A dry chuckle escapes me. “Yeah. It was a pretty shitty week, and unleashing my anger on you was uncalled for.” I adjust my beanie, sighing heavily. “Can we start over?”
Those wide eyes study me for a beat, for an eternity, then drop to her feet. She shakes her head, ready to turn around again, but I catch her hand. Even though her fingers are gloved, electricity rushes from her palm to mine. “Depends,” she says. “Are you going to keep being a jackass?”
“A sarcastic jackass.”
Her unimpressed look makes a laugh rumble in my chest.
“Too bad for you because that appears to be my exact type of man.”
“Ah.” I grin, my eyebrows shooting up to my hairline. “Look who’s hitting on me now.”
She all but crosses her arms over her chest.
“I promise I’ll be a good boy.” I even give her puppy-dog eyes, which makes her gently swat my arm. “I’m serious, Alara. Can we move on from last week and start over? Please? I’d really appreciate it if you could continue training me at Rock Snow. I just— I really need your help, but I’d also like for us to be friends.”
My gaze drops to her lips as she twists them in contemplation.
Rubbing the back of my neck once again, I let my head fall forward and chuckle bleakly. “My life has always revolved around snowboarding, and I’m realizing I could lose it all if I don’t get my shit together. I want to be good, Alara, not only in Coach’s eyes but in yours too. I’ve been in so much pain and anger lately that I said things I didn’t mean, and you’re the only person who can help me here. I want to get back on my board as soon as possible. I don’t know what you know about what Coach Wilson expects from me, but I’m not working at Rock Snow for kicks.”
It feels nice to get this off my chest.
I was expecting judgment, resentment, but all I see is understanding.
“I figured.”
“But I swear on everything I have that I will do and be better. I’ll learn everything there is to know. I’ll even take pictures with customers who come in to speak to me. I’ll do anything, but, please, forgive me. I want us to get along because, to be honest, your company is . . . tolerable.”
I lie on the last word because her companionship is much more than simply tolerable. It gives me a sense of peace I’ve never felt before, a thrill I only get with her when she pushes my buttons and I retort back.
“Well, I’m finding youtolerabletoo,” she deadpans, but her smile betrays her. She’s got a really pretty smile. Like, super fucking pretty, one I can’t look away from.
“I understand if you don’t want anything to do with me after the way I spoke to you. And just to be clear, I’m not using you. I’m genuinely interested in being your friend.”
“Diego,” she says softly. “I was going to forgive you after your first apology.”
Oh, shit. Really? She’s forgiving me?
Motherfucker, I could happily dance right now.
I poke my tongue against the inside of my cheek to keep myself from smiling. “You enjoyed me groveling, didn’t you?”
“It was a pretty sight,” she admits with a shrug. Then, her eyes mist over with something I can clearly decipher – pity. “I’ll help you. Only if you promise to try with not only me but everyone else. Gaby included. She might be your sister, but she worries about you.”
I make a mental note to speak to Gaby tonight. And Joe too. I don’t want him to think I’m disrespecting his daughter, because I’m not. I don’t want him to think I’m not taking Coach’s orders seriously either.
For Alara, I will try. I will do my damn best. Because, for some reason, she’s managed to see the good in me despite everything I’ve put her through.
I nod vigorously. “I will. I promise.” I almost tuck her into my chest. Instead, I just smile. “Thank you so much.”
“We’re stuck together for the next couple of months. Better if we get along, right?”
What I don’t tell her is that I’m hoping to be out of here as soon as I can. Possibly by the end of this month. “You’re right.”
Her lips pull up in a small smile. “Good.”
I breathe out in relief. “Good.”
Fuck, yeah. I think I’m on the right path.
