Pulse: Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 6) (5 page)

A
round three in the afternoon
, I start checking my phone to make sure I didn’t miss a text from Nick. He should find out if he made dev team at any minute. My skis rattle as I drop them in the locker room rack, and I clomp over to my aisle. I gaze over at Stacy’s locker and hope for a moment she doesn’t make the team.

The familiar vibration of a text rumbles against my chest, and I pull my phone out of my fleece pocket to find it’s from Nick.
Made it! Stacy too.

My fingers tap out a reply.
Awesome!!! Hurry home, and we’ll celebrate.

My stomach clenches thinking about him with Stacy when he texts back.
Should be home by five.

Want me to get people together?

Sure, cards at our house would be good.

My introverted guy would rather do something at home than go out to a bar, and I’m happy to oblige.
Perfect, I’m on it. See you soon! Love you.

I watch for a few seconds, hoping he’ll reply he loves me too, but the dancing gray dots that would indicate he’s typing don’t appear, and I think he’s done with our conversation. Our love is dying a slow, painful death, and my tears are dangerously close to falling as I send out a group text to our friends to come over for cards.

My boot buckles snap open, and I tug my foot out as Casey comes racing down my aisle. She says, “Oh my God! He did it.”

“He did.” I have a huge grin on my face too.

Jason pokes his head around the corner. “Tell your boy we’re so proud of him, but I’m still kicking his ass at cards tonight.”

I grin at him as the soft cotton of my jeans slithers up my legs.

It takes me longer to leave the locker room than usual, because I’m stopped by people who have heard Nick’s news. While I’m excited for my boyfriend, I can’t help but think it could have been both of us people are congratulating. A puddle splashes up from my boot as I walk across the parking lot. The warm spring temperatures are melting the snow, and it’s racing off the mountain in tiny streams, as if it can’t leave fast enough.

When I get to my car, I pull out my phone to review the confirmations from our friends who are up for a night of fun. Our apartment is tiny, and I jump at Dannika’s invitation to do it at her house. It means I can take Nick home when he’s tired instead of him having a house full of people at the time he’d rather be in bed.

It occurs to me that it’s also the perfect opportunity for me to share my secret in a safe place where my good friends hear it from me first. I should dig out the huge bag of makeup my mother has sent me over the years and let them take what they want.

By the time Nick gets home, I’ve showered and am in the kitchen making pasta for dinner. I step out to greet him as he walks in. “Congratulations. I’m so proud of you.”

The door snicks softly behind him as he closes it. “Thanks.” Nick lifts me off my feet as he hugs me, and I squeal. “Wow. You must be happy.”

“You could say that.” He sets me down and gives me a quick kiss. “Do I have time to clean up before we eat?”

“Sure. We’re not going over to Dannika’s until seven if you want to rest for a bit.”

“That depends.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Would you want to join me for that nap?”

I wink as I back my way into the kitchen to check on dinner. “I could be convinced.”

I’m not sure what happened to the tension between us that existed before he left for Vail, but I’m not going to question it.

After dinner and our version of a nap, we head over to Dannika and Christian’s house. They live in a new development, and the house is big and extravagant. Not only did Dannika inherit family money, but she used to be a famous model. Nick and I pull into the driveway to find that Casey and Jason have already arrived. Lori and Kaleb were both working and couldn’t make it. The cosmetics in the duffel bag clatter as Nick pulls it out of the backseat and hoists it onto his shoulder.

I say, “We can leave that in the car until later. I don’t want to upstage you.”

Nick raises his eyebrows at me as if I’m being stupid. I say, “Oh, right. You prefer it that way.”

“And I think you’re afraid of what people are going to think.”

“I am.”

“These are your friends. They love you and aren’t going to care.” He waves his free arm at the house before us. “Besides.”

I smile, because Dannika and Christian’s house is quite impressive. “You’re right.”

When we get inside, Nick thumps the bag on the counter as we’re greeted with congratulations from everyone. Once our coats are off, Christian hands Nick a beer and me a glass of wine. I take a sip, and tart flavor fills my mouth as he asks, “What’s in the bag?”

Nick turns to me, and I take a deep breath. “Freebies for the girls.”

Dannika reaches for the zipper, and Casey moves next to her to peer inside. “Whoa,” says Dannika. “This is the motherlode of Bellae.”

Casey pulls out a tube of mascara. “This stuff is really expensive. There must be hundreds of dollars in this bag.”

Dannika says, “This is awesome. Bellae’s my favorite brand.”

The guys have no interest in cosmetics and wander into the living room. Nick slaps Jason on the shoulder. “You only have a few single days left, my man.”

I turn my attention away from them to say to Dannika, “Well good, because there’s lots more where that came from, and if you put your post office boxes in my contacts, I’ll get you on the new products list.”

Casey asks, “Whoa, how did you find such a sweet deal?”

“Well.” I shrug. “It’s my family company.”

Dannika’s eyes get wide, and I say, “Yeah.” My stomach churns, and I mask the urge to vomit. “And unfortunately, I have to move back to take over on April eighteenth.”

“But that’s your birthday,” says Casey.

Christian has caught wind of what we’re saying and asks, “Inheritance?”

I nod. Casey grabs my hands and whispers, “No. You’re leaving?”

Nick comes to my side and puts an arm around my shoulder. “She is. And I couldn’t be more proud of her. She’ll take Bellae to new places. Just you watch and see.”

I slip my arm around his waist and squeeze him for his bravery. Jason says, “If you approach it like you do teaching, we’ll see great things.”

“Thanks.”

Christian says, “The long distance thing can be tough, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to work it out.”

I want to tell him what’s really going to happen, but Nick speaks up instead. “Actually, once she goes, we’re going to call it quits. Neither one of us will have free time to travel, and it’s better this way.”

His voice is so confident that my stomach flips with nausea.
He’s really accepted our fate.
He’s come to terms with our situation and is making the best of our last few days together. The way I should.

“Yeah, so. Dannika.” I walk over to the bag, and plastic is slick on my fingers as I rummage through. I swallow the lump in my throat to keep from crying. “Help me find things that would be good for Lori.”

She takes over sorting through the containers and giving Casey advice about different products as I pretend to care. I watch Nick out of the corner of my eye instead. He’s launched into an exam story, and my friends all give us the space to deal with our situation. As if it’s no big deal. But my heart says otherwise as I watch the man I love from across the room.

C
asey and Jason
are one of the most outdoorsy couples I know. It’s no surprise that they chose to get married in the mid-station base lodge. Ski resort weddings have become trendy for this area, and the mountain has no trouble accommodating the event.

Wind whips the purple silk of my dress around my legs and cowboy boots as I take Nick’s hand. His grip is strong, and I steady myself with it when I climb the steps of the snowcat. The trail-grooming machine turned transportation vehicle is equipped with bench seats like a school bus, and the rotating belt on its wheels will get us up and down the steep mountain safely. Voices are loud as the wedding party and families talk in excitement. Casey, Gretchen, and Dannika went up earlier, but Jason is in the cab with us. He’s teasing Casey’s cousin about the dangerous ride ahead, and she squeals when the snowcat begins to move.

Nick grabs my hand, and I gaze at him. I can’t read the expression on his face, and I wonder if he’s put a shield on his heart. I say, “Jason looks so handsome.”

“And happy. He and Casey give me hope.”

I’m about to ask what he means when Kaleb turns around to talk to us. “Did you plan your toast?”

Lori has turned around too, and she says, “I hate speaking in public. My face is going to turn bright red.”

The three of them discuss what they’re going to say as I turn to look out the window and let my mind wander. We move past small chutes through the trees I’ve skied with Nick so many times I’ve lost count. It hits me that I’m never going to do that again, because after tomorrow I’ll be gone. My heart stops at the realization. In less than forty-eight hours, Nick will no longer be in my life.

I turn back, and Nick puts an arm around my shoulders. He kisses the tip of my nose. It’s a loving gesture he’s done since the very beginning of our relationship, and I blink quickly, fighting the tears. I want to cling to his shirt and beg him to run away with me.

Lori catches my eye, and she offers a sympathetic smile. I sit up straight and remember the secret the wedding party shares. The bride and groom plan to change into ski boots and ski down in their wedding attire. While it might be a bit chilly, the spring temperatures are warm enough that one run will be fine. I whisper, “Don’t you wish we could ski down with Casey and Jason too?”

Lori says, “That would be awesome. I can’t wait to see people’s faces when they do.”

I glance over at Jason and catch his eye. He winks at me, and I grin back. I recall when he first came to Breckenridge, and how he impressed Nick with his skiing even though he was a rookie ski instructor. I also remember the rocky road he and Casey had getting to where they are now.

She came here to find a man who wanted a family, and left Jason behind. But he followed her, and his heart. That took courage. He didn’t know that Casey would let him back into her life. I reach over and take Nick’s hand. It’s warm, and he squeezes my fingers. I wonder if he’s considered showing up on my doorstep on Long Island one day.

The snowcat groans to a stop. My feet clang on the metal steps when I get out, and I let Nick’s strength guide me to the snow safely. It’s soft from the warm sun baking on it all morning, so my feet sink. Nick scoops me up in his arms, and I gasp. “I can walk.”

He shakes his head and gazes down at me. Moisture glistens in his eyes.
Is he about to cry? “
Just let me do this.”

Kaleb lifts Lori up too and says loudly, “Got to keep the bridesmaids pretty.”

Chuckles come from the group as we make our way into the lodge. Nick lets me down slowly and holds on to me for a moment before he lets go. I scan the area. The transformation from a functional space for skiers and snowboarders to warm up and eat is amazing. Tiny lights twinkle along the ceiling and posts, and the tables are covered with white linens. Candles and flowers make them appear elegant, and the faint scent of roses is in the air.

Dannika rushes over to Lori and me and escorts us to the room where Casey is waiting until the ceremony starts. Casey’s eyes are wide with nervousness when we enter, and she asks, “What do you think?”

Her red curls are in an updo with spiraled tendrils hanging down. The wedding dress fits like a glove, and the lines create the hourglass figure she craves. Dannika did her makeup, and it complements her pale complexion perfectly. “You’re stunning.”

Casey moves her hands down the bodice of her dress to smooth it out. “I’m nervous.”

Dannika says, “Oh, we’ve got the cure for that.” She pulls a bucket of ice from under a table, and it contains expensive champagne that Dannika favors. The cork pops loudly, and the four of us let out small screams as it flies out of Dannika’s hand and bounces off the ceiling.

Gretchen says, “That’s appropriate.” She takes the glass Dannika hands her and waits for us all to have one before she lifts it up. “To a life full of wonderful surprises.”

Our glasses clink, and I sip the decadent drink. The flavor is light on my tongue, and the bubbles match my growing excitement for my friend.

I say, “I’m never going to look at this lodge the same way. This is such a fun place for a wedding.” Of course it may be years before I get to see this building again, and the thought is sobering.

Kaleb pokes his head in. “The last snowcat just arrived.” He notices our drinks. “Hey, is that champagne?”

Lori walks over to him and gives him a taste. After he swallows, he says, “Oh, that’s good. That would have been better than the scotch Christian brought. Five minutes, girls.”

Dannika says, “That’s what I said. We’ll be ready.”

I walk over and take Casey’s hands to find they’re ice cold. “This is the day you’ve wanted for a long time. I’m so happy for you.”

Casey nods. “I know. I can’t believe it’s really happening.”

Gretchen touches her arm. “Believe it. You and Jason belong together.”

Casey’s dad appears in the doorway. “It’s time.”

The bridesmaids grab their bouquets of lavender roses and walk out the door first. I take the arm Nick offers me. The music starts, and the wedding party proceeds down the aisle created by the layout of tables. When we get to the small stage set up for Casey and Jason, Nick takes my hand and kisses it before letting me go so I can stand on my side. He mouths, “I love you.”

I return the same words. It doesn’t escape me that this is the closest I’ll ever get to walking down the aisle with Nick, and I tuck the memory away for later as I turn to watch Casey come toward us.

Her smile is radiant, but it’s the look on Jason’s face that just about does me in. When he sees her, his mouth opens, and he gasps. Low laughter comes from the crowd as more than one woman finds tears streaming down their face. Me included.

Dannika hands me a tissue, and I notice her pass them around while she whispers, “Dab. We don’t want smears.”

The ceremony is quick, and Jason hams it up for the crowd when he dips Casey for their kiss. The party begins, and while Nick stands in line to get us drinks, I wander over to the large windows that offer a view of the bowl. The bowl is a section of the mountain that is concave and offers a vast expanse of trail to ski. The snow is no longer deep, and rocks are peeking through the white like chocolate chips in ice cream.

“This time of year used to make me sad.” Gretchen has come to stand next to me, and she continues. “We spend the whole season praying for snow, and then it disappears so quickly.”

Gretchen was an Olympic hopeful for snowboarding before a terrible accident left her unable to compete. She and her fiancé, Dannika’s brother, moved back east to go to graduate school last year, which has to be a huge adjustment after seasons of skiing almost every day possible. I ask, “Do you miss it?”

“Sometimes. But Derrick and I did get out almost every weekend this winter.” She turns to me, and I take in her appearance. She used to bleach her hair white blond, but it’s now light brown with golden highlights. It softens her appearance. She says, “There’s a great big world out there beyond ski resorts. You’d be surprised how happy you can be without wearing a helmet.”

I smile at her joke and ask, “Did you hear I’m leaving?”

“I did. Why didn’t you ask Nick to go with you?”

Not one person I’ve told has asked me that, and her bluntness makes me share the truth. “Because I can’t ask him to leave all of this for me.”

“Don’t you think that should be his decision?”

I frown at her. “No. Why would I push for something that won’t make him happy?”

Her mouth opens a little, and she lets out a small huff as if I said something stupid. “Because as awesome as this place is, if you’re not with the one you’ll always love, nothing else seems to matter.” She nods her head at Nick. He approaches us with two beers in his hand.

I reach for the bottle he offers, and it’s cold in my hand when I grab it. I look into Nick’s eyes. No. I study the dark-brown color with flecks of gold that hint at the treasure before me. His brow knits before he cuts his gaze to Gretchen. She scans his body and licks her lips. “You’d look good in a suit.”

She wiggles her fingers at us and strolls off. Nick asks, “What did I miss?”

“Nothing. Yet.”