“Let’sget him down to the lodge so the medical team can check him out.”Iassured the boy, “You’regoing to be fine.”
Theboy’s expression appeared pained, but he nodded.Aswe waited for the sled,Itried to distract him by asking about his favorite video games and movies.
“Almosteveryone falls at some point,”Inoted. “Evenexpert skiers.”Itold him about a few funnier ones. “IthinkIonce skied this entire mountain on my butt,”Iexaggerated, and he chuckled.
Minuteslater,Damonarrived on a sled.Thetwo of us carefully lifted the boy onto the sled and skied him down the mountain.Afterwe carried him into the lodge with his parents following us,DamonandIreturned outside.
“Chairliftdating is starting soon,” he said.
Igroaned. “Don’tremind me.”
“It’ssupposed to be fun and for a good cause,”Damonreplied. “Theproceeds will go to conservation efforts in the region.Whydon’t you give it a go?”
“Man, you mated wolves are all the same,”Iteased. “Onceyou find your mate, you try to convince the others to find theirs.”
Damonwas the last wolfIthought would settle down with one.Hisfather had been so bereft and broken after losing his mate thatDamondeclared they could only bring pain.Butthen he metSophieand fell hard—almost provoking a pack war in the process.
Hechuckled. “Justwant what’s best for you.”
“Appreciateit, butI’mall set.”
Damonshrugged. “We’llsee.Whenyour wolf knows, things change…”
Igrunted. “IfIhaven’t found her by now, it’s not going to happen.”
Besides,Ididn’t see the appeal of being tied down to one person.Ienjoyed my freedom and not having to answer to a partner.
“Neversay never.”Damonwagged his index finger. “Lookat me.”
“You’remuch younger than me.It’seasier to keep hope alive.”Sure, whenIwas in my twenties,I’dpictured a future with a mate and a family.Asthe years went by and flings went nowhere,Icame to terms with that not happening.
“Comeon, you old curmudgeon,”Damonteased.Hegestured over to the chairlift with a slight raise of his ski pole. “Let’scheck on this event you’re so against.”
Iskied over withDamonto the base of the chairlift.Themusic pumped louder, this time playingBonJovi’s“Livin’ on aPrayer.”Peteloved his classic rock.
Peoplelined up at a table and were given a number.Didthey really expect to meet their special someone during a random pairing?Itwas asIhad suspected. “Ridiculous.”
“Lookslike they’re having fun, though,”Damonpointed out.
“OnethingIcan guarantee is that no one taking part in this foolish event is interested in anything serious.Theyjust want a fun hookup while on vacation.”
Damonteased, “Lookhow cynical you’ve become in your old age.”
Tappingmy chest,Ireplied, “Icall it experience.”Howmany short-term romances hadIseen that both started and ended here at the resort?I’dlost count.
Gazingat the couples lining up together,Iadded, “Thesnow will last longer than any relationship sparked on the mountain today.”
CHAPTER2
CASSANDRA
Chairliftdating might be a terrible idea.
OnceI’dchecked in at a registration table, they gave me a ribbon to pin on my jacket.Idid so in addition to my lift ticket for the day and put my ski gear on.Alight snow started to fall.Itwas expected to do so on and off today, with a couple more inches of accumulation to the base.Iglanced over at the lines forming at the chairlift.Acrowd of skiers and snowboarders had gathered around—far more thanI’dexpected.
Icouldn’t believeI’dagreed to do this.Chairliftdating?Comeon.Ihad bad enough luck with dating on the ground.Howwould it be any better whenIwas trapped with a stranger as we hovered in a metal seat dozens of feet over a mountain?
Nope, don’t sabotage this.Staypositive.
