Page 28 of Head Over Skis

‘Okay, tomorrow it is then,’ he says, nodding as a small smile flits across his face.

‘Tomorrow,’ I say, trying to calm the way my heart flutters as I realise how excited I am.

Someone walks out of the après bar and a wave of laughter rolls out of the doorway and reminds me of my friends who I’ve left inside.

For a moment I’d forgotten that we weren’t back on a street corner in Clapham. That it isn’t only the two of us. I think Rory might’ve felt the same as he groans, ‘I really need to get back, I’m doing a round later and Tori’s probably freaking out about where I’ve disappeared to.’

‘Oh god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you,’ I say, gesturing back towards the bar. ‘You should definitely go, I’ll…’ I look down at my feet where they stay planted on the pavement, unwilling to move at the thought of going back in.

I don’t want the others to worry about me, but I equally don’t want to face what could be waiting for me inside. Especially if I go in wearing this jacket.

‘I’ll stay here for a while.’

Somehow, when Rory takes in my appearance, he puts the pieces together as to why I fled, and why I’m not yet ready to face going back in.

‘So, that was the ex, huh?’

I shrug. ‘Don’t make him sound famous, it’ll go straight to his head.’

He scoffs, pausing to consider something before he starts to take slow steps backwards.

‘Wait here,’ he says, watching me until he reaches the entrance and disappears inside. I do as he says, left out here alone as the snow continues to fall. I get lost in the rhythm of it, feeling peaceful now it’s not soaking me. Then Rory’s head pops out from the side of the door.

‘Coast is clear,’ he calls out, before reaching one hand in my direction. ‘Not a twat-head in sight, if I’m remembering your description of him correctly.’

I don’t move for a second, shocked that he remembers me saying that when I barely do. I worry about where Adam might’ve gone to, picturing him getting lost walking around alone in the snow, but I know Lucas will have had the same worries and wouldn’t have let him go if he hadn’t promised to keep his phone on. Besides, I think the space will be good for everyone, and he always does like to walk when he’s working through something.

Before I know it, I find myself moving back towards the building, only stopping when I reach the doorway where Rory’s body partially blocks my entry. I tilt my head up at him.

‘I can’t believe you remember that, and now I’m worried about what else I could’ve said that your weirdly good memory has tucked away somewhere in there.’ I press the tip of my finger against his forehead and he leans into it. He nods his head towards the clamour inside.

‘Why don’t you come back in for the quiz and you might find out?’

With those final words, he disappears into the crowd, leaving me mulling over that mysterious statement. But any feelings of dread are far overshadowed by the giddiness in the bottom of my stomach. I walk back towards where my friends remain seated, Adam’s stool noticeably unoccupied. At least it means I don’t have to worry about the jacket, which Tilly’s beady eyes take in as soon as I sit down, and I wonder what Rory’s last words could mean.

It doesn’t take long for me to find out though, when the next quiz round – his round – is announced.

Lo and behold, it’s none other than musicals.

11

‘He did NOT!’ Tilly gasps, gloved hands slapping her cheeks as her legs bounce up and down.

‘Whoa, calm down, I don’t want you falling off this chairlift and leaving me forced to attempt some elaborate rescue mission,’ I say, reaching out to restrain her.

I decided to wait until this morning to explain to her how our pub quiz win may have been slightly unfair as she’d been way too drunk at the time to understand or remember it. That, joint with the fact the reason related to Rory and I didn’t want to bring him up with everyone else around.

Even without Adam there, the knowledge that my ski instructor and the guy I slept with before the holiday are in fact the same person is still being kept tightly under wraps. Same face, same body, same scent, which I’ve been wrapped in since he gave me his jacket last night. I slept in it. Yeah, I know I have a problem and yes, I will be leaving that particular detail out when I chat to Tilly.

‘Stop being such a mum right now, and don’t tell me to calm down after you told me lover boy rigged the quiz for you!’

‘He did not rig it. And stop with that inappropriate nickname, he’s your ski instructor.’

‘I think that’s a fact I should be reminding you about, not the other way around, but that would be extremely boring of me and I’m all for this strange but sexy teacher-student fantasy you’re living out.’

I almost wish I hadn’t brought this up at all, but I had to because I need to get her opinion on what it could mean, if anything. Once I’d gone back into the bar and artfully avoided answering questions about my newly acquired item of clothing, I watched as Rory took the mic from his colleague and announced the next round.

‘Is everyone having a good time out there?’