She finishes hydrating her hands. “One hundred percent. I’ve got you, but this is the last lie we tell.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I smile, wondering what I’ve done to deserve a woman who understands me so effortlessly.
Still, I don’t think I can be honest with Dr Ellis just yet. What if my sponsors drop me? What if I can’t provide for my family anymore? Too many people are relying on me, and I refuse to give up on them. My desperation to get back on the slopes and compete will kill me, but there’s nothing more important than Mom and the girls. If hurting myself again is the only way to make sure they get through life without an ounce of worry, then so be it.
“You can take my car,” she offers, when I stand there and observe whatever she’s doing with all her beauty products. She’s completely oblivious to my inner battle. “I’ll catch a ride with my parents to Rock Snow, and you can drop my car there when you come in for your shift.”
“Sounds like a good plan.” I don’t want to walk in the mountains of snow after last night’s storm. Planting a kiss on the back of her head, I slap her ass. “Thank you, pretty girl.”
I force myself to collect the clothes I left in the bathroom and exit to change upstairs before I can lose myself in her smile, her scent, her presence. Shouting asee youbefore leaving her cabin, I make my way to her car, and start clearing the snow from it.I also decide to shovel the driveway to save Joe the burden of doing it.
When I glance at her parents’ house, feeling eyes on me, I’m greeted by a giggling Donna, who’s sipping on her coffee. I give her an awkward wave, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment, though it seems like the smile that’s etched itself on my face since I woke up won’t go away.
So much for trying to be discreet.
Me:Your mom saw me do the walk of shame
Pretty girl:LOLshe knows you spent the night, but don’t worry, she won’t say anything.
Me:How? And shit, should I be worried about your dad?
Pretty girl:She literally saw you walk up to my cabin. All she asked was if I needed more condoms.
Me:That’s insane.
Pretty girl:And as for my dad, no worries either. They’ll keep their mouths shut.
Me:I trust you all. I love the fact you’re so comfortable talking about sex with your mom. I could never with mine. Even less with Dad. First time I bought condoms was in a drug store three towns away because I was scared to be seen.
Pretty girl:Aw, I’m sorry to hear that. I know Gaby struggles with that too. She literally comes to Mom to ask for advice and girl stuff.
Me:What do you mean my little sister has sex??? That’s so disgusting!
I know I was the one to ask if we could keep this a secret, yet something is bothering me, and I don’t know what.
“Fucking help me up instead of laughing at me!”
Alara’s laugh is loud, hearty, and even if I’m trying to be pissed off at her, I can’t keep my smile from growing.
We’ve been filming some content for Rock Snow’s social media behind the store. She always manages to find the funniest ways to promote the items we sell, and her hard work keeps paying off – online sales continue to skyrocket, and it’s busier generally at the shop too. Four other videos went viral, garnering an interest no one saw coming.
As for me, I still avoid my own social media like the plague. I’m liking this quiet life away from judgment, expectations, and pressure. Alara keeps telling me that my follower numbers are increasing exponentially, but I’m indifferent to it. And when she told me that plenty of women asked for my number, I responded by saying that I didn’t care because the only woman I need is standing right in front of me. That earned me a beautiful smile that made my pulse race.
Yesterday, she clipped a little microphone to my fleece jumper and filmed me as I talked about everything snowboarding, all while showing to the camera my personal favorites – boards, goggles, and even bindings. It made me genuinely happy to do this. Alara’s been making sure to incorporate my passion and my love for snowboarding in everything we do, and I don’t think she realizes how much it means to me.
I’m currently lying in a pile of powdery snow, wearing the newest bib pants in our stock. And she’s fucking laughing at me because of the way I tripped and fell.
As she pockets her phone, I extend my hand. She’s naïve asfuck, because as soon as our palms connect I pull her into me and twist until she’s the one lying in the snow as I pin her down.
She shrieks as my freezing cold hands pull her jumper up just enough to touch her waist. “Diego!”
I grin, lowering my lips to her ear as she thrashes beneath me, her soft laughter feeding my soul. “I love it when you scream my name.”
“I hate you.” Yet she’s laughing heartily. She’s smiling up at me like nothing else matters.
“Yeah, yeah, that’s not what you were saying last night when I snuck in and—”
“Well, well, well. Don’t you two look cozy?”
