Page 11 of Ski You Later (Alpine Glow #1)

I can’t believe I’m actually here… I want to leave.

When we finally arrive, the bar is packed. Convincing Roman to come along took longer than I expected. Nothing had worked, not asking repeatedly, pretending to cry, or attempting to drag him out of the car.

The winning ticket was when I added more of a limp to my walk and told him that I would be fine on my own. He stared at me with a withering glare, only to sigh in defeat and lock his truck. I had to suppress my smile as we walked into The Cave together.

I try and fail to part the crowd, attempting to make my way to the basement where the Polar team always sets up camp. Unfortunately, we got here pretty late into the evening, and the drinking is well underway for the winter sports athletes.

Peering around the space, I notice the ski cross team is present, as the lot of them chant with each other and take shots.

I spy the top two figure skaters in the country near the back, both ladies not shy as they make their bodies well known to the other.

At the pool tables, half the men’s hockey team is playing a game against half the women’s hockey team, and everyone is screaming at each other.

As I try to squeeze past another group of athletes, they don’t budge when I attempt to push through. Huffing out a breath, I prepare my nicest excuse me, when an arm parts the crowd directly in front of me. Roman’s at my side now, one hand making a path as the other hovers over my lower back.

People turn in annoyance but quickly go back to what they were doing when they notice Roman.

While being over six feet tall helps his case, it’s his build that makes people leave him alone.

Due to our insane training schedules, there isn’t a single part of us that isn’t rock-hard muscle.

But in Romans case, it makes him look like a Greek god and people have no problem with giving him a wide berth.

I manage to limp my way to the banister all on my own as the glaring man behind me helps keep my path clear.

I look down into the basement and find the dance floor is electric tonight.

The lights under the dance floor highlight everyone’s movements as the music pounds in my ears.

Leaning farther over the railing, I spot the team scattered about in groups.

I see Aurora in the middle of the floor, dancing her heart out with Charles, Isla, and Liam at her side. Calvin’s group is right beside them, all four guys bobbing their heads as they search the floor for a partner.

Looking further over, long, caramel-coloured waves of hair swaying to the music and catch my attention.

Jasmine Flores dances as if she was born for it, moving to the music in the perfect rhythm.

She’s three inches taller than me which is the perfect height to distribute her curves.

I can’t help but watch her in envy, as her darker skin sparkles under the dance floor lights.

A guy with sandy brown hair starts to make his way towards her, grabbing her from behind as she emits a shriek of joy. My stomach drops as her arms wrap around the man’s neck, his wrapping around her in return. The pair immediately pulls each other close and they start to dance.

I white-knuckle the banister in front of me, horror and fear worming its way into my body. The captain of the Polar hockey team, six feet of pure muscle and the only man who’s ever cheated on me, has decided to come tonight .

He hasn’t shown his face here since we broke up, and I hate all the feelings that suddenly come flooding back.

It was just another Thursday night going out with the team, and he told me how sorry he was that he couldn’t make it.

His text went on about his stress over this random assignment, and he had to work late.

Since it was about school, I understood completely and went out with my friends while he worked.

Later that night, when I let myself into his place with my arms full of study snacks, the last thing I expected to see was my cousin. Daniel and Jasmine were entangled in each other on the couch, the pair making their mouths well acquainted.

It was crystal clear what kind of people they were as I dropped everything in his front entryway, turned around and never looked back.

I hadn’t seen Daniel since that horrid day, deciding it was better to let him keep my extra t-shirts rather than having to face him again. After unfollowing him, Jasmine, and all their mutual friends, it has been a Daniel-free life until now.

A twinge of hurt ricochets through me at the fact that Aurora let me come tonight, but then I realize she must not know. There’s no world where she would insist I come out if she knew he was here.

Knowing Aurora, she would kick him in the balls if she saw him. Since he’s standing perfectly fine, I know she’s was just as unaware as I was.

My pinkie finger starts to tap the banister in stress as I think through my options. A quick text to my best friend would clear everything up. I could head home, and no one would be any the wiser.

The issue is the situation itself. Am I going to be that girl who turns tail because her ex-boyfriend is here?

No. The money I invested into therapy this past year was not so I could run at the first sight of him. This is as much of my school as it is his.

“Why do you look like an angry elf,” Roman questions from beside me.

The ridiculous comment snapping me out of my intense glaring, and I whip my gaze up to the giant standing beside me. “Did you just call me an elf?” I resist the urge to stamp my foot, my pride and my tailbone not allowing the motion.

“I just thought of something short and cute,” he states. “Why are you glaring at Jasmine and that guy?”

He must have tracked my line of sight, and the way I was openly glaring at her made that an easy task for him. “I was not glaring; I was just looking upon her with distaste,” I say loudly into his ear. The music is blaring and requires me to lean closer so he can hear me.

“Okay,” he says confused. “Wait, why are you glaring at your cousin?” His confusion over the subject makes me remember that I shouldn’t be spouting familial discourse.

My whole extended family just decided to brush our situation under the rug and make sure Jasmine stays happy.

Overall, the details of my ex cheating on me are known by very few people.

That’s what happens when one cousin is well-behaved, and the other is known for throwing fits. It’s in everyone’s best interest to placate Jasmine, and they just assume I’ll remain quiet.

The whole thing causes my eye to twitch, and I change the topic before I do something I’ll regret. “No reason. Let’s go find everyone,” I say with a smile.

I don’t think twice before grabbing Roman’s hand and directing him towards the back staircase.

His hand tightens on mine, and he thankfully pulls me back when I almost get trampled by the ringette team.

The motion causes sharp pain in my tailbone, but I decide that getting drunk should fix that issue.

Making a quick stop at the bar to grab Roman and I a drink, I lead us towards the back booth areas. The very corner one is filled to the brim with jackets and purses, as well as half of the team talking casually.

Charles, Aurora, Nico, Kai, and Taylor all sit together, a game of cards splayed out in front of them. I didn’t exactly tell Aurora that I’m bringing Roman, but she should probably be fine with it. Then the team will see how nice he is, and it will all work out great.

Unzipping my jacket and plopping it on the huge pile, I turn and stare at Roman until he does the same. Watching him roll his eyes and reluctantly take off his coat fills me with a spark of joy, but I don’t exactly know why.

Brushing off the feeling, I plop onto the seat and move over so Roman can sit. He decides to lean against the end of the booth, crossing his arms across his chest as he looks around the space with disinterest.

With his jacket off, I take him in as he continues to scan the crowd.

He’s wearing a black, tight-fitted shirt, straight-legged jeans, and his signature boots.

His hair is in waves today, the dark strands framing his face on both sides.

All this is paired with his clean-shaven face and that makes it harder than I thought to look away from him.

Everyone must be plastered at this point because no one in the group even looked our way when we sat down. I reach forward and rap my knuckle on the table, following it with a quick wave when they look up.

“Hey, y’all!” I shout at them, moving in closer as I point to Roman. “I got Roman to join tonight!” It’s critical I keep my big smile glued in place as I deliver this news. Uneasiness snakes through me as I think about all the ways that this could go wrong.

“What’s he doing here?” Charles screams rudely, ignoring what I just said and pointing his drink in Roman’s direction. I put my head in my hands, expelling a breath of frustration.

“Hey! How about you be kind and talk to him, and not at him.” I prove my point by tipping my drink in his direction as I talk.

Everyone stares at me wide-eyed, especially Charles, who’s used to my laid-back demeanour. I can’t exactly pinpoint where the defensive outburst came from, but I know, without a doubt, that I don’t regret it.

The group continues to look at me wearily, and I decide that backpedalling is probably the only way for them to accept Roman’s presence tonight. “I just mean that we should all be kind to each other. Who deserves to be here more than our team captain.”

The group continues to look at me oddly, but the surprise slowly leaves their faces. With weary glances in each other’s direction, I signal Charles that he need to be the bridge at the moment.

He nods my way conspiratorially, always being there for me when I need him. He promptly turns past me to face Roman, lifting his drink in friendship instead of accusation. “Hey, Roman. Do you want to sit and play cards with us?”