smoothly wrapped an arm around Camilla's waist. The gesture felt natural, comfortable even, and Camilla leaned into the embrace.
The lodge was a picture of rustic luxury, with soaring timber beams and a massive stone fireplace dominating the main room. Plush leather armchairs and sofas were arranged in cozy groupings, many occupied by skiers warming up after their runs. The air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee and the sweet scent of baking pastries.
As they entered, shedding their outer layers, Camilla noticed several heads turn in their direction. She was used to being recognized - the Parkes family was well-known in these circles - but this felt different. People weren't just looking at her; they were looking at her and Jade as a couple.
