Black Ice by Ali Dean

Author:Ali Dean [Dean, Ali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2016-08-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Ryker’s been to Vermont once before. But that was right after I broke my collarbone and I wasn’t sure if I would return to Stark. He was there to tell me the story about his mother’s affair and murder, and it wasn’t exactly a vacation. This time, Ryker’s acting like he’s a foreigner visiting a new country. He’s observing everything in our house and around town as if he’s never seen anything like it. Taking in my parents and our interactions like a little kid watching his favorite cartoon. Totally enraptured and fascinated. It’s… unnerving and endearing at the same time.

I’ve known for a while now that Ryker’s upbringing wasn’t normal. But as I’ve grown closer to him, and as I’ve read his mother’s journals, it’s sinking in just how much he was deprived of a nurturing family and carefree childhood.

Tonight we’re headed over to the Radners’ house for a Christmas Eve party. They’ve hosted this party every year that I can remember and it gets bigger each time.

My phone buzzes as we turn onto the mile-long driveway, lined with cars.

Chelsea:Where r u?

Me:Parking.

Chelsea:Colton’s here. Just a heads up.

I shoot her a text with an eye roll emoticon. Colton Lennox is old news.

“Who’s Colton?” Ryker murmurs in my ear. We’re in the backseat of my dad’s car, and since one of the seats is permanently down to accommodate skis, we’re squeezed in next to each other.

“A guy I went to high school with. He’s in college now. Hockey player. I guess she’s letting me know because most of the people here are from Sugarville Ski School,” I say as my dad parks the car and turns off the engine.

We slide out and Ryker puts his hand in mine as we walk up the driveway. Colton Lennox was my second kiss, two summers ago. It wasn’t serious and I don’t think there’s any point telling Ryker about that. He knows he’s my first boyfriend.

“Oh, I should warn you.” I suddenly remember that there is something he needs a heads-up about. “Chelsea’s little sister is really into snowboarding. I’m not sure if she’ll be too star-struck to talk to you or if she’ll follow you around all night, but you should be prepared.”

Ryker laughs. “I’m not really that well-known for snowboarding, Roxanne.”

“Maybe not yet, but Livy and her teammates seem to know all about you.” I tell him that I was at the Radners’ last year to watch him at Nationals, and Livy was there with her teammates. They didn’t know he was my boyfriend then, but they know it now. And given that Ryker’s been at Sugarville Mountain with me the past couple of days, I’m sure they’re hoping to meet him tonight.

“And this Colton guy? Is he a snowboarder?” Ryker pries for more information.

Sighing, I murmur, “Only hockey. We had a little tiny fling a couple summers ago. It was before I met you.”

“A little tiny fling,” he repeats as my parents open the front door ahead of us and the sound of a holiday part in full swing bursts out.

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