Chapter 15
Morning came way too fast. We woke when there was a knock on the door. Since we were completely naked, we scrambled to get up and find some clothes.
“Just a minute!” Javier yelled as we giggled and dressed. When we were finally decent, he opened the door. Whoever had knocked, must have gotten bored and walked away because there was nobody there.
Javier looked both ways outside of the door. He took my hand and before we left the room, he kissed me again. “Thank you for last night.”
“You never have to thank me, silly. I’m here with you because I want to be.”
He smiled, melting my heart, and kissed me tenderly before we walked to the kitchen where we found everyone else. Javier poured us coffee. It only took Veronica a matter of seconds to notice the ring.
“That sure is a pretty ring. I don’t remember you having it yesterday.” She took my hand to look at it.
“Javier gave it to me for Christmas.”
“When’s the diamond coming, Javier? We all know you love her. What’s taking you so long?”
“Don’t worry, Veronica. You’ll be the second to know.”
I couldn’t help but think they were more like brother and sister than cousins. Just then, I felt Ricardo take my hand. I looked down at him and he was on one knee. What the heck was he doing? He then slipped a twist tie, which he had knotted at the top to look like a ring, onto my finger and pushed it to the ring Javier had just given me.
“Will you marry us?” Ricardo asked. “If he won’t propose, we will as a family. Please marry us while he is being a chicken.”
Everyone laughed hysterically now, even Javier.
“Yes, I will,” I said.
Everyone burst out into a cheer and I looked at Javier, still laughing at what just transpired.
After breakfast, we showered and got ready to hit the slopes. It felt good to pull on my royal blue fleece and tight black ski pants. I was impressed to see Javier sporting a yellow Obermeyer ski-jacket and black snow pants. His taste was always impeccable and it carried over to his snow gear too. I wore my two new rings all day and I couldn’t remember a time I’d felt so happy.
As we approached the top of the first slope, I declared I’d indeed kick his backside down the slope.
“Game on, girlfriend.”
Before I knew what happened, he’d jumped out in front of me. We flew down the slope weaving in and out of each other’s paths. When we finally reached the bottom, I could hardly breathe.
“I have to tell you I am impressed.”
He laughed, watching me struggle to catch my breath. “You really didn’t think I could keep up with you, huh? I knew you were a snob.”
“Maybe I am, but I guess you’ll change that in me.”
We got back in line to take on the next run. Javier was an excellent skier and we had fun challenging each other down the slopes all day long.
When the day ended, we returned to the cabin and started getting ready for New Year’s Eve. We had tons of food and the tequila was already out. The night was a blur as we drank and ate and danced in the living room. At midnight we all rang in the New Year together.
The cabin erupted as we all yelled ‘Happy New Year’ to each other, hugging and kissing one another. Of course, my kiss to Javier took us right to our room. At that moment we didn’t care if everyone knew what we were doing or even if they heard us. We just needed each other, right here, right now.
~ ~ ~
The next morning, my head was killing me and my mouth was dry from my hangover.
Javier rolled over and kissed my forehead. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“How do you feel?”
“Like crap. How do you feel?”
“My head hurts. Do you want some water?”
“I’d love some.”
Javier climbed out of bed. He pulled on some shorts and a T-shirt. He went to the kitchen and grabbed two bottled waters and two sodas and came back into the bedroom.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you. It sounds quiet out there.”
“Nobody is up. I guess skiing is out for today.”
I laughed. “Fine by me.”
We snuggled in bed for what felt like forever, before deciding to get up and shower. Javier joined me and I delighted in letting him soap me up. It wasn’t long before we enjoyed each other’s company way too much in there. When we finally got out, we heard signs of life in the kitchen. We joined everyone else as we all nursed our hangovers.
“Good morning.” Javier said, as we walked into the kitchen holding hands.
The mumbling of our tired friends answered in unison half-heartedly.
“Dude, I feel like shit. Let’s stay in and watch movies.” Ricardo suggested.
“Sounds perfect. We aren’t feeling very good either.”
We all made our way to the living room and sprawled out with pillows and blankets settling in for a day of recovery
Today was the last day here. I couldn’t help but feel sad. Tomorrow it was back to reality and Monday was back to school. I’d have to hide my ring and go back to pretending Javier and I didn’t have a relationship.
Maybe, I’d blackmail my dad and tell him if he didn’t let me see Javier, I’d tell Mom what I saw in the mall. Somehow I didn’t think that’d work, but my evil thoughts helped me burn off some anger. I needed to stay strong until we graduated.
I turned my head and smiled at Javier as I sat between his legs on the floor. The smile must not have reached my eyes.
He read it right away. “What are you thinking about?”
“When’s the next time I get to see you?” I asked quietly enough so only he’d hear.
“Don’t worry about it. We always figure something out.” He kissed the top of my head. “We have a lifetime ahead of us. A couple of months is nothing in the big picture.”
“I know.” I wasn’t satisfied, but he was right.
~ ~ ~
The next day, we packed up early in order to get back at a decent hour. We made sure we’d cleaned up the cabin and locked all the doors and windows. Javier called his dad and told him we were getting on the road now. We got in the SUV and followed Ricardo and our friends in theirs.
Javier reached over, taking my hand in his. “Did you have a good time?”
I smiled back at him. “The best. I look forward to skiing being a regular occurrence since I’m marrying your family and all.”
“Nonsense. You’re marrying me.” He brought my hand to his mouth for a kiss.
“I don’t believe you proposed.”
“I promised you that I will.” He squeezed my hand. “When I do, I want to be sure that I’m secure and can provide for you.”
“Being married means we provide and take care of each other, Javier. You shouldn’t feel like that’s all on your shoulders.”
He grinned and kept watching the road. “That’s true, but I’m a Mexican man and we are macho.”
“I see.” I giggled. “And what are my responsibilities?”
“To have babies and clean the house of course.”
“Thank God, I’m not Mexican then.”
We both started laughing. I flipped on the radio as we drove and the snow started to fall. By the time we reached Salt River Canyon, the storm worsened. The roads were slick. We were quiet as Javier navigated slowly through the deepening snow.
The desolate canyon wound for miles down one side of the mountain and then back up the other side and the highway hadn’t been plowed for hours. We couldn’t see Ricardo and the other SUV. We weren’t sure if they were right in front of us, or way ahead of us. There wasn’t any phone service and no rest-stops, so we kept moving.
As we came around the next turn, an elk jumped in front of the SUV. Javier swerved. We began to spin as he fought to regain control of the vehicle. I grabbed the side of the door in order to hold myself in my seat as we spun out of control. The force was so strong that I could hardly hold myself up.
We began to fall. I felt us go forward. The SUV went end-over-end. I felt the plastic from the dash hit my face when the airbags deployed. My face stung. My nose hurt. My seat belt gave way, and I flew, ejected out the windshield.
My body slammed into the cold ground. I slid at a high rate of speed outside the vehicle. Pain shot through my body. I saw the vehicle upside down, wheels spinning in the air. I tried to yell for Javier but no sound escaped my lips. Agony overtook me. Everything went black.