I’ll need something to do now that I’ve had to drop school. The heat from our relationship was too much for the university to handle. So either Gerald lost his job, or I submitted a statement about our relationship being completely consensual and drop out. Even though it was hard, I knew I couldn’t let Gerald give uphis career. I’m young, he had said, with plenty of time to pick up my studies later.
He’s right, as always.
“I’ll try my best!” I smile, deciding on the blueberry pancakes.
“I need you to just get it done, Daphne. Your best might not be good enough, so let’s use this as an occasion to rise to the challenge, shall we?” he mutters without even looking up from his menu.
The faun arrives just then with fresh-wrapped silverware she sets just out of Gerald’s reach with a smirk.
“Hi, my name is Lerana. I’ve got you some fresh silverware—what can I get you folks?” Our waitress pulls the check pad out from her apron and a pen from behind her ear.
“I’ll have the businessman’s breakfast, and she’ll have a garden salad with grilled chicken breast,” he tells her resolutely.
No pancakes for me then.
Lerana looks me over slowly, as if she knows I want something else.
“You good, sugar? Nothing else?” Her eyes are kind, and I almost tell her that I really do want the pancakes. But it doesn’t seem worth the fight. I know that I won’t win with him.
“No, I’m fine—more coffee, please.” I plaster on my best smile, hoping to show her it's really okay.
“Okay, you just let me know,” she whispers as she leans over and collects our menus.
When I raise my gaze back up to Gerald, his face is tight.
“What was that?”
My hands start to sweat. “No idea.”
Chapter two
Andri
Thebloodrushestomy head as I chug down the foamy, cheap beer that flows out of the keg tap. Strong hands grip my ankles, holding me in my inverted position. I don’t know if I should be proud of how well I can hold myself in this position or not, but seeing as it’s something I’ve done at the party before opening day for the past ten years, who am I to argue with tradition?
The lift workers who hold my legs finally pull me back right side up. Beer sputters from my mouth as I drop the keg tap in the snow.
“Not to brag, but I could have gone longer, you know.” I arch an eyebrow to my assistants. Chip is a return seasonal employee. It’ll be his third season and I’m glad for it. His sense of humor matches up well to mine, and he’s always down for a good time.
Usually the other person holding my leg would be Josh, a human male who was a top-tier party buddy. I hadn’t seen him yet this year, but I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.
But the new guy, whose name has already slipped my mind, is here for his first year. I know he’s a sophomore somewhere back east and is a referral from one of the ski shop kids—I think they rushed the same fraternity. He seems like a good kid, if not a little green around the ears.
“No one is arguing that you’re the undisputed keg-stand king of the mountain—in fact, I propose a toast in your honor!” Chip bellows, slurring his words ever so slightly.
He grabs three red plastic cups and fills them so poorly that I’m ninety-nine percent sure it’ll be nothing but foam. Regardless, I happily grab the very light drink from my inebriated friend.
“To the king of the mountain, and the yeti of my heart.” He clamps his cup against the right side of his chest, wiping a mock tear from the corner of his eye, before we chug any liquid out of the cup.
In unison, as if spurred on by some ancient gods, we crush the plastic containers against our foreheads and growl into the night sky, arms raised in supplication to the moon.
The newbie’s eyes go wide at the noise that escapes my mouth—yetis are much better at growling than humans. I make sure to throw him a wink, which earns a nervous smile. My voice is the only one I hear reverberating against the snowy peaks.
Even though I know I’ll never hear another yeti’s voice, it’s comforting for a moment to pretend that someone is out there. Maybe someone for me.
I grab a shot glass from a smiling girl sitting in the stationary lift chair as I walk through the party crowd.
“To the new season, friends I have yet to make, and perfect powder every day!” the cute girl yells into the sky, swaying to the music blasting over the resort’s PA system.
