“It was a perfect idea, and I could tell you weren’t going to share.”
“Whatever. Let’s go. I can’t stare at these walls anymore.”
“Anxious to head to my place?” I asked, changing the subject so I wouldn’t keep worrying about her apartment. I did make a mental note to find out who her landlord was and see if they planned to update the place.
“You promised me dessert,” she said with a little sass.
“I did. I also don’t have a Keurig, but I do have the real stuff if you want.”
“Ha-ha. I’m going to be caffeinated and sugared up after my latte. I don’t think you’re going to want to serve me anymore,” she said, grabbing her purse. “Maybe a small dessert.”
“You’re looking very Vermonty, Murph,” I told her as we walked out the door.
“I’m channeling my inner Hunnie. I actually hid my white shorts in the back of my closet.”
“Did you now?” I joked, opening the Jeep’s passenger door for her.
“Also, it’s going to freeze soon.”
This had me laughing as I got into the driver’s seat. “It’s the middle of July. Give it at least a month.”
“Two, I heard. September.”
“Could be. But then we get to have ski season, the most gorgeous time of year around here. Sadly, also my busiest,” I said while backing the car into the street.
“That’s too bad. You’ve got to live a little, Ben.”
“Do you ski?” I asked, imagining she learned in Aspen.
“I do. Or I did. A long time ago. We took a couple of family trips to Jackson Hole. Actually, I should say they were more work trips for my parents. Networking, fundraising, and all that good stuff while I was stuck in ski school and babysitting night at the hotel.”
Blown away, I shook my head. “I can’t imagine. I’m sorry to say it, but I can’t.”
“It’s okay. At least I knew how to ski and wasn’t scared in college. I went a few times with friends. It was fun.”
“I learned. Or I should say I’m self-taught. We used to goof around as kids on borrowed skis and back hills. Then, on one of the breaks from Pressman, I was sick of hearing all the ski stories, so I went over to the Mad River area and rented a cheap pair of skis and jumped on the lift, studying what other people were doing as they hopped off the lift at the top. Then I just jumped off after them, trying to do what they did. Probably not the best idea, and a sure way to get hurt. Thank God my football coach never found out.”
I wound my way along the narrow road lined with country homes and tall trees, wondering what Murphy’s home looked like when she was growing up.
Glancing at me, she said, “You’re pretty cool, you know that?”
“I don’t know about cool ...”
“Back then, you never even told me about how you learned to ski, but I do remember you going on a few ski trips.”
“Well, I told everyone my dad taught me, because I’m from Vermont where everyone skis, right? But not everyone can afford it because it’s expensive. I didn’t even have ski pants. That first time I went, I wore jeans with long underwear underneath, and an old winter coat.”
“So, do you ski now?” Murphy asked.
“When I have time. I do like it because it’s an odd juxtaposition. You’re flying down the hill, seconds away from possible death, and yet it’s peaceful. Gives me time to think.”
I took a quick peek at Murphy’s profile to see she was quiet and listening. “You know, you always did that,” I blurted before thinking.
“What are you talking about?” She turned to look at me. I could sense the movement in my veins.
“Jeez,” I said, taking one hand off the wheel and running it through my hair. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud. What I meant was you were always a good listener. You always seemed to give me your full attention when we were hanging out in your room at Pressman, and now too.”
Leaning her head back, she let out a belly laugh.
