AVALANCHE

Chapter 3

"This is so beautiful," Ava gushed as we climbed out of the SUV.

Our driver placed our bags beside us. "Thank you," I said. The older man gave me a kind smile before climbing back behind the wheel and leaving us in front of the lodge.

And it was a beautiful lodge. We stood there, staring up at it while finely dressed people streamed past us, utterly unappreciative of its beauty.

It was made of rich red logs that were the biggest I'd ever seen. The windows were huge and shiny, glinting in the afternoon sunlight. Set a little behind the lodge and out to the sides were small shops built in the same style, but they were too far for me to get a good look at. The roof was dark green metal, and behind it, I could see the towering peak of Mount Rika.

The day was cheerful and sunny, but it was damn cold. Massive white cotton ball clouds took up much of the baby blue sky. It wasn't snowing, and I was thankful, but I didn't like the way my breaths poofed out in front of me.

"So I heard a rumor that besides just rich people, The Ski Lodge gets a lot of guests that are less savory," Ava said.

A cold breeze scraped across my skin and I shivered. I wasn't dressed for this kind of cold. I was still dressed for the city. "What's that mean?"

"Criminals," Ava whispered in her best spooky voice.

Dan chuckled. "I'm sure any criminals who spend time here aren't the kind you're thinking of."

"Like they steal from other rich people rather than mugging strangers in the street?" Ava asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, like that. Since none of us are hoarding stacks of gold bars, I'm sure we'll be safe."

The cold finally sank in enough to sting my exposed skin. "Cold," I said. I grabbed my bag and led the way inside The Ski Lodge, Ava and Dan hot on my heels.

We strode through the front doors to the humongous redwood desk, where an adorable little clerk waited. A few people were ahead of us, so I took in the room.

Bright light streamed through the two-story windows on each side of the lobby, and the scent of pine mingled with the wintery smell. The door we'd come through led to the parking lot and the other main door led to the mountainside. The plush carpet under our feet was a swirl of burgundy and gold, and it screamed wealth. The walls were the same redwood cabin style and golden couches sat off to the side around an enormous stone fireplace that added a hint of smoke to the scents of the lodge. There was an air of exclusivity to it all that made me feel itchy.

None of us came from poverty. Both Dan and Ava came from middle to upper-middle-class families. I did too, but life insurance had propelled me up a notch. Unfortunately, I'd spent almost my entire inheritance on my degree collection, so as soon as I got my Ph.D. I'd be broke. I cringed at the thought of actually getting a job. That meant making a decision, and that was not my strong suit.

Shaking my head, I straightened my back. I could totally hang out around rich people. No big deal. Surely some of them were in the same boat as us and had just saved up for this. Surely we weren't surrounded by rich snobs. I didn't think any of us would have the time I'd imagined if we were. Okay, maybe I was a little biased.

The clerk checked us in, and we got our keys. The burgundy and gold carpeting flowed throughout the building as well as the cabin-like walls.

When we reached our room, I had to force myself to breathe. It was beautiful. It wasn't anything special really, two queen beds, a dresser, and a mini-fridge, but at the same time, it was rustic chic in a way that screamed relaxed luxury. That pine scent radiated throughout the room, and it was a pleasant alternative to the usual hotel cleaner scents. The bedding was dark red and green but managed to not look too Christmasy. There was a door on the backside of the room that led right out to the ski slopes. I made a note to not confuse it with the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Ava clapped her hands. Dan and I flinched and spun to face her. "This place is amazing, and we're going out tonight."

"Huh?" Dan caught his reflection in the closet mirror and started flexing his biceps.

I grinned before looking back at Ava. "Where?"

Ava waved around the pamphlet she'd grabbed from the front. "The Ski Bar."

I laughed. "Did they put zero thought into the names of this place?"

Ava grinned back at me. "I like it. Straight to the point. Zero confusion."

I looked down at my scuffed boots and faded skinny jeans. "Is there a dress code?" Rich people loved dress codes. Everyone knew that.

"Whoa." Dan finally looked at us. "What dress code?"

I shrugged. "This place is really fancy."

Ava laughed. "No, Ryann, there's no dress code. Though I imagine you'd stand out if you wore your sweats."

I grinned at her. I didn't ever fully enjoy going out to bars, but I didn't hate them. I was indifferent to the whole experience, for my part, but I enjoyed watching Ava and Dan have a good time. Hanging out with them was enough for me. I wasn't picky, but books were more my thing than people. All that said, I never really saw the point of getting dressed up to get tanked.

From that point on, we were moving. I ordered us some room service, and we all got ready while we nibbled. We took our time, as it was never cool to get to the bar before the crowd. Or so I was told.