Read Online Love on the Lifts by Rachel Hawthorne - Free Book Online
Authors: Rachel Hawthorne
Ads: Link
sneaking out the back door was the way to go, because when they came inside, laughing and happy, Bradâs arm slung around Cynthia, I realized that I hadnât gotten over Brad.
I wasnât even close to getting over him.
Chapter 8
âH ey, Kate, we missed you,â Leah said, as she sat on a stool at the counter.
âWe were so busy today, I hardly had time to think. I donât know what Aunt Sue would have done if I hadnât been here to help out. It was chaos.â I was babbling. âWhat can I get you guys?â Another lie, maybe?
Everyone lined up on the stools at the counter: Cynthia, Brad, Sam, Allie, Leah, Joe.
I really felt like the odd one out, standing on the other side. My own fault entirely. Avoidance. You canât be part of the crowd if youâre not with the crowd.
Cynthia ordered Guilty Pleasureâwhy was I not surprised? Everyone else just wanted plain old hot chocolate with mini-marshmallowssprinkled on top. I decided to fix myself another mug of mint chocolate, just so I would feel like I was part of the group.
âHey, gang, howâd it go?â Aunt Sue asked as she stepped out of her back office. She spent a good deal of time in there working up her supply orders and going over spreadsheets on her computer.
Everyone started talking at once.
âAwesome!â Allie.
âThe cutest ski instructor.â Leah.
âWent down Devilâs Peak.â Sam.
âSuch fun!â Cynthia.
âHe was so incredibly hot.â Leah again about the ski instructor.
âWhat a rush!â Brad.
But I didnât think he was referring to the ski instructor. Like I said, everyone was talking at once.
Aunt Sue was laughing. Joe wasnât saying anything, just sipping on his hot chocolate, watching me, like he was patiently waiting for the moment when I reached across the counter, wrapped my hands around Cynthiaâs throat, and strangled her.
âI have some good news to share,â I said when the exclamations died down. âPaige invited us to a party at the lodge tonight.â
My announcement received another set of exclamations.
âAwesome!â
âWhatâs the lodge?â
âA hangout.â
âTotally cool!â
âOh, gosh, I absolutely adore parties. I need to get home so I can start getting ready.â Cynthiaâs announcement caused silence to fall as she slid off the stool.
âIâll go with you,â Brad said.
Could he get any more pathetic? I watched him traipse out the door after her like a dog trailing after a bone.
âYou managed to beat the crowd,â Aunt Sue told the others. She laid a hand on my shoulder. âWhy donât you take a break before it gets really busy in here? Iâm sure you have a lot to catch up on.â
âSounds good to me.â
I directed the others to grab their mugs and join me near the fire. Only Allie and Leah tookme up on the offer, which was cool. I was only being polite when I invited the remaining guys. I didnât really want them there, because I knew Allie and Leah wouldnât tell me as much if we had an audience. So it was okay by me that they stayed at the counter and talked with Aunt Sue.
âHow was it really?â I asked after we sat down.
âTotally awesome,â Allie said. âI thought my heart was going to stop when I watched Sam go down Devilâs Peak. But he is such a great skier. Not at all afraid.â
Devilâs Peak was one of the trails designated for the more advanced skiers. The trail started above the tree line. The tree line marks the spot where the altitude is so high that trees donât grow there. Itâs great for skiing. The Devilâs Peak trail eventually narrows down once it reaches the tree line, but until then, skiers have room to maneuver and an unobstructed view.
âYou watched him?â I asked, surprised anyone would want to. I mean, this was my brother we were talking
I wasnât even close to getting over him.
Chapter 8
âH ey, Kate, we missed you,â Leah said, as she sat on a stool at the counter.
âWe were so busy today, I hardly had time to think. I donât know what Aunt Sue would have done if I hadnât been here to help out. It was chaos.â I was babbling. âWhat can I get you guys?â Another lie, maybe?
Everyone lined up on the stools at the counter: Cynthia, Brad, Sam, Allie, Leah, Joe.
I really felt like the odd one out, standing on the other side. My own fault entirely. Avoidance. You canât be part of the crowd if youâre not with the crowd.
Cynthia ordered Guilty Pleasureâwhy was I not surprised? Everyone else just wanted plain old hot chocolate with mini-marshmallowssprinkled on top. I decided to fix myself another mug of mint chocolate, just so I would feel like I was part of the group.
âHey, gang, howâd it go?â Aunt Sue asked as she stepped out of her back office. She spent a good deal of time in there working up her supply orders and going over spreadsheets on her computer.
Everyone started talking at once.
âAwesome!â Allie.
âThe cutest ski instructor.â Leah.
âWent down Devilâs Peak.â Sam.
âSuch fun!â Cynthia.
âHe was so incredibly hot.â Leah again about the ski instructor.
âWhat a rush!â Brad.
But I didnât think he was referring to the ski instructor. Like I said, everyone was talking at once.
Aunt Sue was laughing. Joe wasnât saying anything, just sipping on his hot chocolate, watching me, like he was patiently waiting for the moment when I reached across the counter, wrapped my hands around Cynthiaâs throat, and strangled her.
âI have some good news to share,â I said when the exclamations died down. âPaige invited us to a party at the lodge tonight.â
My announcement received another set of exclamations.
âAwesome!â
âWhatâs the lodge?â
âA hangout.â
âTotally cool!â
âOh, gosh, I absolutely adore parties. I need to get home so I can start getting ready.â Cynthiaâs announcement caused silence to fall as she slid off the stool.
âIâll go with you,â Brad said.
Could he get any more pathetic? I watched him traipse out the door after her like a dog trailing after a bone.
âYou managed to beat the crowd,â Aunt Sue told the others. She laid a hand on my shoulder. âWhy donât you take a break before it gets really busy in here? Iâm sure you have a lot to catch up on.â
âSounds good to me.â
I directed the others to grab their mugs and join me near the fire. Only Allie and Leah tookme up on the offer, which was cool. I was only being polite when I invited the remaining guys. I didnât really want them there, because I knew Allie and Leah wouldnât tell me as much if we had an audience. So it was okay by me that they stayed at the counter and talked with Aunt Sue.
âHow was it really?â I asked after we sat down.
âTotally awesome,â Allie said. âI thought my heart was going to stop when I watched Sam go down Devilâs Peak. But he is such a great skier. Not at all afraid.â
Devilâs Peak was one of the trails designated for the more advanced skiers. The trail started above the tree line. The tree line marks the spot where the altitude is so high that trees donât grow there. Itâs great for skiing. The Devilâs Peak trail eventually narrows down once it reaches the tree line, but until then, skiers have room to maneuver and an unobstructed view.
âYou watched him?â I asked, surprised anyone would want to. I mean, this was my brother we were talking
Similar Books
