Faulty Trust || Katie McCabe

31

Seb had gotten us all up far too early, but after an early morning ski session we found ourselves with the familiar aches in our legs eating a fantastic brunch at the lodge. None of us were at the same level in our winter sports, but we were all decent enough to head down in one big pack, causing chaos along the way. A group of five riders taking up the entire left side of the slope where a few jumps were weaved between the trees was a recipe for disaster.

I probably shouldn't be snowboarding with the winter break being so short and the fact that I was coming off a broken collarbone. Or the fact that Seb might've towed me into a few of the smaller jumps, but it was fine. I couldn't not enjoy myself. What the physio staff didn't know, they couldn't scold me for. It was my mission to make sure that they never find out I went snowboarding in the backcountry of Norway.

Elaina had booked us a brunch while Seb drove us up to the resort, and all of us had thanked her when hunger became apparent during the first run down the mountain. We all failed to eat anything sustainable for breakfast because Seb was adamant about getting a full morning and afternoon on the slopes before partying in the evening. Though there was a lot of groaning and complaining from everyone but Seb, we all had a blast whether we wanted to admit it or not.

Carsen seemed to mesh with the group surprisingly well and even held her own through Elaina's relentless teasing and my impeccable ability to make everything a challenge. We'd actually made a great duo on the slopes, and I even got her to hit a few of the jumps after Seb and I. If I didn't know any better, she could've fooled me on her ability level.

"So do you actually play for Arsenal?" Carsen, who was sat next to me, asked curiously. Seb was sat on the other side of her while Elaina and Nora were on the other side of the round table. The conversation had found a lull, and everybody was in their own world or talking amongst themselves quietly.

An amused smile tugged at my lips. "Yes, I do. Why?"

"I've never seen you before, and I've been to almost all of the women's games the last few years." Carsen's eyes were a grey colour I'd never seen before; or, well, not exactly, but they were captivating. She was just a hair shorter than I was, and her blonde hair was slightly tousled because of the helmet she'd been wearing.

"I signed for Arsenal at the beginning of this season, and then I was out for the two matches against Tottenham because of an injury. That might be why," I explained casually. I watched as understanding filled her eyes, and she nodded her head.

"That makes sense," she paused. "Are you a defender by chance?"

My lips twitched up in half amusement, half surprise at her ability to guess correctly where I played. "I'm a centre-back."

Carsen didn't reply verbally, simply nodding in response as her eyes lingered on mine a little longer than necessary before she glanced away. I didn't think much of it and passed it off as her zoning out like I did occasionally. Though I felt a pair of eyes on me and turned to see Elaina raising an eyebrow with a mischievous look in her eye that I didn't like one bit. So I narrowed my eyes, and she simply grinned before falling back into conversation with Nora.

Had she seen something that I didn't?

An hour or so later I found myself back on the ski lift next to Elaina, who hadn't said a word to me the entire time. The sun was out, and it provided just the smallest bit of warmth to make it a perfect powder day on the slopes; I wouldn't have it any other way. When Elaina shifted beside me, it became clear she wanted to say something but had chosen not to, probably for my own sanity and her own well-being. Though the more she shifted, the more I grew slightly annoyed.

I huffed, "Can you not sit still for more than a minute?" My tone was laced with sarcasm, but annoyance simmered beneath it enough for Elaina to get to the point: "What's up with you?"