|| LOVE AT THE LODGE ||

CHAPTER THREE - DAY 3 - I WAS IN DEEP

My alarm went off at 5:30, but today I was not as eager to get up as I was yesterday. My alarm kept going for 5 more minutes till the whole house was awake, yelling from their beds. "SHUT THE HELL UP ANNA" Yelled Max, probably still half-asleep. I begrudgingly got up and started getting ready, not for him, but for me. I watched as Max excitedly grabbed his snowboard, eager to tackle the snowboard park nearby. I couldn't help but feel relief as I waved him off, knowing that this would give her the chance to spend time alone with Jack, I needed to know if last night meant something.As I turned around, my heart fluttered at the sight of Jack waiting for her with his usual devious smile. The way his eyes lit up when he saw me made me feel like the most important person in the world. I waved at him, and turned around to see him smiling at a pretty girl behind me, embarrassed, I clicked in and sped off at the speed of light. "Anna, the fuck? come back!" I heard the familiar sound of him carving it up behind me, it was no use, I stopped abruptly, looking up the mountain, realising this was a mistake. Jack came crashing into me, sending us both tumbling down the blue run. We landed in a pile, snow covering us, an intertwined in an awkward position. I couldn't help but let out a laugh. He let out a deep chuckle and my jealousy seemed to dissipate. He put his arm around me, asking if i was okay, i felt his muscles through his many layers and had to stop myself from swooning. 'Yeah I'm fine, maybe if you knew how to stop we wouldn't be in this situation" I rolled my eyes, looking at how our bodies were thrown on top of eachother. He went silent for a moment, and moved so that he was looking down on me, he cracked a smile, "who says its a bad thing?" I stopped smiling, and blushed immediately, "Get off of me you idiot!!" I unclipped my skiis and threw some snow at him, "Oh it is ON!" He yelled, and grabbed a big pile of snow, lopping it at me with the precision of an army sniper. We laughed and played until we both collapsed ontop of eachother once again, this time, I felt nothing negative. Today was our opportunity to bond further, to explore the slopes together, and to let our connection deepen, and I already felt it happening.

We clicked into our skis and set off once again, carving their way through the fresh powder. The wind rushed past my face as I followed Jack's lead, my skills improving with every turn. I admired the way he effortlessly navigated the slopes, his movements fluid and graceful. Skiing beside him made her feel alive, an exhilarating rush coursing through her veins. I let out a laugh as he brake-checked me. As we descended down the mountain, our laughter echoed through the crisp air, mingling with the sound of their skis slicing through the snow. I couldn't help but feel an electric chemistry between us. We found ourselves reaching a snow lodge, appearing to be a cafe. Jack suggested taking a break and ducking in to a place to have lunch. I eagerly agreed. We settled down on a nearby bench, our ski gear propped against the tree trunk. The more we opened up to each other, the more I realized just how much we had in common. As I finished my lunch and prepared to hit the slopes again, I couldn't deny the fact we had clearly grown as a pair. I knew that I had a crush on Jack, and I felt hopeful about the possibility that maybe Jack would like me back. With a renewed sense of confidence, I clicked back into my skis and followed Jack's lead once more. The mountain awaited, and together they would conquer it, one exhilarating run at a time. I couldn't help but feel grateful for this day at the ski lodge—a day that had brought me closer to Jack. Thank FUCK max chose the snowboard today.

The rest of the day felt like a dream. Jack and I spent hours skiing together, laughing and racing each other down the slopes. The awkwardness from the morning melted away, replaced by a natural ease that felt almost magical. Every now and then, I'd catch him looking at me, his eyes softening in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

By the time we made it back to the lodge, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the snowy landscape. Jack and I trudged inside, exhausted but exhilarated, and headed straight for the fireplace. We peeled off our wet gear, hanging it up to dry before collapsing onto the couch, still in our thermals. The fire crackled warmly, its glow wrapping us in a cozy cocoon.

As we sat there, catching our breath, Jack turned to me with that mischievous smile of his. "So, you think you can keep up with me now?" he teased, nudging me with his shoulder.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling back. "I think I did more than just keep up. You're just lucky I didn't completely show you up."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You've gotten better, I'll give you that. But you're still not ready to race me down a black diamond."

"Oh, really?" I challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Care to make a bet on that?"

His eyes lit up with interest. "What kind of bet?"

I paused, thinking. I wasn't sure what I wanted yet, but something in the air felt different. There was a tension between us, unspoken but undeniable. I was about to suggest something silly, like the loser buying dinner, but instead, the words that came out of my mouth were, "If I win, you have to be my partner for the family ski competition next year. And if you win..."

"If I win, you have to admit I'm the better skier," he said quickly, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes, something that made me wonder if he was thinking the same thing I was.

"Deal," I said, holding out my hand.

He took it, his grip warm and firm, and for a moment, we just stared at each other, the firelight flickering in his eyes. There was something about this moment, sitting by the fire after an incredible day on the slopes, that made me feel closer to Jack than ever before. I wasn't just Max's little sister anymore. I was someone he wanted to spend time with, someone he was beginning to see in a new light.

After a while, we heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, and we quickly pulled our hands apart as Max appeared, yawning and scratching his head. "What are you two up to?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

"Just warming up by the fire," Jack said smoothly, leaning back against the couch as if nothing had happened.

Max didn't seem to notice anything unusual and just grunted in response before heading to the kitchen. But I couldn't help feeling a little thrill of excitement at how easily Jack had covered for us. It was like we had our own little secret, something that was just between us.

As the night went on, we all gathered in the living room, my parents joining us for a movie. I sat on one end of the couch, Jack on the other, with Max between us. But every now and then, I'd glance over at Jack, and I'd catch him looking back at me. Each time, my heart would flutter, and I'd quickly look away, hoping no one else noticed.

When the movie ended, we all said our goodnights and headed to bed. But as I lay there in the darkness, I couldn't stop thinking about Jack. About the way he looked at me, the way his hand had felt in mine, the way he'd made me laugh all day. I knew I was in deep, and it scared me a little. But at the same time, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next.