Ski Lodge

13// Hot Cocoa

Wednesday morning

Emmett

It's 2:30 am, and all I can think about is that she hugged me. This girl who once despised me so much she couldn't say my first name hugged me.

Trisha

It's 3 am, and I can't fall asleep. I hugged him. He pinned me down to a couch.

Emmett

It's 4 am. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into me. Her hand was so soft against my torso.

Trisha

5 am. Did I remember to add a cleaning pod to the dishwasher?

I sit up. It's not like I was going to sleep anyway. I better check. I pull myself out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen. Imagine my surprise when I see someone sitting at the table with a tea mug. Its Mr Greene.

"Hey, Mr Greene," I said.

"Hey, hun, why are you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep, actually."

"There's some chamomile tea bags and hot water on the stove."

"Why are you up, Mr Greene?" I asked as I poured myself a mug.

"Weston couldn't sleep. He climbed into bed with us. I got kicked all night. No one tells you having kids will be so hard, but I just can't imagine my life without them."

"Weston and Laura are such great kids," I say as I sit on the other side of the table.

"Weston and Laura are two of the best kids I know. I owe it all to their mama. Really truly. She makes it look so easy. Your dad was like that too. He always seemed to know exactly what to say when you were a preteen. But then I guess he has the psychiatry training leg up."

"Nobody is perfect, Mr Greene."

"Nope. No, sir. But doesn't mean we can't try our hardest to be the best version of ourselves. I'm going to go climb back into bed. Don't forget we have skiing day two today."

"Yes, sir."

I make my tea and check the dishwasher. Judging by the clean scent, I definitely put a cleaning pod in it. I empty the dishwasher and finish my tea, placing the mug back into the dishwasher. I have to pee.

I run upstairs and into the bathroom. I'm in one of the stalls when I hear someone else enter the bathroom. I pull my feet up and wait. I think it's Emmett. He uses the toilet and goes to wash his hands. I hear him mumble something under his breath, but I can't make out all the words.

Emmett

Why can't I work the courage up to just kiss her?

Trisha

I think I heard the word courage. Maybe he's afraid of the slopes. He leaves. I wait a few minutes before flushing the toilet and washing my hands. So as not to be suspicious.

A couple hours later, I'm still awake and Laura is jumping up and down at the foot of my bed.

"Get up, get up, get up! We gotta go skiing! We can't miss the shuttle," she squeaks.

"The shuttle comes every 30 minutes," I groan as I pull my knit blanket over my head.

"Trisha!" My mom tells from down stairs, "hurry up."

"I'm coming!" I sit up in bed, my head pounding from a lack of sleep. Laura runs over to me and gives me a giant hug before giggling and running over to my ski pants and jacket, moving them from a chair to my bed.