Page 14 of The Mission

“Have they gone?” Conrad whispered.

“Who? Where are we?” He grinned. “I’m in a quandary now.”

“Why?” Conrad was still trying to catch his breath and reorientate himself.

“I wanted to piss off your ex, only I hadn’t realised that with one kiss we’d make enough electricity to fire up the National Energy Grid. Forget hydropower, I’m still sparking. Is my hair standing on end?”

“Is mine?”

Arlo smiled. “Let’s go skiing. You’re not going to disappear on me, are you? I’m greedy. Skiing and lots of electric kissing sound like the perfect combination to me.”

Conrad smiled.To me too.

“And I’m so sorry I’m late. My fucking brother wouldn’t hurry up. Then he nicked my phone and when he finally gave it back, I saw you’d called. Then I spotted you and the group heading towards you. So maybe things happen for a reason. We got a wolf-whistle! I’ve not had one of those before.”

Me neither.

Arlo jerked forward into Conrad as a guy slapped him on the back. He turned and glared. “Dickhead! Conrad, this is my brother Benedikt. Benedikt, this is Conrad. Be nice.”

“Want me to kiss you as well?” Benedikt asked. “Did he use his tongue? Careful. You never know where it’s been. I’m sugar and spice and all things nice, but Arlo—”

“Touch him and die,” Arlo said through clenched teeth.

Benedikt widened his eyes. “Ooh. Interesting.” He backed away. “See you later, Squirt.”

Arlo gave a heavy sigh. “Let’s get on the cable car before the rest of my family try to kiss you.”

Conrad followed him and when Arlo put on his helmet, and Conrad saw the antlers, he smiled.

“You won’t lose me now. I was going to wear the red nose too but I thought it might be a bit much.”

“Only if you’d wanted me to shout out in glee.”

Arlo beamed.

Conditions were perfect. They were both good skiers, well matched to ski together. Arlo knew the mountain and Conrad was happy to let him lead—with or without his shining nose. He didn’t see any of his group for the entire day, which was brilliant. He and Arlo explored the mountain, stopping for Germknödel, huge hemispherical dumplings filled with plum jam, topped by molten butter, with sugar and poppy seeds sprinkled on top.So bad but so good.It wouldn’t be the last one Conrad ate. They were irresistible.

A late afternoon Glühwein was the perfect end to the skiing. Sipping mulled wine while they lounged outside one of the restaurants, faces tipped to the winter sun, made Conrad so relaxed, he could have nodded off.

“Isn’t this perfect?” Arlo whispered.

“Absolutely perfect.” Even the Christmas carols being piped over the decking didn’t annoy him.

When they made their way back down to the bottom, he was exhausted but happy. Smiling was easy. That was down to Arlo.

Arlo pressed up against him in the cable car. “What are you grinning about?”

“I’ve had more fun with you today than I’ve had in years.”Maybe in forever.“Which I’m aware makes me sound like a very sad excuse for a human being, but it was a great day.”

“And it’s not over. My parents asked me to ask you to dinner. I’d really like to keep you out of the clutches of my family, but if they like you, they’ll be okay about you coming to share my room for the rest of your holiday.”

What?Conrad gulped. “No pressure then.”

“They’ll like you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I like you.”

---