On Thin Ice by Piper Rayne

Author:Piper Rayne
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter Fourteen

Our heads rest millimeters apart, our fingers inches away from one another, our breaths releasing in an even stream. With my laptop propped up on my suitcase, we Netflix and Chill in the literal sense.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?” I turn toward her.

“What?” Her eyes remain on the screen.

“Do you love alpine skiing?”

She doesn't respond right away. She winces, turning her body sideways to look at me.

“Don't.”

She shakes off my concern. “I'm good.” Her hands tuck under my pillow and there's something way too intimate going on right now, but this must be what having a girl for a friend is like.

I've never had a real female friend before and that's half the reason I don't understand Beckett and Skylar. They’re always touching each other without ever getting to the really good stuff. What’s the point? But having Demi in my bed warms parts of me that are normally cold and vacant. Being friends with a girl is a lot different than being one with a guy.

“I'll answer the question if you answer one of mine,” she finally says.

Of course, I should’ve known Demi wouldn't put herself out there if I wasn't prepared to do the same. The question is, am I? Not many people in my life know about my family situation. Grady and Brandon are the only ones. All Beckett really knows is my family is as absent as his.

“Okay, but be kind,” I say.

She giggles, her hand shoving me. “Sure.”

She thinks for a moment, her eyes staring up at the ceiling and she inhales a few deep breaths. “I did. I mean, I do enjoy it.” Her face scrunches. “I think I'd like it a lot more if my mom wasn't so involved. She makes it hard. It's the classic story of a child never feeling good enough.”

I nod. From the small things she's mentioned I figured as much. “Why don't you ask her to stop coaching you?”

She huffs. “Have you met my mother?”

“I haven't had the pleasure.”

“She’d never let me train solely with another coach where she didn’t have any input. Mother knows best. She's a three-time medalist. Her not being involved is not even a remote possibility.” The smile on her face looks forced and I hate it. “It's not all bad though. I mean I might not be here if it wasn't for her. She pushed me when I wanted to play with Barbies instead. And I do have love for the sport. When I'm on that hill, she's not in my ear and it's just me and my skis. Those are my favorite moments.”

“What would you do if you didn't ski?”

It's a tough question and I don't even have an answer if I was asked myself. During off-season, I freak out about what I'll do when I'm too old to compete in this sport.

A long stream of breath leaves her mouth. “Teach it?” she laughs. “I have no idea. Every winter I've skied. My mom always arranged for me to go to school through summer to have the winters off.

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