Page 30 of Ski You Later (Alpine Glow #1)

The coaches are about as organized as Xander.

The team meeting is going as well as I assumed it was going to go. Which is not well at all.

As the team squishes into the space of the rental house, we all wait for Roman to return and give us the information for the race tomorrow.

The fear of the impending race, mixed with my anxiety for Roman, causes my knee to bounce vigorously on the carpeted floor. The team is getting restless the longer we all wait, and I hate the negative energy that’s building in the room.

The living space has a cozy cottage feel, with exposed wooden beamed ceilings and leather couches.

The kitchen, dining room, and living area are all one open concept space, where we all squish together and wait.

Three couches in the living area make a giant U shape so we will all be able to face Roman when he gets here .

Rhys is the only one who avoids being with the team and chooses instead to lean against the wall.

He just arrived over an hour ago, since his personal preference is not to travel with the team.

It’s quite convenient for him since he puts all his gear in the van and lets the rest of the team unload it.

If I had enough money to just fly to the races, I would probably do the same.

Kai and Grayson are using their time wisely as they finish up some last-minute assignments. I have half a mind to work with them, but my bigger concern is keeping everyone’s attitudes positive regarding our team captain.

It’s just hit twenty minutes past six, and Roman is still nowhere to be seen. The team is becoming restless, and the more vocal athletes ensure everyone knows their thoughts on the matter.

“So, who thinks he’s even going to bother showing up within the hour?” Jasmine loudly asks the group as she examines her nails. The small chatter comes to an immediate stop as all heads turn in her direction.

She and her little minions are all wearing matching sweat tracksuits as they squish together on the larger couch.

Calvin and his friends reside in this same seat, and he’s all too happy to continue this conversation.

“Let’s be real. He’s probably late on purpose as a power play.

Proving that we will all just sit here happily and wait for him. The guy is power hungry.”

I can feel the vein in my forehead start to pulse as they talk about him, as if anything they’re saying is true.

Frankly, no one on this team knows Roman at all besides his roommates, and over half of that group is his brothers.

I would’ve liked to put myself in that category, but I come to a harsh realization that I don’t.

While Roman’s tendencies and mannerisms are quite familiar to me at this point, I don’t know that much about him as a person. If there’s one thing that’s true, is that he keeps things tight to the vest and doesn’t like to talk about himself.

A loud laugh from Jasmine and Calvin brings me back to the moment. The pair are both laughing a fraction too loud at something, and I know that I’ll hate it.

Looking towards the Huxley brothers for confirmation, my suspicions are confirmed as they both sit there, clenching their jaws.

At one point I see Landon open his mouth to say something, but Xander holds him back with a small shake of his head.

I move so I can look at Rhys leaning against the wall, and while he doesn’t look pleased about the topic of conversation, it doesn’t look as though he is going to intervene .

Glancing across the group, I find relief in the fact that Aurora, Liam, Isla, and Charles are not taking part. A couple of weeks ago, they probably would have been leading the slanderous session, and now they sit as quiet as a mouse.

They still haven’t gotten the chance to really get to know him, but just the fact that they’re giving him a chance makes me grateful for the group.

“It’s a team meeting, is it that hard to just show up on time?” Calvin asks loudly and looks around to relish in the laughter.

“Dude, look at this shoe box of a rental house. I don’t know why we let him stay in charge.” Laughs fill that space as Grayson joins the mix, and they all start feeding off each other.

“The dude is about as useful as a teacup; he can barely schedule the practice,” Kai pitches in.

“It astounds me how he became team captain again; I want a recount!” Grayson yells and even gets out of his chair a little.

I notice that the fear that just gripped me has quickly morphed into anger.

As I glance one more time at his brothers and see that they aren’t going to intervene.

I decide it’s time for me to get my elbows out .

“What’s so funny about that? What is hilarious is that you feel confident enough to say this all behind his back, but never to his face.

” My voice shatters the mood instantly, and everyone looks in my direction now, as the remnants of laughter hang in the air.

Grayson seems to become flustered, obviously someone who can dish it but not take it.

As I lift my eyebrow in his direction, waiting for him to sputter out some nonsense, my vulture of a cousin sees her moment to attack.

“What’s wrong, Rhodes? Feel the need to protect your man? How well did that work out for you the last time?” Jasmine’s comment shocks me into silence, with only my self-preservation keeping my jaw from dropping. I’m not upset as much as I’m just shocked. She’s getting daring with these responses.

I can see that everyone is dead silent now, with various people casting sidelong glances at each other. While almost no one knows about the cheating, it’s still common knowledge that Daniel and I broke up a year ago, and Jasmine started dating him right after.

“I know that you didn’t say that, you slimy little worm,” Aurora yells at my cousin’s face.

I grab Aurora’s sleeve and pull her back to the couch as she starts to rise.

Frankly, I have no idea what she has in mind, but if my best friend got banned from our first race because she was defending me, I would never forgive myself.

Jasmine just shrugs and smirks at Aurora’s growing rage, and I have to keep an iron grip on her now. “Jasmine, how about you do everyone a favour and just shut it, alright?” I say with my teeth gritted and doing my best to hold back Aurora.

Her eyes light up for a millisecond as her scheming face shines through, but it disappears just as quickly.

Jasmine’s face absolutely crumples in front of my eyes as she puts her hands over her face and sinks back into the couch.

Her minions are at her side in a second, rubbing her back and soothing her as she pretends to cry at my insult.

I roll my eyes at this display, but what surprises me is the anger I see radiating from Calvin’s face.

I’ve always suspected that he has a thing for her, but my suspicions are confirmed as he looks to her and then whirls on me.

I notice in my periphery that both Xander and Landon got up in that second, but I don’t take my eyes off of Calvin.

Standing up, he points a finger in my direction as he takes a step closer. “You need to apologize to her right now,” he yells in my direction .

I’m so over men thinking they can just yell in my face, so I stand in turn, and make sure some muscled up moron isn’t telling me what to do. As the memory of them making fun of Roman comes into my mind, I make sure I put on my sweetest smile. “I would rather die,” I say kindly.

His building rage only makes my smile bigger, as he advances towards me. “You little bitc–.”

His words are abruptly cut off as Rhys steps right in front of him, shoving him back and into the couch. Everyone stares in shock since no one had even seen him move from leaning against the wall.

He’s by far the biggest guy on the team, but more importantly, he never gets involved in anything. This behaviour from him is unprecedented, and no one moves a muscle.

“Sit down, and shut up,” he says with boredom as he turns his back to Calvin and walks away. To my biggest surprise, Rhys walks towards me and leans on the wall located right behind my couch.

Before anyone can process that, the front door bangs open and a furious Roman storms in. This entire night has been a tennis match of emotions, but seeing Roman finally makes me breathe at ease. I can’t determine why but having him in the room makes everything better.

He wears another of his chunky-knit sweaters, this time paired with a pair of medium-washed jeans.

It’s easy to see the movement of his powerful legs through the denim as he eats up the space from the door to us.

With frustration plain on his face, he stands at the front of the room and glares at everyone.

He does a quick scan of the room and stops when his gaze finds mine. He gives me a small smile, but then flicks his gaze towards Rhys, who stands behind me. Confusion splays across his face for a second, but quickly reverts to his usual bored expression.

“Alright, I’m going to say this once and post the notes on our Teamchat afterward.

We have a three-day race coming up. Tomorrow and Saturday will consist of giant slalom, one run on each day.

It is a co-ed course for these races; the girls will start in the morning, and the boys will follow in the afternoon.

Sunday is our last day; it will be regular slalom, and you will have a run in the morning and one in the afternoon.

There will be two different courses, boys are set on the right; girls left.

“Inspection will begin exactly one hour before the race start time. Do not be late. There’re four forerunners for each race, and your racing bib will be given to you tomorrow morning. Any questions?”

So much important information has just been word-vomited on everyone, so I’m not surprised when Roman is met with silence. I mentally rewind to see if he missed any key points for the weekend, but I’m pretty sure everything was covered.

We’re responsible for everything when it comes to racing.

We have to know the times for event starts like the back of our hands.

Inspection start is when we’re allowed on the course an hour early so we can preview our terrain.

Race start is an obvious one and the overall schedule for the whole weekend.

After everyone seems to process Roman’s words, Xander’s hand shoots into the air, and Roman quickly points to him. “Is this race a team inspection, or is solo allowed?”

Everyone nods at this question and faces back to Roman.

Inspection is the time we are allotted to view the set-up of the course before the race starts.

We can notice tempo changes in the course, as well as terrain changes, and we can overall try to memorize the entire course during this time.

Certain ski hills demand team inspection as to keep all the athletes grouped together, but some allow solo inspection.

This allows athletes to go at their own pace and look at everything.

“Sunray Mountain club said they don’t mind solo inspection as long as it starts twenty minutes before inspection closes.” Xander nods and goes back to absorbing everything Roman has said.

No one says anything for a couple of seconds, and Roman nods at the group. “Alright, if that’s everything, then we are done. Have all your skis tuned, bags packed, and be on skis at seven tomorrow.”

This is as good a dismissal as any, and chatter breaks out again.

I notice Jasmine and her girls leave immediately, followed closely by Calvin.

Kai, Grayson, and Nico make no move in following their buddy as they relax in their seats and turn back to their work.

No one brings up the past thirty minutes, but tensions within the group hang heavy in the air.

I turn to chat with Aurora, but her eyes widen slightly, and she abruptly turns to face Liam on her other side.

My brow furrows in confusion until I turn to see Roman heading right for my couch. He nods towards Rhys behind me, and extends his hand to help me up.

I tentatively take his hand as he lifts me to my feet, and I watch as he plops into the seat I just vacated. Before I can express my outrage, his hand snakes around my waist, and he pulls me on top of his lap.

“I missed you this afternoon, Langley,” he whispers into my hair.

Since we’ve never displayed PDA like this in front of the team before, my face flames at his actions and kind words.

As I try to get up, my attempt fails immediately, and Roman wastes no time as he pulls back to him.

The rest of the team casts quick glances at us, but mostly leaves us alone as I’m pressed to Roman’s chest.

I do my best to relax, but straight adrenaline is coursing through me. Every inch of him is so warm and comfortable as I feel the pull to relax, but remain tense.

“You need to relax if you want to sell this, Langley,” Roman whispers in my ear.

I do another glance of the room, finding everyone preoccupied as I turn to him. As everyone seems distracted by Xander, I rest my head on Roman’s shoulder and whisper back.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I won’t be offended or anything,” I admit to him. I give him my kindest smile, but I know in my heart that I am falling hard for a man who thinks this whole thing is fake.

“I don’t mind,” he says back to me .

I pull away to see him smiling sweetly at me, and my heart officially breaks. I’m no actress, and I need to let Roman know my feelings before this gets to be ridiculous.

“Roman, I don’t want you to make all these gestures anymore if they’re just going to be for the show.” I bite my lip as I say the words, but I don’t regret sharing my thoughts with him.

To my surprise, I’m pulled even closer, and he faces us both to the rest of the group. His lips press into my neck, and I try to suppress the shiver that wants to go through me. “I think we’re starting to get on the same page now, Langley.”