Page 31 of Mine For The Winter

Kris’ grandmother insisted on all of her grandchildren working at the Inn, and in exchange she gave them a fair wage and let them each choose their own cabin on the grounds. Over the summer and holidays when they had early starts or late finishes they stayed here rather than going home. North still worked here sometimes, even though he was about to graduate from college, and Gabe did during his breaks from snowboard training.

“So, have you asked anybody to prom yet?” Lyle asked, throwing the end of his smoke to the ground and extinguishing it beneath his feet.

“Nope. Have you?”

“I’m thinking of asking Caroline.”

“Bennet?”

“Yeah.” Lyle nodded. “Marina hasn’t got a date yet either.” Marina was Caroline’s best friend.

Kris shrugged. “I’ll probably take Kelly.”

Lyle turned to look at him, his brows pinching. “Why would you take Kelly?”

“Because we’re friends. And…” Kris trailed off. “I don’t know. I just thought I would.”

“But that’s not fair.”

Kris tipped his head to the side. Lyle looked pissed, which was unusual for Lyle. Except when he was drinking out of his dad’s whiskey bottle. It was weird how mean a drunk he could be.

“Why’s it not fair?” Kris asked.

Lyle ran his hand through his hair. It had grown back since he’d shaved it, thick and blond. “Because neither of us should ask Kelly. It’d be breaking up the group. Like Yoko Ono.”

“What?” Kris laughed. “How do you mean?”

“I just think you should leave it. If you take her to prom she might think you want more.”

“More than what?”

“Friendship,” Lyle said.

Kris swallowed. Lyle didn’t look happy about that thought. “Would that be wrong?”

“Yeah it would be wrong. You’re leaving for college. She’s staying. You’re gonna be surrounded by girls. Don’t leave her pining for you. And anyway, we’re all meant to be friends. The three musketeers, remember?”

“Yeah.” Kris nodded. “I remember.” Though he hadn’t heard it for the longest of times. He couldn’t remember the last time the three of them hung out like they used to. Life was getting busy. He was always working here, Kelly was at the tavern, and they all had piles of school work to do.

“Let’s make a pact,” Lyle said, looking serious. “Kelly’s out of bounds. For both of us.”

“You’re interested in her, too?” Kris asked. He was shocked. Lyle was always teasing Kelly. Making her laugh. But he’d never shown any interest in her that way.

“It doesn’t matter. Neither of us should be. She’s one of the guys.” Lyle put his hand out. “Promise me we’ll all just stay friends. For her sake.”

Kris knew she was upset he was leaving. Hell, he wasn’t exactly looking forward to it either. Maybe Lyle was talking sense for once.

“Okay. It’s a deal. Just friends.” Weird how that made his chest feel tight. Like somebody had put an elastic band around it.

They shook on it like it was some kind of business deal. And as Kris pulled his hand away there was a bad taste lingering on his tongue.

But maybe Lyle was right. He was leaving and Kelly and Lyle were staying. It was best not to change anything else. Even if every time he looked at her all he wanted to do was bury his face in her hair and smell her sweet shampoo.

The three musketeers. That’s what they’d always be. And everything would be okay.

* * *

“Mom, can Kris come watch my hockey game tomorrow?” Cole asked, shoveling spoonfuls of cereal into his mouth. It was Friday morning and there were five minutes until the bus was due. She looked up from the email she was reading from the bank.

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