Fraser Mountain - Living the snow life

Chapter Twenty Nine

To: LexieMcGinty@yahoo.co.uk

From: Evelyn.Cotton@bbc.co.uk

Subject: Are you completely mental?

What has happened to the raring-to-go Lexie McGinty that I left at the airport three months ago? Because she would not be asking me if she should start shagging the sexy Ski Patrol man… she’d just get on and do it, kicking this pathetic little upstart Emily what’s-her-chops to one side?

I bet you a fiver Aaron looks like that Calvin Klein model now that the beard’s gone A.W.O.L.

So, I have one question? What in the hell are you waiting for?

V

Xxx

PS. And don’t tell me about bloody avalanches… are you trying to scare the crap out of me? Probably a good idea not to mention that to your Mum either.

PPS – the dog sounds adorable, BTW. Can you smuggle him back to the UK in your board bag?

I’m about to hit the reply button when I hear someone downstairs, taking to Jenn in a loud voice. There’s the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, followed by the unmistakable voice of Dan hollering.

‘G’Day!? You decent?’

I jump up from the bed and smile as he strolls into my room, giving me a tight hug. He smells ever so faintly of stale beer and the stubble on his chin tickles my skin. He looks like he hasn’t shaved in a few days.

‘Well, as I live and breath it’s Dan the Man… where the hell have you been hiding for the last few days?’ I ask, letting him go.

‘Oh, you know. The usual places.’ he replies, shrugging off his jacket and flopping down on my bed. ‘It’s been mental at work… what with the avalanche and about a gazillion tourists wanting lessons, I’ve been a busy dude. How’s Azzo doing? I went to see him in the hospital but I must’ve just missed you?’

‘He seems to be fine. I dropped him off at home yesterday but I would imagine he’s crawling up the walls by now with boredom. You should pop in and see him on the way home.’ I suggest.

‘Might just do that. Why don’t you come with?’

That would hardly fit into my new Avoid-Aaron-Irving-At-All-Costs plan, so I decide to get economical with the truth. ‘Oh… I’m pretty settled here actually. I just got a funny email from Evie and I want to write back.’

‘Cool, what’d she say?’

‘Oh, nothing much…. Just telling me about stuff back at home…’ I avoid looking at him as I suddenly spot a stray pair of socks on the floor and pick them up.

‘Yeah, righto…’ He says, giving me a funny look. I can’t put much past Dan, perceptive little bastard that he is. He’s honestly like a male version of Evie. It’s great, but also really annoying that he can already read me like a book.

‘So!’ I exclaim, desperate to avoid any conversation involving sexy ski patrollers. ‘A little bird told me that you’d be hanging out with local rednecks in The Royal… care to elaborate?’

Now it’s his turn to look shifty. He refuses to meet my eyes, fiddling with a stray thread on my quilt. ‘Oh… you know.’ He shrugs. ‘They’ve got some really nice beers in there. It’s not as bad as everyone makes out.’

‘Okay…’ I reply. He’s definitely not telling me the whole story. I wonder what’s going on? Maybe he’s met someone and he’s keeping it private, which is completely fair enough. I sometimes have to remind myself that even though I feel like I’ve known him for years, I haven’t. He gets up from the bed and picks up one of my books absentmindedly. ‘So, the reason I came over is that we’re doing a Pot Luck at our place tonight. You in? Tazzy and Trav are coming.’