“You know what I mean.” We approached the top of the mountain, and Thayer lifted the bar. “Ready?” he asked as we inched onto the edge of our seat.
“Yep,” I said, as my board landed on the small hill that led us off the lift and down onto the mountain.
We stopped at the top of the run. From that vantage point, we appeared level with the clouds. Although other snowboarders and skiers were making their way downhill, there was a peaceful silence up on the mountain with Thayer.
“Beautiful.”
“Yeah, I forgot how pretty it is up here.” I glanced to him beside me, and he was staring at me.
He smirked with that knowing look in his eyes.
I swallowed hard. “You ready to pick me up if I fall?”
“Always,” he said, and I knew he wasn’t just talking about snowboarding.
Feeling brave, I dropped in first, slowly weaving my way down the mountain in a long, drawn-out, S-shaped pattern. I could hear Thayer’s board scraping the snow behind me, keeping the same slow pace even though I knew he could be down the mountain in seconds if he really wanted to be.
“You’re doing great!” he called.
His confidence in me caused me to sharpen my pattern, which made me pick up speed. Shit.
“Widen your path,” he called, noticing my increased speed.
I did, and I slowed to a more manageable pace so that I wouldn’t embarrass myself and land on my ass.
“When are you gonna pass me and show me how it’s really done?” I called over my shoulder.
His laughter filled the air. “I think you have me confused with your brother.”
“Come on. Get in front, and I’ll follow you.”
“Where’s the fun in that? I won’t be able to watch you.”
I’d like to say my stomach didn’t dip, but it definitely did.
I was so screwed.
Thayer swerved around me, his movements on the board so smooth and steady. I was shaky and could feel every bump beneath my board. He glided as if on ice, weaving right then left. He ticked his head to the right. “Let’s take this trail.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
“Oh no, we’re doing this together,” he said, moving so we were a safe distance apart but parallel.
I lifted my arms in the air and moved in a wide S. A sense of freedom washed over me. No one could touch me up there. Nothing could kill my spirit.
“What are you doing?” Thayer called.
“Living.”
“Damn straight you are,” he said.
When we came to the end of our run, Shay stood there holding her board. A small piece of me deflated because Shay looked ready to leave, and selfishly, I wouldn’t get to keep snowboarding with Thayer.
“Where’s Kason?” Thayer asked.
“He and Jesse headed up to the half pipe to film some footage before it gets dark,” she explained. “He told me to have you meet them.”
Thayer glanced at me as if to ask my permission.