Everyone has the same idea we did about enjoying the fresh snow. I promised Stella I would ski with her, so I dutifully strap on my gear, and we head for the bunny hill.
She peppers me with questions about last night, but it’s all I can do to stay upright, and talking about kissing Teddy is a major distraction.
“Stell, can we talk about this later?”
She sighs, loudly. “Fine. You’re doing that all wrong. You have to make the wedge, like a pizza, remember?”
“I’m trying.”
“Here.” She moves in front of me to help guide me in position.
Thirty minutes and several trips down the hill later, I’m finally ready to get on the lift.
“I need to pee first,” Stella says.
“Now?” I laugh.
“I had like a gallon of coffee on the trip back.” We move over to the food hut next to the skating rink. There are bathrooms inside, so you don’t have to trek all the way back inside the resort in times like these. She takes off her skis and then hands me her poles. “Be right back.”
While I wait, I watch families skating together. Dads holding on to their little ones and pulling them along; kids with skating aids marching around with huge grins on their faces.
There is holiday music playing over the outdoor speakers and the air has a festive feel with all the happy laughter and smiles of pure joy. All of it makes me miss my parents. I hope they’re having fun and I can’t wait to see them and cram all the holiday traditions we can into the rest of the school break.
“Yo, Holly!”
I turn at my name to find Felix, Lucas, and Emmett skiing over to me. Teddy is behind them. His cheeks are red, and one side of his pants is covered in snow.
“Been out yet?” my brother asks.
“No. We were just about to go.” I tip my head to the hut. “Stella had to use the bathroom. What are you guys doing back so soon?”
“Snack break,” Felix says.
“And Teddy needs to warm up.” Emmett snickers.
I fight a smile. “I want to laugh, but I have a feeling I’m going to be in the same position as soon as I get up there.”
The rest of the guys take off their gear and head inside, but Teddy lingers. He has a blue hat that matches his coat pulled low over his ears, but the ends of his hair curl around the back.
“I’m pretty sure I broke my tailbone.” He winces as he rubs the side of his butt.
“That’s not where your tailbone is.”
He glances over to where Felix and Emmett disappeared before kissing me. We didn’t have time this morning to talk about what last night meant or if we’re going to keep doing it.
“Stella knows about us,” I tell him when he pulls back. “Not everything, but she’s always known how I felt.”
He nods. “I figured.”
“What about Felix?”
“I’ll tell him,” he says, “I haven’t had time today, but I will tell him. I owe him that.”
“We should do it together. I don’t want you to feel like you have to ask permission. This is between us.”
Except I don’t really know whatthisis, but he kisses me again, so I guess it involves kissing, and I’m good with that.
We ski all day, then go back to the cabin long enough to shower and change. Lucas had to leave to get home for the holidays, but the rest of us head back to the resort for a night out. We get a big corner booth in the restaurant. Stella is on one side of me, Teddy the other.