Forbidden Christmas

CHAPTER 8: Ski Lessons

Maya's Pov

I woke up to Sophie jumping on my bed like we were still in college.

"Get up! We're going skiing today!"

I groaned and pulled the pillow over my face. "What time is it?"

"Eight. The mountain opens at nine. Jason's making breakfast and Dad already said yes."

My stomach flipped at the mention of Derek. I hadn't seen him since yesterday's attic conversation. Since his text last night about feeling alive around me.

"I don't know how to ski," I said.

"Perfect! Dad can teach you. He's amazing." Sophie yanked the pillow away. "No excuses."

An hour later, I was crammed into Derek's SUV wearing borrowed ski clothes that made me feel like a marshmallow. Derek's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror more than was probably safe.

At the mountain, Sophie announced the plan while we got equipment. "Jason and I are hitting the black diamonds. Melissa, you're doing blues. Maya needs lessons. Dad, you're on teaching duty."

Derek's hands stilled on his boots. "I'm sure Maya would rather learn with the group."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're the best skier here." Sophie waved and disappeared with Jason before I could protest.

Leaving me standing next to Derek in the crowded lodge.

"You don't have to do this," I said. "I can take a lesson with an instructor."

"Do you want an instructor?"

"I don't want to ruin your day."

He finally looked directly at me. "You won't ruin my day, Maya."

The way he said my name made my knees weak.

We got my rental skis and Derek led me to the bunny slope. It was full of kids, which was humiliating, but at least they were too focused to judge me.

"Okay, first things first." Derek crouched and helped me step into the bindings. His hands were gentle, patient. "How does that feel?"

"Feels fine."

"Good. Now, skiing is all about balance and control. Lean forward slightly. Knees bent. Like this." He demonstrated his movements fluid. "Weight on the balls of your feet."

I tried to copy his stance and immediately felt like a baby giraffe.

"Here." Derek moved behind me, his hands settling on my waist. "Feel how I'm positioning you?"

I couldn't feel anything except his hands on my waist and the heat of his body close behind me. My brain forgot how to process instructions.

"Maya? You with me?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Balance. Got it."

"Let's try moving." His hands stayed on my waist as he guided me forward slowly. "Small movements. Feel how the skis respond?"

We inched down the tiny slope, Derek's voice low and steady in my ear. Instructions mixed with encouragement. His hands repositioning my hips, my shoulders.

It should have been clinical. Instead, it felt intimate in a way that had nothing to do with skiing.

"You're doing great," he said at the bottom. "Ready to try it on your own?"

"Not even a little bit."

He laughed. A real laugh that made his whole face change. "Come on. I'll be right beside you."

I fell twice on the next run. Both times, Derek was there immediately, helping me up, brushing snow off my jacket, asking if I was okay. His concern felt genuine. Like he actually cared if I was hurt.

"I'm terrible at this," I said after my third fall.

"You're not terrible. You're learning. There's a difference." He held out his hand. "Besides, you should have seen Sophie's first time. She cried for an hour and threw her poles at me."

"She did not."

"She absolutely did. Hit me right in the shin." He smiled at the memory. "But she got back up and tried again. That's what matters."

We spent the next hour on the bunny slope. Derek never got impatient, never made me feel stupid. He explained things in different ways until I understood. Showed me techniques, watched me try, adjusted gently.

"Can I try a real slope?" I finally asked.

"You sure?"

"It's full of five-year-olds. I want to at least pretend I'm not completely hopeless."

Derek studied me. "Okay. There's a green run that's not too steep. But I'm staying close."

At the top, my heart pounded. The slope stretched down below us.

"I changed my mind," I said. "This was a terrible idea."

"You can do this. I'll be right behind you the whole way. If you start going too fast, just pizza."

"Pizza?"

"Point your skis together in a wedge. It slows you down." He positioned himself slightly below me. "When you're ready. And I'm right here."

I pushed off, immediately going way too fast. My heart jumped into my throat.

"Pizza!" Derek's voice cut through my panic.

I forced my skis into a wedge and slowed down. Still going, but not hurtling toward death.

"Good! Now turn. Gentle pressure on your right foot."

I turned. Nearly fell. Derek was suddenly right beside me, his hand on my back, steadying me.

"I've got you. You're doing great."

We made it down in the slowest, most terrified way possible. But we made it. When I finally stopped, my legs were shaking and I'd never felt more proud.

"I did it!"

"You did it." Derek was grinning like I'd won the Olympics. "That was awesome, Maya."

Without thinking, I threw my arms around him in a hug. He caught me, laughing, his arms coming around me automatically. For a second, we just stood there, holding each other.

Then reality crashed in. I was hugging Sophie's father. In public.

I pulled back quickly. "Sorry. Got excited."

"Don't apologize." But he'd stepped back too, putting careful distance between us. "You should be excited. That was a great run."

We did three more runs before lunch. Each one got easier. Derek stayed close the whole time, ready to catch me, celebrating every small victory.

And somewhere in those hours, something shifted. This wasn't just an attraction anymore. This wasn't just a forbidden crush.

I was falling for him. Actually falling. The way he taught with patience and humor. The way he made me feel safe even when I was scared. The way he looked at me when I succeeded, like he was genuinely proud.

He was kind. Thoughtful. Present in a way no one had ever been with me before. Not Jake, who was always half-focused on his phone. Not any of the men I'd dated who treated me like an accessory.

Derek made me feel seen. Important. Worth his time and attention.

And that was so much more dangerous than just thinking he was attractive.

At lunch, Sophie asked, "How'd the lesson go?"

"Good. I only fell like fifty times."

"That's not bad. Dad's a good teacher, right?"

I looked at Derek across the table. He was looking back, something unreadable in his expression.

"Yeah," I said quietly. "The best."

That night, after showers and dinner, my phone buzzed.

Derek: "You were brave today. Facing something scary and doing it anyway. That takes guts."

I smiled despite myself.

Maya: "I had a good teacher."

Derek: "I had a good student. Even if she did try to take out that snowboarder."

Maya: "That was ONE TIME and he came out of nowhere."

Derek: "Still counts. You're dangerous on the slopes. I like it."

I stared at that last line. I like it. Such simple words, but they felt heavy with meaning.

Maya: "Thank you for today. For being patient with me. For making me feel like I could do it."

Derek: "You could always do it. You just needed someone to show you how. Goodnight, Maya."

Maya: "Goodnight."

I set my phone down and stared at the ceiling.

I was in so much trouble.

Because this wasn't just attraction or chemistry or forbidden excitement anymore.

I was falling in love with Derek Hayes.

And I had no idea what to do about it.