What struck him immediately was the smell of the place. His friend had told him about the food, but it wasn’t the same as inhaling it firsthand. A metaphor for his life up to that point, he supposed. The warm air enveloped him, stopping his body from shaking quite as vigorously as before, and drugging him into feeling sugary-safe. He found himself stopping dead in the doorway, closing his eyes and taking a deep, long sniff of the heavenly scent into his lungs. Coffee, warm air, and baked goods. Wafts of fruit flavours that made his mouth water. He hadn’t exactly been fine dining lately, and his stomach had started to revolt against him. He just wanted a moment to just be here, to relish in the fact that, he alone, took this trip an—
‘Are you going to order, or just stand there gawping all day?’
‘Huh?’
‘Did you ski into a tree or something? The medical centre is back down there.’ The woman speaking to him was standing behind the corner, hands on her hips. She looked familiar somehow, but he couldn’t quite place the deep brown eyes and raised eyebrows. She was dressed in black, and it made her look a little scary. Witchy even. Hot witch. More Morticia Addams than hag, but still.
A woman came into the café, walking around him after a moment of confusion and smiling at the witch. Err, woman.
‘Hot chocolate and a croissant please, and do you have any apple squares?’ The customer gave her order with a big smile, and the woman behind the counter gave Luke another long look and got to work on the order. The customer, all long blonde hair in a tight pink skiing outfit, started chatting away.
‘Been fun on the slopes today, you ever get out there?’
The woman behind the counter gave a little snort. ‘Nah, not my thing.’ Luke noticed a name tag, pink with black lettering. REBECCA.
‘Oh, well that’s a shame. You’re missing out.’
Rebecca passed over her order with a smile.
‘I’m really not, but thanks. Have a good day now, and take our card.’ She beamed at the blonde, passing over a black and pink piece of card. ‘We’d love to see you again.’
The blonde opened her mouth to say something, but then smiled back, taking the card.
‘These smell amazing, I will. Thanks!’
She twirled around, almost knocking into Luke, who jumped out of the way like a dancing monkey. He whirled the whole way around like a carousel, stopping in front of Rebecca as the woman opened the door and headed out into the great outdoors. The blast of icy air she brought with her was enough to make his leg muscles contract, till he was bent like a pretzel in front of the counter. He was still trying to slap some heat back into his body when Rebecca spoke again.
‘Look, can I help you?’ She leaned closer, till they were at eye level. ‘I feel like you just fell out of a plane.’ Looking at his suitcase behind him, abandoned at one side, and his jerky body, she narrowed her eyes. ‘Or a spaceship. Where are you booked in?’
He knew he was gawping at her again, but he couldn’t find his words.
‘Hello? Do you need assistance?’ She was openly staring at him now. Luke, speak mate. She was tapping her foot and looking around the café nervously.
‘Are you always so … edgy?’
Her head snapped back a little, and he shrank his own head back into the comfort of his body. Worked for tortoises.
‘Edgy?’ She echoed. He opened half an eye out of his shell, and she was still glaring at him. ‘Are you always so articulate with your words, or is it just the mountain air inspiring you?’
Luke cleared his throat, pushing his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. That’s it. Insult her and rock the nerd look. Great start, Lukey boy. ‘Sorry, I’m not explaining myself very well, am I? I’m here about a room.’
*
Dammit. Such a shame that people don’t research their trips properly before swiping the plastic at the airport. He had left it far too late, everything would be booked up well in advance. Even the townsfolk who rented rooms out would be taken by now.
‘Sorry, I don’t know of any spare rooms. You’ll be hard pressed to find accommodation anywhere now. Packages are usually the way to go.’ He shivered, just at that moment, and her eyes jumped to his chest area. He didn’t look scruffy as such. A little harassed and scatty maybe. His clothes were nice. He had a designer jumper on, but it was far too thin for the resort’s weather. He looked as though he’d walked onto the wrong plane and just never realised. He looked a little lost. The guy must be freezing, she thought to herself. She felt a little bad that she’d been short with him, but she didn’t take kindly to people hanging around her like that. It was then she realised he was speaking again, and she didn’t like what she heard.
‘I’m sorry?’ she said, dumbly. ‘Did you say you were staying round here? Where?’
A couple walked in at that moment, heading straight for one of the empty tables. Rebecca nodded distractedly at him, before passing another table a menu and grabbing her pad. Taking the couple’s orders quickly, she headed back to the counter to get it ready. Luke gave her an ‘I’ll let you get on’ look and took a seat near the counter.
