Leave the Space

Chapter 4

The afternoon consisted of heavy snow changing our plans to go into the town. It would be a movie afternoon in the room plus face masks, wine, and popcorn.

We settled on The Proposal, that way we could only half pay attention to the movie. The first distraction coming in the first twenty minutes.

I looked over to Danielle who let out a happy sound and immediately sat up on the couch. The face mask wrinkling dramatically as she smiled and cleared her throat.

"Ladies, do we have plans for tomorrow night?"

The question making me realize she finally received the text from Matteo.

"I mean dinner," Alice replied.

"Nothing that I know of," I said knowingly.

Danielle held her phone in front of her face. "Well clear your very busy schedules. We have a sledding activity."

"That sounds fun. With the guys," Alice asked and Danielle confirmed by nodding. "Where," she continued.

Danielle looked at her phone prepping the answer.

"Base of the slopes here at the resort," I spoke up which resulted in both eyes flashing to me.

"Are you texting Ian," Alice asked curiously.

I shook my head no.

Danielle glared at me. "A mind reader?"

Her comment made me chuckle. "No," I giggled taking a moment to catch my composure. "I met one of the guys in the hot tub after yoga," finally sharing. "He told me about it then too."

"Which one did you meet," Alice said curiously.

"The one that was distant at the bar the first night," I shared.

Danielle hummed trying to figure it out. "Which one. The one in the glasses?"

"That's him," I confirmed.

Danielle's mouth fell slightly open. "I wasn't fully convinced he was with the group."

Alice added on. "I'm not even sure who you're talking about."

"Well all that to say he told me about it," I smiled.

"Shut the fuck up," Danielle grinned throwing the pillow at me.

"Don't you dare mess up my face mask," I laughed back patting my fingers to my face.

"I mean there have to be more details, spill," Alice demanded.

I pulled my legs into me and looked to both of my friends. Their attention fully on me, the movie not even a concern to any of us.

"Well first off, the interaction was 5-10 minutes tops," I wanted to clarify.

"But enough to get an invite," Danielle mumbled. "Who is this guy," she said directly.

"We ended up hot tubbing after my yoga class. I guess he was in it too but didn't notice. For staying away at the bar and then he didn't come the night we were all in the hot tub, I was caught off guard my how friendly and easy the conversation was."

"Did you learn anything about him?"

"A man to perk your curiosity for sure. His name is Charles. Like a few of the other guys he's from Monaco."

"You means lives in Monaco," Alice said.

"No. Like born and raised in Monaco," I replied.

Danielle looked as shocked as me from that information. "Jesus. Does he even have to work living there?"

"He does, but his answer was vague. When someone says they work in the car industry here what do they mean."

Alice chuckled to my question. "Well in Monaco we are talking the nicest cars in the world."

"Like what kind of car. A Tesla," I asked ignorantly due to my lack of knowledge in the European car market.

"Oh my sweet US summer child," Danielle sighed bringing her hand to her face. "Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, or a freaking Ferrari."

"You already said that one," I said sassily with a grin.

"It proves her point though. We are talking about a Monegasque man named Charles that could work for someone like freaking Fer..."

Alice stopped talking and locked eyes with Danielle, both of them not continuing and staying quiet.

"Ferrari. Yes yes, not Tesla but Ferrari," I said dramatically and rolled my eyes. The point wad understood yet amusing.

The silence welcomed me though instead of a response. Danielle's jaw looked clenched and peering over to Alice. Alice looked confused with her eyebrows pulled together.

"What? I'm sorry I didn't mean to say Tesla," I sighed.

"You're forgiven," Danielle practically whispered finally looking back to me.

"It'll be interesting to meet this man," Alice chuckled before looking to the movie. "Oh I love this part," she said happily.

All of the sudden the attention was back on the movie which surprised me by the immediate change of topic. The girls always wanted to talk about guys with me but this was the first time it was ever entertained by me. I appreciated the change of topic though. We were the ones picking a part a simple conversation I had with one guy.

In seconds Alice and Danielle were both on their phones now instead of watching the movie. I huffed and pulled my phone out.

To Avery: Italy is incredible, wish you could see it with us. Will send you pictures from the mountains tomorrow.

I closed my phone. Not quite sure what unhinged our chatter I spoke up.

"What is it," I said breaking the silence and both of them put their phone down.

"I'm just excited about tomorrow," Alice said happily but there was an undertone of sketchiness. I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Don't glare at Alice," Danielle chuckled. "We are just excited. You talking to this Charles," she said exaggerating his name. "I'll be so curious to meet him."

"What did he look like," Alice asked.

I hummed thinking about him. "Nicely tall, maybe 6 feet."

"In centimeters please," Danielle asked.

"Ugh, give me a second," I said shaking my head. The conversion taking a second to convert. "180 something centimeters," I clarified.

"Thank you," Alice said happily. "Andddd."

"He was clearly fit, but kind of a lean fit. He had brown hair. Oh, but I kid you not he has the most inviting eyes and smile. It was the main thing I noticed. Plus these dimples will draw you right in," I replied getting carried away and catching myself. "What I mean to say is he was nice," I giggled embarrassed my myself.

"Mhmmm," Danielle said with her eyebrows raised. "You hear that Alice. That that was a giggle with nice."

Alice had her hands to her face looking like she was about to explode. "Nice. Of course. We like nice brunette men from Monaco, iconic dimples, in the car industry, and devilishly handsome."

"Don't you dare," Danielle said cutting her off causing both of them to break out laughing.

I was amused but confused. I quietly giggled with them not knowing what was that funny but was now beyond ready to change the topic. "So for tomorrow. Morning is cross country skiing."

"Then sauna session before pizza and sledding at 8pm," Danielle added recovering from her laughter.

"Under the lights, is that a thing?" I asked curiously.

"Sure is," Alice shared.

"That'll be so fun. Can't wait," I said happily.

Alice smiled along. "Neither can we."