AVALANCHE

Chapter 7

We walked along the buildings at the base of the mountain: shops and boutiques, small places to purchase anything you could need, a lovely little cafe, a coffee shop, several ski shops. All of them were in that redwood cabin style, but each had its own colorful sign and flair that made them stand out. A skinny salted road designed just for pedestrians cut through the shops and made things easier despite the snow. The air smelled like cold, but there was a hint of fresh bread and something sweet in the air that made my tummy rumble. People streamed past us in groups of twos and threes, all looking happy as they chatted. It was adorable, but at the same time, all the shops looked high-end. I wouldn't be buying anything any time soon, that was for sure.

"What are you thinking about doing when you graduate, Ryann? I realized the other day that I had no idea if you'd decided on anything," Ava prompted.

Not even close.

I shrugged and focused really hard on my feet. "I haven't decided yet. I've still got time."

Ava laughed. "No more school, I hope."

I loosed a breathy chuckle. "No, I can't afford anymore. I have to get a job after this."

"About time," Dan said, his eyes drifting up the snow-covered mountain.

He wasn't wrong. I should have gone out and gotten a job three degrees ago, but I was stuck. Frozen by my inability to make a life-altering decision. I couldn't say what I was afraid of exactly, but I was downright terrified. For months I'd wished and hoped for the courage to make a decision, but nothing had come of it.

I cleared my throat. "What about you? How was your night last night, Dan?"

He grimaced, and his shoulders fell. "I couldn't stop feeling like I was betraying Tracy."

"Oh, Danny." Ava sighed.

He shook his head and started counting on his fingers. "Tracy didn't love me. Tracy started cheating. Tracy broke up with me. Tracy moved that extreme sports douche into our apartment." He dropped his hand. "I know all this is on her, but it doesn't change the fact that even looking at another person feels like a betrayal."

"It'll get better with time." Ava rubbed his shoulder.

"But maybe don't try to force it," I added.

Dan nodded. "I know you're both right, but I'm just so tired of feeling like this."

"I know, honey," Ava said, giving him a soft, sad smile.

"Hey, aren't those your boyfriends?" Dan stared down the road.

We followed his eyes, and sure enough, there they were. Paulo and Chance. They were strolling between the shops just like us and were done up in their winter gear, though they looked nice and professional, unlike me. Chance was in dark grays and blacks, while Paulo had on black pants but a canary yellow coat. Chance looked just as handsome as he had last night. Not that I cared. He also looked just as stiff and standoffish. Though the way he walked wasn't stiff at all. There was a lithe grace to his movements that made me question why he wouldn't ski. He didn't look like a man who'd ever fallen in his life.

I froze, and Ava and Dan stopped beside me. My stomach filled with lead, and my fists clenched. I'd never had such a visceral reaction to a person before.

A girl walking past did a double-take at Chance, but Paulo stepped between them before she could get a good look and blocked her view. He did the whole thing with a practiced casualty that showed he'd done it a thousand times before. The two continued on unhindered.

Chance gave Paulo a slight nod and said something. Paulo laughed, and Chance's lips twitched.

I shook my head. I didn't want to see him. To be forced to talk to him. "Can we go a different way?"

"What on earth did he say to you?" Ava's voice was uncharacteristically sharp.

"Wait, did he give you problems last night? It looked like you two were getting along when I came over to the table," Dan said.

I shook my head again. "It was just a misunderstanding, but I don't want to rehash it. I don't like him, and that's all there is to it."

Dan and Ava groaned, knowing full well that when I decided someone wasn't likable, there was no getting past it.

Ava cast a long look at Paulo before sighing and facing me. "Okay, we can go around the shops and go in through our back door."

I nodded. "Thank you." I pulled a candy bar out of my pocket and started munching. I needed to keep up my strength if I was going to properly avoid that man.

We made it safely back to our room, and Dan headed out for the gym. Ava and I gave ourselves facials with the gift basket on the bathroom counter and watched a movie. Again we ordered in for dinner and had a nice relaxing time - just the three of us. Just the way it should be.