Page 10

Veronica

A Little Taste

L izzy takes a bite of her snack bar as we ride up the two person chair for one of the last runs of the afternoon. Really? How many pocket snacks does she have stashed away?

After getting her legs under her on Tower Three Chute this morning, I’m pleased at how she’s settled in well and been crushing some of Jackson’s more difficult terrain. She’s definitely earned her Frisky Fox Spicy Margs tonight.

“So what’s Chap’s deal, anyways?” Lizzy barely even looks up from her snack bar, catching me off guard at the casualness of her question.

“What do you mean?” I ask, with what I assume is a puzzled look plastered over my face. “He’s Tanner. Just a good old friend.”

“What I mean, Veronica, is what’s his deal ?” She sighs audibly over the wind of the mountain air. “He’s hot, like a real hunk of a rugged ass man. Not some whiny boy back home in the office in Ohio in khakis and a polo.”

She looks up from her snack bar, her goggles hiding most of her expression. “You’re telling me you’ve never been interested in him? Not even a little tempted to dip your hand into the cookie jar? Not even a little taste?”

I groan in exasperation. Even when she swears off dating or finding a man, it still somehow comes back to this, even if it’s at my expense.

“No, Lizzy.” I find myself pausing much longer than I had expected, waiting for some retort or quip from her. The silence lets me think about her question more though.

Why have I never looked at Tanner that way? He was always cute, maybe a bit awkward and lanky when he was younger. But he was always Collin’s best friend too. It always just felt like there was this invisible line between us that neither of us would cross. I’ve just known him forever and kind of assumed he’d always just be here, a good friend we’d see when we’re in town.

I let out a breath it feels like I was holding way too long. “Ok. I mean yeah, Tanner glowed the fuck up, Lizzy. But I’m not his type.”

Lizzy snorts a very unflattering laugh. “Not his type? V. He was looking at you practically every chance he got last night.”

I furrow my brows and look at her. Ok, yeah. She noticed that too? That is a new thing with him, or at least one I’ve never noticed. I was starting to think I was a bit crazy. “He’s always been hyper-protective of Collin and me. So it’s not that weird for him. We just haven’t seen each other in a long time.”

She finishes the last bite of her snack bar, fitting in words while still chewing. “Well V, if he’s not into you, what is his type then? He might not be a cowboy, but I’d take a ride on that mustang.”

If I was drinking, I would have spit out whatever was in my mouth or choked on it. “I swear to God Lizzy. You can’t help yourself, can you?” I shake my head in disbelief and roll my eyes under my goggles. “You know what? Go for it. You might be in luck. Allegedly his type is blonde, attractive ski girls. Basically you, Lizzy. Shoot your shot.”

I groan again at the thought and immediately regret my words. This should be interesting.