dash

After I’m dressed and ready, another half hour passes before she emerges from the room across from mine, putting an end to my frustrated pacing.

“Sorry,” she apologizes, her tone anything but genuine. “I would have been ready sooner, but I don’t really want to go, so I took my sweet ass time.”

“Charming,” I smirk, following her out.

There were lots of things I’d rather be doing than spending the day arguing with Evie, but the fact of the matter is that’s exactly why I’d invited her. After our failed attempt a few days ago, we’d reluctantly resigned ourselves to the reality that staying away from each other while we were under such tight quarters would be impossible.

It’s not like we haven’t tried, but the simple fact of the matter is that nothing else but giving in had helped.

I’d tried my best to steer clear of her, spent as much time outside of the cabin as I possibly could at first, but being away from her had threatened to make me forget just how much she irritated me. That saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder wasn’t too far off in this case.

Although, I couldn’t say my heart was any fonder of the foul-mouthed pain in the ass standing beside me in the lift line, my dick had other ideas.

After days of thinking of nothing but the way she rode me, the blessed silence that came with her dropping to her knees to swallow my cock, I needed a good reminder of why this disaster of a situation between Evie and me needed to be put to an end.

Something told me spending an afternoon with her doing something she wasn’t really down for would be just the thing to knock this little temporary infatuation right on its ass.

“You’ve been on a lift before, right?” I ask as we take a step forward in line toward the entrance, looking down to find her staring ahead in fear.

“Yeah,” she nods, pushing a low breath from her lips, steadying her nerves. “Not this one and it’s been a while, but I still know what to do.”

“Okay,” I say, taking a step forward and gripping her elbow when she starts to slide on the icy patch. “Are you sure you want to start on a blue trail? They have easier runs.”

“I’m not going on the green pass so you can make fun of me all day, Dash,” she shakes her head, glaring at me.

“You’d rather die than listen to me give you shit, huh?”

“I’m not gonna die from the slope,” she says, her eyes narrowing toward the lift as her voice lowers to a mumble. “If I die anywhere, it’s gonna be when I plummet from this fuckin’ death trap.”

“Seems reasonable,” I shrug, taking a step forward to prepare to get on the next chair. “Come on. You ready?”

“Yeah,” she manages and turning back to face her, I see her nerves finally setting in.

“Are you okay?” I ask, my guilt getting the better of me. “Forget what I said before. If you don’t want to do this, I won’t make you, Evie. I didn’t think you’d be this freaked out.”

“I’m not freaked out,” she brushes me off, feigning confidence as she steps forward. “I’ll be fine. I’m totally ready.”

Once we’re finally settled onto the lift, I’m enjoying the view, the cool air on my skin invigorating me in ways nothing else ever could. I hear a squeak and look over a couple minutes later and see Evie’s having a very different experience than I am.

Her arms are up high, hanging on to the metal railing for dear life as she keeps her eyes shut tightly. She’s releasing low, cleansing breaths and it’s obvious it’s an attempt to keep herself from hyperventilating. I’m biting back my laughter, about to speak, but her low, shaky voice beats me to the punch.

“I can feel you staring at me and judging me and I want you to know that I don’t give a tiny rats ass,” she declares, making me grin. “That being said, can you please tell me when it’s almost time for us to get off?”

“I could,” I start. “Or you could just look and see for yourself.”

“I can’t,” she admits.

“Why?”

“Because I’m terrified, you jackass!” she shrieks. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this shit, Dash.”

“Yep,” I chuckle quietly. “All because you couldn’t admit what we both already know.”

“Oh, shut the hell up!” she spits, peeking over her shoulder and very slowly opening her eyes into tiny slits. “You don’t know anything.”

“Whatever you say, sweetheart,” I sigh, shaking my head and taking her in. “You look ridiculous, by the way. I just thought you should know that.”

“Stop looking at me then.”

“Oh, what are you? Nine?” I laugh, making an anxious giggle slip from her lips. “Seriously, Evie. This is probably the only time you’ll be up here. Don’t you want to take a look?”

“No, I really don’t.”

“Come on,” I offer, affectionately nudging her. “I promise I won’t let you fall, but you need to look before you miss your chance. It’s awesome up here. It’s not scary at all,” I promise. “Just don’t look down and you’ll be fine.”

She considers my words as she bites on her lip.

“Say you swear.”

“I swear it.”

“Okay,” she says, reluctantly opening her eyes at a snail’s pace. After a second, her breathing settles and she opens them all the way, staring out in front of her in awe. “Oh,” she gasps low. “You’re right. This isn’t so bad.”

“See?” I ask, pointing toward the forest in the distance. “Look at the trees, all capped with snow,” I start, taking them in before glancing over at her. “The first day we were here, Mase and I saw a hawk.”

“Really?”

“Yep,” I nod, smiling small. “It was right over there, flying overhead.”

“That’s pretty cool actually,” she offers. “I’ve never been this high up befo-”

The jolt of the cables shakes our seat slightly, making her screech, her eyes shutting tight once more.

“Oh, my God! You asshole!”

“I didn’t do it!” I laugh. “It was just the cable. We’re starting to descend. You’re fine, you psycho.”

“Say you swear!”

“I swear, ya nutcase,” I smirk. “Open your eyes and see for yourself.”

“Okay,” she says, slowly opening her eyes once more and glancing over at me. “I might have overreacted.”

“Ya think?” I tease, relaxing in the seat as I watch us begin to lower, her breath becoming erratic once more. “Evie, it’s gonna be fine,” I promise, absentmindedly reaching for the hand she’s currently clenching the bench with. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, okay?”

“You swear?” she asks, her eyes shifting to mine as she grips my hand hard.

“Yep. I swear.”

“Okay,” she nods crazy, noticeably holding her breath.

“Just breathe deep, alright?”

“Okay.”

I watch her chest expand beneath the thick jacket she’s wearing, returning to normal as she blows the breath out.

“Better?” I ask, watching her nod. “You trust me?”

“No,” she shakes her head, glancing over at me with an apologetic shrug. “No, not really.”

Her words surprise me, making me laugh louder than I expect.

“Fair enough,” I shrug. “I’ll help you anyway.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” I smirk. “It’s almost time to go. Get ready. I’ll count to three and you’ll just step off, okay?”

“Alright… Oh, my God, I can’t believe I’m about to die and you’re the last person I had sex with,” she pants anxiously. “This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“Then you’ve led a very charmed life,” I reply dryly as I roll my eyes, pulling a nervous chuckle from her lips.

“You ready?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“One…”

“Oh, my God…”

“Would you chill the fuck out?” I ask. “Two…”

“I changed my mind! I don’t want to do it!”

“Too late now.”

“Dash, no! Please don’t!”

“God, I’ve been waiting a decade to do this…” I beam, my snicker turning into a deep laugh when I see her eyes widening. “Three!”

evie

That motherfucker pushed me!

“I hate you!” I call out as I feel my skis hit the powder, my instincts the only thing saving me from pummeling into someone else.

Thankfully, I’d been skiing enough that I knew what I was doing, but this was the first time I’d been in a couple of years and I’d never been on a trail that wasn’t for beginners.

Was it stupid for me to try and look tough in front of Dash so I wouldn’t seem like such a novice? Absolutely, but it’s hard to care as my anger begins to dissipate and for the first time in years, the nervous emotion that usually consumes my chest begins to move to one of freedom.

I sail down the slope, the wind whipping past me and making me so giddy, I can’t stop the roar of pure joy and release moving from my chest.

For the first time in years, I’m not worried about any of the trivial shit that typically holds me back. I don’t feel pressure. I don’t feel stress. Deadlines and expectations dissipate into nothing and in this moment, I feel nothing but delicious abandon.

For the first time ever, I’m just flying, completely free.

dash

As I watch her sail down the trail, I can’t help but smile as her vulgarity gives way to adrenaline and excitement. Above everything around us, the sound of her laughter echoes off the pass, making something inside my chest clench just slightly.

To everyone else on this trail, she probably just looks like a maniac in a pink suit screeching her way down the side of a mountain.

To me, though, I can see her beginning to let go of all the shit that makes her act like a psychopath. She releases it completely and it’s incredible to watch.

She finishes just before me, turning to face me as I come to a stop in front of her, her breath leaving her in pants as she grips the poles in her hands.

She stares behind me saying nothing for long enough that I reach over and lift her goggles, searching her eyes.

“Are you oka…?”

“Dash,” she cuts me off, her eyes glassy as she faces me. “That was incredible!”

Her expression is one of pure happiness, pure joy I’ve never seen on anyone, let alone Evie. She’s a hundred things all at once, but somehow, still more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen her before.

She’s beautiful.

“Come on!” she interrupts my dangerous thoughts, gripping my arm and pulling me behind her as I release a breathy chuckle.

“Where are we going?”

“We’re doing it again!”