Ski Catastrophe
1150 Words
Chapter 11 – Ski Catastrophe.
The snow had calmed just a little and more guests had already arrived at the retreat making it now livelier than the day before.
Jasmine tugged her winter gloves tighter, closing the exposed skin from the chilling cold. She walked into the ski area, her foot leaving a print mark on the snow as she walked. Groups of people were already gathered together laughing and having fun as they should have while others were putting on their gears and getting their slopes ready.
She hadn't been on a ski trip in years. Actually, scratch that, she’d never been on a ski trip ever in her life.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She turned to face Chad.
He was directly behind her putting on his gloves and as usual looking effortlessly handsome.
"Is this even safe?" She said, a little quieter now.
"It’s not rocket science, Jasmine," he said. "You just have to listen to instructions."
"Right, because listening to you has always worked out so well for me," she muffled.
He didn't respond. Instead, he turned toward their instructor, a skinny man in a navy-blue ski suit.
"Alright, folks!" the instructor clapped his hands, getting their attention. "I’m Nate, and I’ll be guiding you all in the basics of skiing. I'm sure the experts won't need them." He chuckled. "But still whether you’re here for fun or to prove something to your friends, the key to doing all that is simply balance and control."
Jasmine looked around, everyone seemed relaxed—except for her of course.
"Let’s start by getting into position," Nate continued. "If you’re skiing with a partner, you’ll be working together. One of you will be supporting the other,making sure you both don't fall on your faces.
Jasmine's stomach dropped as Chad stepped behind her, his hands resting on her waist.
"Are you sure about this?" she muttered, using this to stop her unease from showing.
"It’s part of the lesson. Try not to fall."
"I don't need your help, Mr. Stoneface."
"You say that now," he leaned and whispered close to her ear, his breath fanning her skin.
She hated the way something that simple made her shiver so much and even saw something on his face, a slight twitch or was it a smile? she wasn't sure.
"Okay, now bend your knees slightly," Nate instructed. "Keep your body loose."
Jasmine followed the instructions, feeling Chad move with her. It wasn’t exactly comfortable having him pressed so close behind her, but she tried to focus.
"Good. Now, let’s push forward just a little, get a feel for the movement."
She tried not to tense up when his hands held her waist once more.
As if he could feel her heart racing he whispered.
"Relax Jasmine. Just trust me."
She nearly scoffed. Trust him? That was a joke. But then again, if she didn’t trust him, she’d likely end up face-first in the snow.
She forced herself to take a very long and deep breath, allowing him to guide her movements.
"Make sure to always keep your knees slightly bent back," his breath fanning against the side of her ear.
A small shiver ran down her spine, but she refused to dwell on it.
"Good," Nate praised. "Now, slowly push forward together."
She followed the motion, and Chad adjusted with her, their bodies moving in sync.
It wasn’t as terrifying. In fact… it almost felt easy.
"See? You’re getting the hang of it," Chad said, a little more genuine this time.
She swallowed. "Only because you're not trying to shove me down the hill this time."
Jasmine kept moving, her boots gliding against the snow, but the more she got the hang of it, the more her mouth ran.
"You know, I really don’t get why people enjoy this. I mean I think it’s cold and the whole point is to throw yourself down a mountain for fun. Isn't that insane? Who even came up with this lunatic idea. Who came up with that idea?"
She didn't expect him to answer and continued regardless.
"Of course, you don’t. You’re not the type to actually enjoy things like this. I bet you’re one of those guys who go on vacations and end up working out instead of relaxing."
Still, nothing.
Jasmine pursed her lips. "You know, I read somewhere that being this silent all the time isn’t good for your health. You should try talking more, maybe even smiling. It won’t kill you. Probably."
Chad exhaled, adjusting his grip on her waist.
That only made her more determined. "I mean, do you even have fun? Like actual fun? Or are you just naturally allergic to enjoyment?"
Silence.
She sighed dramatically. "Fine, be Mr. Stoneface. I was just—"
Her foot slipped.
Before she could react, gravity took over. She let out a yelp as the ground disappeared from beneath her, and the next thing she knew, she landed hard—on top of Chad.
For a moment, the world slowed.
Her hands were braced against his chest, his body hard beneath hers. His face was close—too close to hers that she could see the sharp angles of his jaw.
Neither of them moved.
Her breath caught.
There was a shift between them, and it made her stomach tightened and her heart skip.
His hands were still on her waist.
His eyes flickered over her face, unreadable.
Jasmine swallowed hard.
"If you want to play romantic, do it in your suite."
A voice said from above, shattering the strange pull between them.
Jasmine jerked her head up, her cheeks burning as she found Ava standing a few feet away, her arms crossed.
"Don’t you think?" Ava added.
Jasmine scrambled off Chad, brushing snow off her jacket in a hurry. "It wasn’t— We weren’t—"
Ava lifted a brow as if she didn’t believe a word of it but Jasmine didn't care to explain.
Why should she?
Chad was about to speak but stopped when he saw Ava and then his gaze shifted, narrowing slightly.
Jasmine followed his line of sight and noticed a man standing close to Ava, tall, well-dressed in a winter coat.
Jasmine didn’t know who he was, but judging by the way Chad’s entire expression hardened, she knew this wasn’t just some random guy.
Ava caught the tension and smiled. "Oh, where are my manners?" She turned to Jasmine, then Chad. "I hadn’t introduced you yet."
She took a step closer, placing a hand on the man’s arm.
"This is Jordan," she smiled. "My special guest."
Chad’s jaw clenched harder. Was this how low Ava was willing to stoop–bringing his old business rival to the same retreat?
Jordan held out his hand for a handshake, a fake smile playing on his lip.
“Mr. Chad Blackstone, it's been a while.”
- Writer
