Coach Laurel stood on a wooden bench, a faded baseball cap pulled low over her eyes, a whistle dangling from her lips.
A sharp whistle passed through her lips, cutting through the chaos inside the mudroom.
"Enough!" Her voice cut through the whispers about the drama on the slopes. "The vibes are off. We’re fixing them. Now."
She held up a worn black hat. "Teams of two. Draw a name. Your partner is your problem for the next two hours."
A collective groan rippled through the room. My heart hammered against my ribs. Please not him, please not him, please…
Jia drew first, pairing with a grinning Josh.
Emmett got paired with a shy freshman.
Then Coach’s eyes found mine. She didn’t even pretend to draw. "Hailey. You’re with Kyren," she said it like she was announcing the weather. "St
