Page 28 of Ski You Later (Alpine Glow #1)

It’s just my luck that out of two vans, I picked the wrong one.

Landon runs off to find Xander as I walk towards the van in a daze. This entire spectacle was all to help me, and I could not be more grateful for these guys I’ve been growing closer to. Rachel’s fuming in the front seat, rolling her window down and barking at everyone to load up.

Doing my best to go unnoticed from the grumbling coach, I quietly enter the van and quickly occupy one of the empty rows.

Plopping down and resting against the headrest, I look out the window to my right. Roman, Landon, and Xander are laughing hysterically and patting Landon on the back. Putting my hand over my mouth, I stifle my own giggle and wait for them to join me.

I watch with dread as the three of them head for the van that Liane’s driving. Ignoring the disappointment that floods me at the thought of not sitting next to Roman, I look up to try and get Aurora’s attention.

Leaning forward, I spot Calvin and all his friends already occupying the rows directly in front of me, and Jasmine’s sitting right at the front. As I survey the occupants of this car, I silently scream into the void.

Sometimes, I am a grade A moron, and this is one of those situations. I was so scared about the coaches yelling at me, I didn’t even look to see who I’d be on the road with for the next seven hours.

As I carefully pick up my jacket to slip into the other van, the tell-tale sound of tires spinning confirms my nightmare. Rachel starts to pull out of the parking spot, and our journey has officially begun.

Flopping back into the seat in a huff, I’m thankful that everyone looks like they’re preparing to head back to sleep.

That doesn’t stop the panic from forming a weight on my chest. Even though I have known Calvin and the others for years, they’re not my friends.

If Jasmine decides today is the day to really interrogate me about my ‘relationship’, I’m going to completely freeze.

The van comes to an abrupt halt, the door ripping open, and ricocheting back with a bang. Everyone shoots bolt upright in surprise, with any lingering sleep disappearing.

Roman stands outside the door with a hand braced on either side. His breath is heaving as he scans the people in car and stops as we lock eyes.

The frustration vanishes as he looks at me and is instantly replaced with a smile. Slinging a pink backpack over his shoulder, he hops in and slams the door closed behind him.

“Huxley! What do you think you are doing!” Rachel’s shrill voice ensures that everyone has no choice but to be awake at this point.

“Sorry, got in the wrong van.” That’s all he says as he ducks down and makes his way to the back row. He looks gigantic in the confined space as he puts my bag on the end and takes the seat beside me.

Rachel’s at her wits end with athletes today because she just turns up the radio as she peels out of the lot. As Calvin and his friends realize Roman’s not going to get in any trouble, they all promptly return to closing their eyes.

I watch as Taylor and Sofia have the same idea, but Jasmine’s glare remains fixed on me. Her eyes are narrowed on me, and I can feel fear trickle in even as she sits three rows ahead. With a last scrunch of her eyes, she flips her hair and faces the front.

I keep my eyes forward, too scared to look away incase she decides that she’s not done with me. Roman’s cough pulls my attention away and try to shake the nerves as I face him.

Before he can even say a word, I look up at him with dread in my eyes.

“You really shouldn’t have done that! The people in this van aren’t too fond of us on a good day, let alone causing another interruption to our departure.

” I send him a pointed glance and try to ignore how fluttering forms in my stomach the longer we lock eyes.

He shrugs, brushing his hand through his mop of dark, wavy hair.

The silky strands part slightly to the left, and the rest of the hair falls back in place.

As he stretches his arm in the air, he looks behind me and places his arm against the back of my seat.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less, Langley.

Anyone who isn’t fond of you isn’t worth my time. ”

Again, the ease at which he says this causes a slight delay when it comes to my understanding. I quickly turn back to the front to make sure he doesn’t notice my fierce blush .

The road whizzes past us as we hit the highway, and the athletes in front of us all lean on one another in sleep.

Roman and I stay silent for a while, but I can’t help periodically catching glances of him from the corner of my eye.

He keeps his arm on the back of my seat and reclines as if it’s the most comfortable thing in the world.

The start of the sun rise casts a pink hue on his features as I turn to him fully. It cascades down from orange to pink and highlights his attributes.

A small scar below his chin, a freckle that rests near his temple and the faint smile lines that are proof of his happy nature.

He casts a quick look at me, but then does a double-take as his gaze stays fixed on me. As if in a trance, his hand slowly comes up until it’s gently cupping my jaw. The feel of his callused hands contrasting my squishy face, but I revel in it none the less.

I can only imagine a similar pink and orange hue is all over my face, and I smile at the thought of it. A soft grin transforms his face at this, and I feel the motion of his thumb landing lightly on my lips.

“Rhodes. You are absolutely beautiful,” he says slowly, as if he can’t believe his own eyes. I can’t stop the furious flush that forms in my cheeks, and I try to dip my head away. No one has ever said something like that to me, and I have no response for something so kind.

“No, no. Don’t do that, Langley. You’ll break my heart.” He leans in closer and uses his hand on my jaw to tip my head back toward him. “Don’t shy away, especially not from me.”

This is how people feel when they reach the top of the roller coaster, and teeter on the precipice.

“Roman. I just wanted to thank you for switching vans for me.” I hate the breathless quality worming its way into my voice, but I can’t think straight as his damn thumb starts moving in a gentle tracing motion.

“I was really hoping we would get to sit together anyway,” I somehow manage to string together those words before all sense leaves my brain.

The pink hue is stunning on his features as he leans in closer. I don’t dare breathe as his thumb brushes my lower lip, pulling it slightly down until his thumb starts to carefully trail down my chin. “Anything for you, Rhodes.”

My heart solidifies and then proceeds to remelt in my chest. No one in my life has ever said those words to me, let alone, saying them with eyes that are filled with sincerity .

His lips are millimeters away from me at this point, and I can’t help but tip my head the slightest bit up in response. I don’t know if this is for show or what his game plan is at the moment, but every organ in my body is screaming for oxygen as he moves fully into my space.

His lips are soft as they press into the side of my temple. The kiss lingers as he uses the hand that’s cupping my jaw, to pull me closer. Cold floods the space he occupied as he pulls away, turning to face the front of the van once again.

Before I can question his absence, the arm on the back of the seat moves forward and he promptly wraps it around me. Leaving a small gap between us still, my heart swells as he gives me the option to pull away.

There’s not a single doubt in my head as I close the distance. Resting my head on his shoulder and smiling to myself as he pulls me in close.

After four hours on the road, everyone in our van starts to stir and mingle.

Jasmine’s been whispering with her friends, periodically glancing back at me, and laughing.

I try to ignore the forced giggling from her friends, but I can’t help the way my jaw clench gets more severe the longer I’m in this car.

I fear all my teeth will be cracked and broken before the first race.

Roman’s presence is the only reason she’s not making more obvious barbs in my direction, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

When we reach the halfway point, an hour later, everyone gets out to use the washroom and stretch their legs. Roman and I are so disappointed when we accidentally load into the other van with our friends.

Aurora gives me a big hug, expressing how sorry she is that she didn’t see me go into the other one. Her defense being that she sat down and proceeded to fall asleep immediately.

The company for the rest of the ride is far superior. My friend group and Roman’s seeming to mesh easily. Landon talks with Isla, Liam, and Charles about who knows what. Then one row in front Xander does his best to ensure Aurora’s attention remains all to himself.

Roman and I sit comfortably in the back again, his arm resting casually around my shoulders. I can’t help but notice Aurora’s gaze constantly flickering back here, and a small uplift to her smile.

I would be embarrassed about being this casual with everyone, but only three people know it’s fake anyway. Roman’s really smart for keeping up the rouse in front of everyone, and I can’t help but leave it at that.

We aren’t a thing. He’s just a friend that’s helping me out.

A friend who’s smell floods my brain when he’s close and I can’t help but be drawn to it.

A friend that looks out for me. A friend that seems to care about every aspect of my wellbeing, when it’s the last thing he needs on his plate at the minute.

A friend who’s thumb on her lips sparked the strongest spark of attraction she’s ever felt in her life.

The sudden jostle of the van driving on loose gravel causes my eyes to open groggily, and I realize I must have fallen asleep. Voices echoing throughout the van are louder than their usual volume, and the excitement of getting to the hill is at an all-time high.

I’m nervous to sit up fully, past experiences reminding me about the neck pain that is sure to come. It’s only the feeling of the warm chest beneath me and the heavy weight encompassing my body that causes my senses to sharpen.

Jolting my head upward, I find Roman leaning against the side of the van’s wall as his chest rises and falls steadily in sleep. His arms are wrapped around my stomach, holding me to him as my face presses into his chest.

With a peak out the window behind him, I see that we’re still an hour away from the hill at this point. Before I can think too hard on it, I rest my head back against his chest and close my eyes as I get comfortable.

It’s impossible to stop the sheepish smile that grows on my face as his hand comes up and cups the back of my head.