“Oh my God,” I muttered.
I hated the subtle burn of insecurity I felt. In high school, Kayla had been the prettiest one. She’d been my friend, so I’d never thought much about it. I’d been focused on skiing and my own life while she’d been a cheerleader. She was still beautiful with her glossy blond hair, gorgeous blue eyes, and willowy build.
I was athletic, and I appreciated that about myself. Here and there, those old ghosts from high school would shout their doubts. They were shrill and obnoxious. It had all been made worse when the boyfriend I thought I loved screwed around with her. High school love wasn’t the way I felt about Tate, yet it hurt at the time. It felt as if all my doubts about myself had been proven true.
I sighed and shook my head. “Of course she would say that. I hate small-town gossip sometimes. I hope she’s not running her mouth to other people.”
“I see her at the vet clinic when she brings her cat in,” Farrah said. “She doesn’t know I’m friends with you. She told me Tate doesn’t see what she meant to him.” She shook her head with a sigh.
“Never forget you came out on top in this,” Phoebe commented. “You were busy winning an Olympic gold, and Kayla’s been busy being bitter.”
I shrugged. “When I moved home, I didn’t want to have to worry about this bullshit. I wish they weren’t getting a divorce.”
“They both cheated on each other,” Phoebe pointed out. “Forget about them. You and Tate are going strong, and you’ll be the face of the new ski resort here because you’re amazing.”
I grinned over at her.
“What’s the plan with that?” Tiffany asked.
I quickly filled them in. Fireweed Industries had already hired me to help set up the website, and once the resort opened, they wanted me to help with ski lessons and public relations.
The conversation moved on from me, but the night reminded me how nice it felt to have my friends as my personal cheerleaders.
When I drove home later, I shoved my old insecurities away. I was going home to Tate, and we were going strong. I just wondered when I would have the courage to tell him how I felt.
