Page 20 of Ski You Later (Alpine Glow #1)

If everyone wasn’t already looking at us, they sure are now. The coaches have even turned their full attention to the spot where Roman and I are sitting.

I freeze under the weight of everyone’s gazes and try another desperate attempt to pull my feet back. Roman’s hold is as firm as ever now, and he just shoots an annoyed look my way.

He takes a big breath in front of me, and lets it out in an annoyed fashion as he sits to his full height. I watch as he lifts an eyebrow towards the coaches and casually crosses his arms over his chest.

“What do you have to say for yourself Huxley?” Liane asks, her tone clipped as she grows bored with the conversation.

“Not much honestly,” Xander answers immediately, crossing his ankles as he puts his hands behind his head.

“Shut it Xander!” Rachel yells, stepping around Liane to point his way.

I cover my smile as Xander gives Rachel a bewildered expression. Placing both hands over his heart as he looks to the team in shock.

Everyone’s lips quirked up at Xander’s antics but quickly focus on Roman again as he responds.

“Not much honestly. I’m quite happy with the responsibilities I have on my plate at the minute.

” This is probably the happiest the coaches have ever heard Roman sound, and Liane’s wide eyes confirm my suspicion.

She quickly narrows them at the pair of us and seems to think about her next words.

“If it starts to affect your team captain responsibilities than we’re going to have an issue, understand?” Liane’s voice leaves no room for argument, and she turns to leave when Roman gives her a curt nod.

“Everyone in the van in five minutes,” Rachel yells to the group as she follows her girlfriend.

Roman just reaches past me and grabs my puffy boots from the floor as if nothing happened. Carefully slipping each shoe onto my sore foot, and even ensuring that the laces at the back are tied.

I’m stunned to silence as I watch him gently place my feet back to the floor. “Is that better?” He asks, the slight hint of nervousness in his voice making that flutter feeling return with a vengeance.

Fake or not, my feet are feeling a million times better, and he deserves to know how much that means to me. Looking him dead in the eyes, I don’t hesitate as I wrap my fingers around his hand that rests on his thigh .

“Roman, that was the sweetest thing that anyone has ever done for me. Thank you so much.”

A furious blush rockets up his neck, and he quickly breaks eye contact and looks at the wall of the lodge. He brushes me off as he puts on his own boots, but I smile at his sudden shyness.

“Sorry about all that, by the way. I didn’t even think about the coaches finding out and how that will probably make your life harder.” A wave of nerves overwhelms me at my words. If anything happened to his position as team captain because he was helping me, I would never forgive myself.

“Oh yeah, I would be devastated if I had to stop posting last minute training on Teamchat because the coaches are lazy as hell.” He says this under his breath, but still loud enough that it’s easy for me to hear.

I swat his shoulder, my mouth open in shock as he sits up and looks at me with confusion. “Roman Huxley, did you just make a joke!” I accidently yell the last part, but I don’t regret it as an embarrassed half smile forms on Roman’s face.

“Maybe,” he muses, sending me a questioning glance as he picks up his bag.

Wanting to continue to tease Roman, I quickly shovel my gear into my own bag and sling it on my back .

I try not to fumble as I strap the booster strap of my ski boots together and put them over my head. This common ski racer trend would be the same as tying shoelaces together and letting them rest on the shoulder straps of a backpack.

When my boots sit snug on either side of me, I face Roman with a smile, and only then does he start to walk away. He holds the lodge door open for me as we head towards the spot where the team leaves all our skis and poles.

“Are you nervous for the first race?” I ask casually as I watch Roman slow his gait to match mine.

“No, not really. It’s my third year of first races , and it feels more chill now.” He looks down at me as we walk to our skis and a little smirk forms on his face.

“Are you nervous, Langley?” The subtle hint of humour in his voice makes me glare his way, but I still hesitate before I answer.

Against my wishes, my stomach roils just thinking of the race. Where an athlete places in the first race will affect them for the rest of the season.

Remembering my inability to even land in the top thirty last race season immediately sours my mood.

I know that I’m a better racer than I was last year, but I’m still so scared. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous. What if I do bad like last year?” I unintentionally pull at the end of my braid as I look to Roman to see what he thinks.

His brow is furrowed in confusion, as if my words are having a hard time registering.

“What do I see here? Is Rhodes Langley thinking negatively?” He takes the end of my braid from my hand, giving it a light tug as he looks at me.

“Don’t think like that ever. It’s a horrible mentality, and I can’t support it.

“You are going to kick ass, Langley. That’s the only mentality you can go in with. Understand?” His face is dead serious as he looks down at me, and he only relaxes once I nod in agreement.

He’s right anyway, it’s no way to be going into the new race season. The mental game is just as hard as the physical one, and I need to stay positive if I want to see results.

“Say it,” Roman says as he looks at me expectantly.

“Say what?” I respond baffled.

“I want you to say, I will kick ass, Roman.” I send him a disbelieving stare, but he only stands taller and crosses his arms.

“Fine. I will kick butt, Roman,” I even punch my hand in the air for emphasis .

His whole face cringes as he puts his hands over his face.

“Langley, no,” he groans the words as he tilts his head back, but I hear laughter in his tone.

“That was so horrible. I can’t even look at you.

Just say ass.” His tone is full of humour but holds a serious quality as he keeps his hands on his face.

“No,” I respond indignantly.

“Why not?” He laughs as he looks down at me.

“Because I don’t want to,” I respond with a shrug. A smile pulls at my lips, but I fight to keep it down. Just because he is a lovely boy who is great at warming up feet, doesn’t mean he can tell me what to do.

“When your friends bully you for saying kick butt, I’m not going to help you.” He makes his voice high pitch as he says kick butt, as well as adding in a leg kick and a weak arm raise.

I glare at the ease with which he teases me, but I have a hard time holding it as he shoots me a smile. This isn’t just a closed-mouth smile, or even a quick flash of teeth. Roman’s smiling widely, and his laughter lingers in the air between us.

Before I get the chance to comment on this smile, he asks another question. “Are you free tomorrow? ”

I narrow my eyes slightly, but keep the easy smile on my face as I tell him that I am.

“I saw a flyer reminding me that the winter festival is coming up, and I was wondering if you wanted to go.” His tone is casual, and he leans against the ski rack as he asks this.

The winter festival is the most significant event for the ski community, yet I’m still surprised he even knows about it.

Ski racers of every age and from every club are welcome to the winter carnival, and it’s always loads of fun.

There are ski swaps, ice sculptures, twinkle lights, mulled wine, and lots of games.

I hesitate for a second, trying to figure out why he would want to go to this. Roman doesn’t exactly strike me as a guy that get excited for the maple taffy making booth.

It clicks just as quickly; this is another attempt for him to put our relationship out there. Picking an event that’s public and making sure everyone’s there to see us.

I forcibly push away that feeling in my stomach that dips every time I remember this whole thing is fake. No matter how muddled my feelings are getting, I owe it to Roman to stick to my half of the bargain. “Pick me up at seven?”