Ski Lodge

18// Grocery Store

When we get back to the townhouse, we're all exhausted. Getting into hot water after exercise has a special way of knocking me out, so I am asleep as soon as I rinse off in the shower, put my pjs on, walk up two floors, and lie down on the pullout couch. Not fifteen minutes later, Emmett wakes me up.

"Trisha," he says.

"Mmm," I groan as I wake up.

"Hey, Trish," he's stifling his laughter.

"What?" I moan as I turn over to block out the light from his phone flashlight.

"Hey," he shakes my shoulder, "wrong bed."

I shoot up. I feel for my blanket, a soft purple knit that I packed with me but only feel the cool layers of the sheets the townhouse provided. I jump out of bed and land hard on my feet.

"I'm so sorry," I say, now fully alert.

"You're fine! I didn't want to wake you up because you looked so peaceful. I debated... just letting you sleep in my bed... I mean, not with me not. I wouldn't be sleeping with you, next to you! I meant I would've taken your bed. Or the couch! Downstairs. That's why I woke you up."

Maybe it's the lack of sleep making my mind lose all control of my body, but I rise to my tiptoes, hold his shoulder for balance, and give him a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," I say before turning around and running up the stairs to my own bed. I wrap my purple knit blanket around me and drift off with a smile on my face.

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Thursday

I wake up fully rested. It snowed all night, and I can feel the chill seeping in through the windows. I pull on my sweatshirt over my button up short sleeve pjs and pull on some bright pink fuzzy socks. Then I walk downstairs for breakfast.

"You're looking stylish, honey," my dad says as he laughs. I look down at my bright green sweatshirt, navy blue shorts, and neon pink socks and start to pose like a magazine model. "I just woke up like this," I say, sending the room into a chorus of light giggles.

I seem to be the last one awake. Everyone else is scattered around the room eating eggs and toast, so I grab a plate and join Dr Erica Becker on the couch.

"Hey, sweetie. You sleep well?," she asks as she gracefully places her fork on her plate half full of scrambled eggs.

I yawn as if on cue. "Skiing is serious exercise," I reply, "I slept so well, I didn't even know where I was when I woke up!"

She laughs. Emmett looks over at me, and I meet his eyes. He immediately blushes and smiles at me. I smile back.

"Dr Becker, Emmett and I were thinking about going to get vegetables from the general store," I say in between two bites of toast.

"You can probably make it if you're quick," she replies looking at the time on her phone, "it's coming down fast out there. The rest of us are going to stay in today and play some board games. But honestly, I would appreciate a vegetable."

"Should we grab anything else while we're there. In case we get snowed in tonight?"

"Yes, please. Bread and coffee would be great!"

I down the rest of my eggs and a glass of water and grab Emmett. "Come on," I say, pulling him out of his chair. "We have to go quick!" Laura and Weston get excited by my sudden movements and they start running in circles around Emmett as he tries not to run into them as I'm pulling him towards the stairs.