The Slope Rules Read online

  “Oh.” Jesus, Cally. Calm down.

  “Lucky for you, he’s friends with me.”

  I study him, rewriting the slacker impression I’d formed in English class. “So he told you?”

  He nods. “You were all he talked about after Thanksgiving.”

  And just like that butterflies whip through me, releasing the doubt and anger from the past month.

  “What are you two whispering about?”

  Even his voice makes me weak in the knees.

  Luke’s smoother than me. “Skiing. Cally was telling me about her sick flips.”

  I tilt my head, mouth open. Since I haven’t told him anything about myself, he must have heard it from Blake.

  Blake smiles, eyes on mine. “They are pretty spectacular.”

  I shake my head to clear the dancing hearts. “You’re not so bad yourself. On the slopes, I mean.”

  Luke punches him in the arm. “Ooh, burn.”

  Blake pushes him back and I step away before I become a casualty of their boy-wrestling. Brianna’s still giving me the evil eye but I’m too happy to give her resting bitch-face much thought.

  I head to the kitchen to get myself a drink and chat with two girls I recognize from history, but my gaze keeps returning to the living room. I can’t see Blake, but I know he’s there, looking way too delicious for his own good. Hopefully Brianna doesn’t scare him away before I get more time with him.

  A prick of jealousy makes me flush at the thought of him talking to another girl, even Brianna. I roll my eyes and the girl I’m talking to tilts her head. “Sorry, not you. I’m being stupid in my head.”

  She looks even more puzzled.

  “I’m gonna check on people in the living room.”

  “Okay, see ya.”

  In the living room, Austin and Brianna have snuggled closer and she looks the closest to relaxed that I’ve ever seen. Kenzie, Reece, and another boy are crammed on the couch with them. Mike and Evan are still in opposite chairs, but the longing on her face is so clear they may as well be the only people in the room—except he’s oblivious.

  She looks my way as I approach her. “Having fun?”

  My gaze lands on Blake, who’s leaning against the wall listening to a very animated Luke tell what—based on his arm gestures—can only be a snowboarding story. I sink onto the armrest, taking in the people around me—my friends, a little voice tells me—and smile. “I am.”

  She pokes my side and laughs. “It’s about time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. You always seem tense, like you’re waiting for something bad to happen.”

  I nod in Bri’s direction. “Can you blame me?”

  She snorts. “No. I guess I don’t ever fully relax around her either.”

  A balled up napkin lands in my lap. I look up and meet Kenzie’s glare.

  “What are you two whispering about?”

  I don’t miss a beat. “I was just saying what an honor it is to have you here.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure.”

  I nudge Mike and she coughs into her hand, stifling a laugh.

  Kenzie straightens, her eyes narrowing into a look I’ve seen on Brianna’s face. I guess when Bri’s busy, Kenzie steps up as head bitch. Her smile becomes a sneer and she points at Blake and his friends. “If you’re so honored, what are they doing here?”

  I glance at Blake, who meets my eyes, but it doesn’t look like he heard her. “Uhh... talking?”

  She leans forward. “No. Why are they here? I know Bri told you to stay away from him.”

  “Are you—” I look from Mike to Kenzie to Blake. “Are you serious?”

  Kenzie stares at me, lips pursed in an expression she MUST practice in front of a mirror. “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  Much to my delight, Brianna looks up from whatever Austin was whispering in her ear and aims her glare at me.

  Anger pushes me to my feet. “You know what? I’m beginning to regret inviting YOU tonight.” Kenzie’s mouth falls open and my voice rises. I glare at Brianna. “First you chase away the nicest girl I’ve met since moving here—” I glance at Mike and she shrugs. “And now you’re telling me I can only be friends with your pre-approved list of boys?”

  I’ve definitely got Blake’s attention now. Luke has stopped talking and literally every eyeball in the room is focused on me. I take a deep breath.

  Slope Rule #7: Go big or go home.

  “I think you should leave.”

  Brianna launches to her feet and I take a step back, straightening my shoulders. I hadn’t planned on saying that but I’m not backing down now. I’ve faced much worse than her in the starting gates.

  “I don’t know who you think you are, but you just ruined your life. I was trying to be nice and—”

  “This is nice? I hate to see how you treat people you don’t like.” Except I already have.

  She points a finger at me. “You’re finished.”

  My stomach twists but I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

  Brianna steps over Austin’s legs and stalks past me, Kenzie close on her heels. She passes Mike, then turns to look at her when she doesn’t stand. “What are you waiting for?”

  Mike hesitates. Could this be the moment she finally breaks free from Brianna? She catches my eye for a moment, then drags her gaze to Brianna, who looks ready to yank Mike out of here by her hair. She closes her eyes for a moment, then stands. “I’ll text you later,” she says as she walks by. “Good luck with Blake.”

  My cheeks flush. I’d been so focused on Brianna that I forgot he’s standing five feet away.

  Austin and Reece trail after the girls, but Evan pauses next to me. “I’ll stay if you want me to.”

  I smirk. “Aren’t you worried about Bri’s wrath?”

  “She doesn’t control me.”

  My brows shoot up. “Dissension in the ranks?”

  “No. I think for myself.” He lifts a finger and touches my cheek. I’m dying to turn around to see if Blake’s watching. Instead I move my head enough that he drops his hand.

  “You should probably go.”

  His smile falters for a moment. He glances over my shoulder, then back at me. “See you tomorrow?”

  Tomorrow? Oh, skiing. Right. “Sure.”

  He smiles and nods over my shoulder. “See you Blake. Luke.”

  He walks away and I turn around.

  Blake’s watching me with an amused expression on his face. “That was almost better than watching you ski.”

  I press my hands to my belly to calm the mix of emotions churning my stomach. I hate confrontation, but I hate getting pushed around even more.

  His eyes follow my hands and his smile fades. “You okay?”

  The front door slams and I jump, but no one else seems to react. In fact, no one seems to care that Brianna and her minions have left. Drama at a party is expected and an early exit from the queen bitch doesn’t mean the party is over.

  I smile at Blake. “I am now.”

  Where’s Sophia when I need her? Blake’s standing a foot away, eyes on me—exactly what I’ve wanted for months—and my brain has forgotten how to form words.

  Smile! I can smile!

  I smile.

  He smiles back, that adorable half smirk that shows his dimple.

  Okay, this is good.

  His smile grows.

  Pull it together, Cally! I glance at his empty hands. “You need something to drink?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  Luke elbows him from behind and Blake stumbles toward me. His gaze drops. “Can we... uh...” He looks me in the eye. “Can we go somewhere and talk?”

  Not in my room, Dad would kill me. But it’s too crowded down here. I’m not expecting anything to happen but
I don’t want an audience for whatever he’s planning to tell me. “Outside?”

  “Sure.”

  We find our coats and step outside into a brisk wind.

  “Over here?” He’s looking around the corner to the side of the house.

  I take a deep breath. Pretend he’s any other guy. Hunter. Or Sam. Not someone who broke my heart and has the potential to do it all over again if he keeps looking at me that way. I follow him into the darkness.

  It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust, and when they do, I need another breath. Blake’s standing close enough that our shoulders brush. He’s not facing me, but my heart doesn’t seem to care. It’s thumping so loudly it drowns out everything else.

  He clears his throat.

  But doesn’t say anything.

  The front door opens and sounds from the party drift outside. “Cally?” a girl calls.

  I turn my head in her direction but don’t move.

  Blake’s hand slides down my arm, stopping briefly at my fingertips—the heat from his hand sending tingles up my arm—then his hand falls to his side.

  The front door closes and the quiet night falls around us.

  Just a guy...

  He opens his mouth but I interrupt him.

  “Are you entering the Dash?”

  He tilts his head. “The competition at Eldora?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I wasn’t planning on it.”

  “Why not? I’ve seen you shred a mountain better than anyone else here.”

  He shrugs. “Not my scene.”

  “It’s totally your scene.”

  He looks away. “You haven’t been here long enough to understand.”

  I touch his arm and he meets my eyes. “What’s there to understand? Competition. You’re an amazing boarder. End of story.”

  “Maybe where you came from, but not here.” He nods at the side of the house in the direction of the living room, avoiding my eyes. “I’m not one of them.”

  Brianna’s warning to stay away from Blake rings in my ears. Nothing about him sets off warning bells and it seems like he likes me, but he must have some big secret I don’t know about. Why else would he act so weird?

  “You’re no different from Evan and those guys. I mean, you’re hotter, but...” I trail off, cheeks blazing.

  The corner of his mouth turns up and his eyes soften for a moment. But the smile fades. “It’s easy for you. Your dad, this house... you’ve got everything they do.”

  “Not everything.” My voice comes out a whisper. I hate throwing my mom into the conversation, but she’s never far from my thoughts.

  “But you have enough. In their eyes, you’re one of them. I’m surprised they didn’t give you a matching uniform.”

  The bitterness is his voice is unmistakable and the pieces start to fall together. “Let me get this straight. You think that because my family has money I think I’m special? That I wouldn’t be friends with someone who doesn’t?”

  Oh. That is it.

  “That’s how the rest of them are.”

  “And you just assumed I’m the same?” He shrugs and I want to shove his shoulders, but I cross my arms over my chest instead. “Is that why you lied?”

  Our eyes lock but his expression is unreadable.

  A moment passes. The silence is killing me but I’m done making excuses for him. I need to know why—

  “I didn’t mean to.” His voice is so low I almost don’t hear him.

  I take a deep breath, fighting back the anger that’s ready to explode all over him. “How do you accidentally lie about where you live?”

  He takes a small step back and runs his hands through his hair before stepping closer and resting his hands on my shoulders. My breath catches at his sudden closeness. He dips his head so he’s staring directly into my eyes. In the darkness his light eyes are dark, but you’d have to be a complete moron to miss the intensity in them. “I don’t know why I lied to you. When you asked where I lived...” he shakes his head. “It just came out.”

  “But you didn’t even hesitate. It’s like you had the lie ready in case I asked.”

  His hands slide over my shoulders, down my arms, until he catches my hands in his.

  I want to pull back. I don’t want to make this easy on him after the months of torment he put me through, but his touch feels so good.

  “I was staying at the resort with my aunt and uncle and cousins. They’re from Tahoe.”

  “So you decided to adopt yourself into their family?” I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth. I don’t know anything about his family and for all I know he IS adopted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But you have to understand why I’m hurt, right?”

  He frowns. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Cally. You’re the coolest chick I’ve ever met.”

  My heart does a flip-flop but I force myself to keep quiet now that he’s finally talking.

  “You see how Bri and her bitches are. I figured—”

  “Mike’s not like that.” So much for not interrupting.

  “Okay, she’s not bad. But I figured anyone as hot as you wouldn’t talk to me for more than five minutes once you found out I wasn’t part of a jet-setter clique.”

  “I couldn’t care less about that.”

  He lifts his hand and trails a finger down my cheek. “I realized that once I got to know you. But what was I supposed to say? ‘Oh, hey, I’m not really from California.’ I was having a great time with you and since I didn’t think we’d ever see each other again, I figured the truth didn’t matter.”

  I take a step back. “So you just wanted to see how far you’d get on vacation?”

  He matches my movement, once again closing the distance between us. “Do you really think that?”

  I shake my head. He could say the same thing about me. We both went into whatever this thing was between us knowing we only had a few days together. I’m as guilty as he is.

  Except I didn’t lie.

  “So you were staying with your aunt and uncle?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why weren’t your parents there?”

  “They couldn’t leave the restaurant. My dad’s brother brings his family here over one of the breaks every year and they usually invite me to stay with them. I work at the restaurant a couple nights a week so my parents gave me the time off. It’s as close to a vacation as I’m gonna get.”

  Bits of our conversations over Thanksgiving come back to me. Suddenly the small hesitations that I figured were nerves are starting to make sense. “So whose car were you driving?”

  “My dad’s. Mine was in the shop for a couple days. It took everything I had to convince him to let me borrow it.” He touches my cheek again, but this time he doesn’t pull away. “I’m really sorry I lied.”

  My body sways toward him, but I pull back. There’s still more I need to know. “I understand—sort of—why you lied about where you live, but why did you freak out when I told you I was moving here? And why have you acted like I don’t exist for the past month?” He’s close enough that I can smell his body wash but I can’t ignore the hurt and frustration that’s creeping over me. I’m grateful for the darkness because tears are burning my eyes and I don’t know how long I can keep them from falling.

  He looks away and takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

  A lump catches in my throat. “That’s—that’s not enough.”

  His eyes return to mine. A gust of wind blows the tree branches above us and light from the streetlight brightens his face. His eyes shine in the faint light. “I don’t have a good reason. Like I said, the girls here—”

  This time I do push his shoulder—just as the front door opens. “I’m not like the girls here!” Music and laughter spill into the night air, colliding with my anger.

&
nbsp; He watches me, jaw clenched. “Cally, I know I screwed up. And I don’t have a good excuse. I wish I did, but I don’t. Can we—”

  “There you are!” Luke and Ian stumble around the corner, laughing.

  Ian shoves Blake’s arm. “I told him you left.”

  Luke winks at me. “And I told him you snuck off with Cally.”

  Heat flushes my cheeks. There are so many emotions bubbling inside me that I’m ready to burst, but I don’t want to embarrass myself in front of Blake’s friends.

  Blake covers for me. “We were just talking.”

  Ian points at my face. “I dunno, bruh, she looks a little flushed.”

  I push through them. “I’m going back inside.”

  “You sure you don’t wanna stay?”

  I turn around to see Luke waggling a joint between his thumb and forefinger.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  Luke shrugs. “Relaxing?”

  “You can’t smoke that here!” I look at Blake for backup but he doesn’t seem concerned. “Blake, tell him.”

  I don’t know what Blake’s thinking after where we left off, but he does what I ask. “Dude, lay off. She doesn’t want you to.”

  Luke flips the joint into his mouth. “You know it’s legal here, right?”

  “It’s—what?”

  Ian pumps his fist in the air. “The people have spoken!”

  Blake smiles, but it’s not condescending the way Brianna’s is when she knows something I don’t. “Colorado legalized marijuana. It’s easier to get than alcohol anyway.”

  “But if you really don’t want us to, we’ll wait.” Luke rolls the joint between his fingers. Back and forth, back and forth. Energy seems to course through him, like he couldn’t stand still if you paid him.

  I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. This would have been a fight with Bri. “Thanks. I don’t mean to be a goody-goody, but I’m so used to getting drug tested for skiing that...” I trail off as a sadness I thought I’d gotten past rolls over me. I’m not on a ski team. No one cares if I smoke pot. I could light up every night for the next month and it wouldn’t make a difference. Well, Dad would probably lose his shit and I’d probably fail tenth grade, but other than that...