Pride

With a crash.

A clatter.

A thud.

Silence.

Kane was practically asleep on his feet. Riding down the same beginner trail again and again would have been enough to put anyone into a coma of boredom. And feigning enthusiasm every time Beth made it twenty feet without falling was wearing him out.

“You’re doing great,” he lied, when they’d landed at the bottom once again. “Think maybe it’s time for you to try a more difficult slope?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She bit her lip and looked up at the mountain peaks in the distance. “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.”

“You’re better than you think you are,” he prodded her.

She shook her head. “Not that much better.”

He shrugged and began maneuvering his snowboard back toward the chairlift. “Whatever-we’ll just go again.”

She grabbed him and pulled him to a stop, slightly off the trail.

“Kane, if you want to go hit some harder slopes for a while, it’s okay.”

“I’m not going to just leave you here,” he protested, imagining himself shooting down a black diamond trail, chasing the wind. It killed him to be out here in such fresh powder, stuck gliding down the same bunny hill over and over again, at snail speed. “But why don’t you come along-you’re really getting good now.”

She laughed. “And what definition of good are you using? No, I’m staying here. But really, you go-have some fun. We’ll meet up later.”

She was lying, that much was clear. She wanted him with her, and was terrified to ski by herself. He should stay. That would be the good boyfriend move. It would have been Adam’s move. But she’s not with Adam, he reminded himself. And who knew what she really wanted, if she wasn’t going to admit it. Why not take her at face value, enjoy himself? It was fresh powder, after all, and a new board. You don’t waste that. Not if you’re Kane Geary.

“Have I mentioned how beautiful you look out here?” he told her. “Like a snow goddess.”

She pushed him playfully. “You don’t have to butter me up, Kane. I’m not going to be mad if you go-you came up here to board. You should do it.”

“That’s not all I came for,” he reminded her, pulling her scarf away from her face so he could warm her chilled lips with a kiss.

“Well then, you’d better take care of yourself up there and make sure you stay in one piece… so you can meet me later,” she told him, with an uncharacteristically mischievous note in her voice. This was working out better than he could have hoped.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” he assured her.

“And remember-” she called after him as he slid away.

“I’ll be careful!” he promised.

But really, what was the fun in that?

Harper didn’t know what had been more humiliating. Lying on the ground, snow seeping through her clothes, as more and more curious skiers gathered to gawk? Being strapped to the back of a rescue mobile like a couch strapped to the hood of a car and then unceremoniously unloaded in front of half her school? Or maybe it was the fact that after thoroughly examining her, the doctor at the first aid station had concluded there was nothing wrong with her other than a few bruises and a twisted knee.

Not that she wasn’t grateful. Imagine if she’d broken her neck-or, almost as bad, her nose. But the injury was just minor enough to make her feel like an idiot for making such a scene-and just major enough to keep her off her feet for the rest of the weekend.

Adam had tended to her for a while. He was guilt stricken over his abject failure as a ski instructor, and she was only too happy to play his damsel in distress, letting him prop her leg up with pillows, bring her hot chocolate, and kiss her bruises until she had to smile. (And, if nothing else, at least all the commotion had taken his mind off their little “problem.”)

He’d been so sweet, in fact, that she’d felt guilty about spoiling his fun. She’d told him to go back out on the slopes-he’d refused, she’d insisted. And finally, he’d given in.

It was only when he’d gone, and she was left alone in the empty lodge, her hot chocolate turned cold, her knee throbbing, the cozy fire burned out, that she realized her stupidity. She was trapped in here, in pain, while Adam was out there alone, easy prey for all those desperate girls who would love nothing more than to steal him away from her.

Easy prey for Beth.

She could see it now.

“Oh, Adam, you look so handsome on your skis!” In that simpering voice. “I’m so sweet and helpless-won’t you help me get down the mountain?”

Harper would have been pleased to help her-right over the edge. But Adam, on the other hand, would be nothing but a gentleman, only too happy to lend his services. And once she’d sucked him back in with the needy routine, she’d never let him go.

Kane was nothing, no one, she’d claim. A horrible mistake. Adam was her one, true love.

It was nauseating, even as a hypothetical.

Adam would resist at first. He was nothing if not loyal.

But Beth would beg and Beth would plead-and then, Harper knew, Beth would cry. And she’d look so beautiful and so fragile standing out in the snow, throwing herself on Adam’s mercy, that eventually, he would just give in. After all, he would surely reason, Harper’s tough, she can handle it. Beth is the one who really needs me.

If only he knew.

It was crazy, she told herself. Totally unlikely-certainly no more likely than a chance meeting in the halls of the high school or the cramped streets of their tiny town. But still, she couldn’t stand the idea of Beth out there having Harper’s dream vacation.

Harper whipped out her cell phone, determined to get her mind off the whole horrible thing. But who to call? Even Miranda was out on the slopes, having fun. Harper was alone. There was only one person she could think of who might have time to talk, distract Harper from her living nightmare-and it wouldn’t have been her first choice. Or her fifth. But she was out of options, and sometimes you just had to play the hand you were dealt.

She hit talk.

“Hey, Kaia-yes, it’s Harper. Just thought I’d check in, give you the download on the trip so far… what? No, nothing too exciting-wait, I do have some hot gossip. You’ll never guess what our trusty chaperone’s been up to. Let’s just say he’s got his hands full. Or should I say, his lap…”

He didn’t notice her until he’d sat down beside her on the chairlift-and by then, it was too late.

This really wasn’t his day.

They recognized each other at the same time, just as the lift swept their feet off the ground. Now there was no turning back-they were trapped together until they reached the top.

“Hey,” Adam grunted.

Beth nodded and looked down. Most of her face was hidden by a thick blue scarf-only her eyes were visible, and he couldn’t decipher their expression. Once, he’d been able to read her thoughts, just from the look in her eyes. It felt like a long time ago.

They rode in silence for several long minutes, watching the skiers dart around beneath them. Adam swung his skis, gently rocking them back and forth.

“Could you not do that?” Beth asked. Adam looked over and noticed how tightly she was gripping the guide bar. For a moment, he considered swinging his legs wildly, just to see her face fill with fear. But he suppressed the impulse-and hated himself for it.

“Sorry,” he said awkwardly, and stopped. “So, uh, how’s the skiing?” And where’s your boyfriend? he added silently. Nice of Kane to send her off by herself. Typical. But no more than she deserved, he supposed. And she was a big girl. She could handle it.

“It’s fine,” she responded unconvincingly. “It’s great. Kane and I are having a great time.”