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“To our best friends!” Zoey shouts, holding up her glass.
“To Nick finally getting his girl back,” Alex adds, a huge grin on his face as he salutes me with his drink.
I flip him off, just as Max adds, “Fuck yes, it’s about time.”
Beside me, Lis laughs, and I drop my mouth to her ear as I whisper, “Never getting rid of me, remember?”
She turns in my arms, a huge smile on her face as she looks up at me. “Good, because I don’t ever want to,” she says, before pressing up on her toes to place a soft kiss on my lips. “I love you.”
I smile against her mouth. “I love you, Lis, so fucking much,” I whisper. “And just so you know, we’re outta here, the second the clock hits midnight,” I add, as Lis’ laugh is muffled by another kiss.
14
ELISSA
We spent almost exactly till midnight with our friends, laughing and enjoying the night, but as soon as that clock struck, Nick weaved his hand in mine, and we were out the door. It sucks that we’re about to end these last few months of being together every day. I’m not sure how we’re going to do it, but we don’t really have a choice.
I’m lying here in bed, the morning sun just beginning to rise, and as much as I want to stay in bed, Badger Creek calls. It’s going to be busy today with all the tourists ready to start their new year on the slopes.
Nick leaves tonight, his flight taking off at eight p.m., the latest flight he could get to Park City from Tahoe. I took the day off today, but I can’t stay away from Badger Creek unfortunately. I plan to go in early, get everything ready to go and then try to get out of there before the chaos ensues. That probably won’t happen.
My ultrasound is scheduled for today at nine. We were lucky that we were able to get it in before Nick leaves and on New Year’s Day.
“You’re really going in this early?” Nick mutters from under the pile of blankets and pillows he’s currently cocooned in.
“Yes, it’s called a job, and they’re counting on me. You know what it’s like over the holiday season,” I tell him, snuggling into the pile of bedding.
“I know,” Nick replies, groggy and muttered. “Just like the team is counting on me to come back.”
“And just like we’re counting on the lawyer to get you out of your contract,” I add, sending up a silent plea for all of that to work out and bring Nick back here quickly.
I try not to let my mind wander, worrying about if Nick reinjures his knee before that can happen or if he has to stay and he can’t get out of his contract. I’ve tried to think of all the ways we can make this work, and nothing seems like a good idea. I want to raise the baby here with all our friends and my mom. I don’t want to travel the world with the US team, following Nick from stop to stop with a baby in tow.
“That’s the biggest thing I’m counting on,” Nick replies. “I need that like I need fucking air.” I can hear the nervousness mixed with anger in his tone, and I understand. All of this has been a lot for him, not to mention that we’re now having a baby.
What’s crazier is to think how quickly our lives have changed. Making the US ski team and training for the Olympics were Nick’s biggest goals in life, and now he’s trying his damnedest to get out of his contract.
“Me too,” I whisper, not wanting him to feel any more stress and guilt than he already feels. “We will get through this.” I want to be encouraging. I want him to make the decision that is right for him, not just make it because it’s the right thing to do.
I still go back to what my mom said the day I told her I was pregnant. She said that people live like this all the time. People travel for work. Parents raise kids on their own. No one would think anything about it if Nick decided to stay with the team, leaving me here to raise our baby. It’s just the nature of his job.
But I know that isn’t what he wants and it’s not what I want either. I want us to be a family, the kind that lives together and has dinner together every night, the kind of family I never had growing up.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” I say, changing the subject, not wanting to talk about the contract or him leaving or the baby for too long, afraid I might start to cry.
“An hour?” he laughs, questioning me. “I feel like that can’t possibly be true.”
“Stop it. I will be back in an hour. I’m not even supposed to be working today. I took the day off to go to the ultrasound and then spend the rest of the day with you.” I let out a mock annoyed huff, dragging myself from the warmth of the bed.
“What time does the mountain open today?” Nick now asks, and I can’t help but wonder if he’s thinking of hitting the slopes before he leaves.
“Not until nine,” I say, pulling on a pair of leggings, not bothering to shower. I’ll get a quick one in before the ultrasound. “Holiday hours,” I add, although we don’t open all that earlier on a regular day.
“Have to say, Lis, your hours are pretty damn good. The mountain usually opens at eight and closes at five, unless there’s night skiing,” Nick says, propping himself up on his elbow as he watches me get dressed.
“Yeah, I know, and with the daycare on site, it should be pretty easy to get back to work after the baby is born,” I reply, thinking about how I’m going to need to get back to work, especially if Nick ends up having to pay back the money he was given from the team.
“I think it would be good for you to be home as long as you can,” Nick says. “Be home with the baby. Maybe at least twelve weeks, that’s what most companies offer.”
