AVALANCHE

Chapter 2

I pulled into the apartment parking garage and rode the musty elevator up to the fourteenth floor. Shoving open the apartment door, I was barely able to keep ahold of my books and they ended up slamming down on the teal entry table before I could close the door behind me.

I could hear the TV on low in the living room, and I sighed. Dan was home. I abandoned my books, hung my coat on the hook, and headed into the living area to find out what my newest roommate was up to.

The apartment was like a fresh breath in a gray city. Not that Brinklynn City was ugly, but it was industrial, and our area wasn't exactly brightly colored. Ava, on the other hand, had a keen eye for decoration and I'd given her free rein in our apartment. The walls were all different shades of purples, and the furniture was bold and bright. I loved everything she'd done.

Dan lay sprawled across our pink couch, his bluish hazel eyes glued to the TV and dull. His curly auburn hair was a mess around his head. His lightly freckled skin was paler than normal, and his strong jaw and cleft chin were covered in a layer of scruff. Had he even gone to work? He was shirtless, displaying all of his super cut, heavily muscled glory, until his skin disappeared under worn gray sweatpants. Thank god. Dan was usually an appealing blend of classic jockish handsome and boyish charm, but at the moment, he just looked like a mess.

"Hey, Dan."

His eyes drifted my way. "Hi, Ryann."

"How's it going?" I shoved his feet out of the way and sat in their spot, trying not to breathe too deeply through my nose.

He shrugged and returned his gaze to the television.

Dan was crashing on our couch after a nasty breakup with his girlfriend, Tracy. Needless to say, it wasn't going well.

"I have a surprise for you."

He frowned at me. "I'm not really in the mood for surprises."

I nodded. "I know, but you need this one."

"I swear to god, if you bought me soap again, I'll kill you."

"I should have, but no. This is a surprise you'll like and really need." I couldn't restrain my smile.

"I'm fine. I don't need anything."

I laughed. "Danny, you're a complete mess. I get it, I do, but you have to snap out of this."

Dan glared at me. "How could you get it? You don't date, Ryann. You don't talk to guys long enough to even consider dating."

"They're boring." I shrugged.

"They wouldn't be if you gave them more than five minutes."

I shrugged again, unapologetic. I couldn't help it if no one interested me. If relationships didn't interest me. "Did you go to work today?"

"My one client canceled." Dan's tone was soaked in bitterness.

I frowned. Dan used to be the up-and-coming personal trainer in the city. He was the reason Ava and I were in decent shape. But ever since Tracy dumped him to go off and date some BMX biker, he'd been a complete wreck.

"What would you think about getting out of the city for a while?"

Dan's brows lowered. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I won a giveaway. It's a trip for three to The Ski Lodge for a week."

"What ski lodge?" Dan frowned at me and sat up a little straighter.

"No, that's the name. The Ski Lodge. It's that super ritzy lodge that opened up around a year ago that everyone wants to go to but can't get a room because it's smaller."

"And you have it in your head that I'll be a good travel companion?"

I shrugged. "What else am I going to do? I obviously can't leave you here or the place will reek of ramen and BO when we get back."

"Shut the f**k up." Dan scoffed and looked away before glancing back to stare at me. "When's it leave?"

"A week from Saturday. I have to check my e-mail to figure out more."

"They got a bar?"

I smiled. "I'm sure they do."

Dan squinted at me. "You hate the snow."

I shrugged again. "A change of scenery could be nice."

We fell into silence, and Dan pointedly looked back at the TV.

I smiled. "So...?"

Dan sighed and looked back at me, his eyes a little clearer. "What do you want from me, Ryann? Can't I just wallow in peace?"

"Nope." I leaned back on the couch. "Your wallowing is ruining your life. You need to get the hell out of this apartment and do something that has no memory of Tracy."

Dan stared at me hard, but I held his gaze. Finally, he sighed and looked away. "You're a good friend." Did he have to say it with such a defeated tone?

"Does that mean you'll go?"

"You won't let me say no, and I don't even want to deal with Ava trying to convince me. Yeah, I'll go. Let me know all the details later. Now go away so I can nap."

"You need a shower."

Dan groaned and climbed to his feet. Towering over me in all his 6' gory, even with his drooping shoulders. "Fine, you b***h," he muttered under his breath, heading toward the bathroom. He slammed the door behind him.

I grinned and shoved up off the couch before heading down the hall. I passed the bathroom and Ava's room before hitting mine at the end.

My room was not at all like the rest of the apartment. I hadn't painted the walls, so they were still white and bland and my furniture did nothing to make the space appealing. But it worked. It was functional, and it was a decent size, so who cared what it looked like. Right? No, it was ugly.

My stomach was fluttery, and it took me a minute to realize I was excited about this trip. I rarely did spontaneous things or took adventures. I'd been devoted to school for so long, I didn't really know what to do if it didn't include studying. This would be good for me. And lord knew Dan needed it. And the two of us required Ava for guidance. She was the fun one in the group.

I fell onto my bed and yanked off my shoes. Yes, this adventure was exactly what we needed.