A Twist of Fate (3 page)

When we got to the top, I tried to shuffle out of the way to
wait up for the others, but my skis had other plans.  They started to slip and I
couldn’t right myself.  My skis inched forward until, sure enough, they began
to carry me down the hill.  Straight downhill.

Faster and faster I went, terrified that I would never stop,
as I headed for the roadside ditch bank filled with snow.  As I neared the
bottom, I saw a rather worried skier with the same trouble and she was coming
right for me.  I was sure our paths would collide in a matter of seconds but, to
my surprise, we crisscrossed awkwardly and fell into the snow.

I avoided the crash, and had fallen backwards onto my butt,
stopping mere inches from the ditch bordering the private road.  My breaths
were ragged and my head ached, as I rested it back in the snow.  I glanced up
at the sky, begging a higher power to give me strength to get through the rest
of the day.  Edwin was so fast that when I looked up, he was standing over me,
smiling.

It was Cam, though, who untangled my skis and lifted me to
my feet.  "What happened?"

"I couldn't stop.  Obviously."  I rolled my eyes,
embarrassed but not surprised.

"Maybe you should get some ski lessons," Edwin
suggested, as Aliah and Hunter effortlessly glided up next to me.  “Not that I
think it’ll work.”

"Nah, I can teach her," Hunter insisted.  “Piece
of cake.”

After a quick refresher course from Hunter, and a few
successful trips down the bunny slope, Hunter figured I was ready for a bigger
mountain.  I had my doubts, as we climbed up the hill toward the ski lift.

Eager to hit the steeper slopes, Aliah and Hunter lined up ahead
of us and the chair scooped them up and away.  Next it was my turn.

Cameron cupped my cheek and gave me a quick kiss.  "You
ready?"

No.
  And yet I found myself being pulled in front of
the lift anyway.  The chair swung around and came up behind us.  At the last
minute, Edwin snuck up next to me and hitched a ride.  Being squished between
the two men in my life would have been awkward on a good day; put skis on me
and it instantly became my worst nightmare.

"You don't think you could've waited your turn?" I
squealed, clinging to Cameron.  It was scary enough hanging from a chair with
sticks strapped to my feet and now I didn't even have a side to hang onto.

Cam smiled, somehow amused by my horror.

"Get over it," Edwin said.  "You should be
thanking me.  You’re gonna need all the help you can get."  And Edwin was the
one man that knew that for a fact.

The last time we returned from a ski trip, I had landed more
than a few bruises, including a really big one to my ego.  I turned to Cameron
with the sudden realization of what I had gotten myself into.

"I think this was a mistake.  I don't think I'm
ready."

"It’s a little late for that," Cam said, as we
were met with the top of the smallish mountain.

Mental imagery was a waste of my time, because there were so
many skis dangling from the chair.  When my sticks touched down, they immediately
tangled with both Edwin and Cameron’s.  Cameron managed to break free from me,
leaving only Edwin to come to my rescue.  I dropped a pole and grabbed for his
arm, causing us both to tumble into a pile in the worn snow.

Edwin fell hard, sending one ski sliding down the mountain. 
With no control over my body, I crashed on top of him.  Though the weather was
windy and cold, Edwin was warm and soft.

"You've gotta be kidding me," he moaned, his head
flat in the snow.  He lifted his body up, so we were both on our asses, then
waved a hand toward his stray ski.

I rolled away from him and stuck out a pouty lip. 
"This is your fault, you know."

Hunter and Aliah had been watching for us and were
laughing.  "You are too much, Abby.  I wish I would’ve caught that on
video,” Hunter teased.

Cameron lifted me to my feet, again.  I scowled at Hunter,
with a sore frown.

"What about me?" Edwin asked, hobbling on one
foot.

"I'll get it," Hunter hollered, skillfully
retrieving Edwin's other ski.  How he walked back up the mountain was a mystery
to me and I couldn't quit watching in awe.  "And that's how it's
done," he proclaimed, as he handed the ski to Edwin.  His eyes quickly
strayed to Aliah, who had competitively sped off down the hill.  Hunter took
the bait and eagerly chased after her.

Cam stole my attention and held my gaze.  "Ready?"

"No," I replied, honestly.  “But I don't think
I'll ever be ready."

He smirked at me, not realizing how serious I was.  "You
go first and I'll follow behind you.  Just remember to put more weight on your
downward ski.”

If it were as easy as that, I would have been at the bottom
already.  “Here goes nothing,” I said, as I started to head to the left.  I
instantly began to pick up speed, until I was racing out of control.  As I desperately
tried to turned back up the mountain, I wiped out, slamming sideways and losing
a ski in the process.

Cameron hurried over to me, but he was smirking.  “Try to
remember to angle your skis together if you want to slow down,” he said, as he
reached for my snow-covered mitt.

All of those tips were but a foggy token, while I tumbled head
first down the mountain.  I gave Cameron a cold, unwholesome eye, and yet he
couldn’t stop smirking at me.  I decided it was time to take my next chance at
death.

When I made it half way down the mountain, I actually
thought I might make it out alive.  That’s when I fell flat on my back and slid
down the remainder of the mountainside, ass-first.  Cameron found it just hilarious. 
Needless to say, I didn't think it was quite so funny.

Determined to give it another go, up the lift we went for
round two.  This time, I was amazed to make it half way down the mountain in
one try.  I thought I was making great progress, but I must have decided that
too soon.  Again, out of control, I zoomed into an icy area blocked off by the
resort, marked DANGER.  No warning sign was enough to keep me from slamming
right into the solid ice and landing flat on my ass.

Ski patrol was on me in a matter of minutes, hollering at me
to come back into the safe zone.  Unable to skate on my feet, I crawled my way
back, one ski in my left hand, both poles in my right.  When I finally made it
to the fresh, powdery snow, Cameron laughed at me and that was it.  I couldn't
take it anymore.  My anger heated my face and melted the snowflakes on my jacket.

"I'm sorry," Cameron said.  "I don't want to
laugh, but it's so funny."

"Screw off."  I scowled even more, wishing he
would leave, so I could wallow in my failure, with my sore body and hurt
feelings.

"Abby, I'm not leaving you," he insisted, his
smirk still firmly in place.

"Yes, you are," I stated, then shoved him down the
hill.  He flashed a worried look back over his shoulder and then continued down
the mountain - without me.

I pouted to myself, angered by his ignorance and also in actual
physical pain from my multiple falls.  I decided I would sit on this mountain all
day, if it meant never having to fall down it ever again.  That was until I saw
Edwin skiing toward me.  He stopped right at my side.

"You okay," he asked.

My arms were folder tightly across my chest.  "Do I
look okay?"

"No."

"There you go then," I snapped.

He didn't smile.  "Hey, I'm just trying to help.  If
you want to give this a try, I'm not gonna give up on you.  You’re almost at
the bottom.  You can do this."

“You know I can’t,” I pouted, knowing I couldn't very well
sit there the rest of the day either.  I accepted his hand when he reached it
out to me, and he pulled me back to my feet.  I was terrified for my life and
didn’t want to let go.

His eyes rested on me momentarily and he took a sharp breath
when I clung onto him.  A smile softly replaced the serious look on his face,
as he helped me snap my boot back into the ski.

A terrified yelp escaped my throat, as Edwin set me free.  I
tried to traverse the mountain but, after one turn, my skis directed me
straight down the slope, again at full speed.

I screamed in fear as I sped to the bottom, but managed to
stay on my feet.  As I headed closer to the foot of the mountain, I slowed just
enough to bring myself to a complete stop, only a matter of feet from Cameron. 
He was smirking again, but I was feeling proud for not falling this time.

"Will you stop?" I ordered.

He fought hard to not smile, until Edwin caught up with us. 
Then he had no trouble keeping a straight face.

I smiled at Edwin and he gave me a wink.  Cameron caught it
too and growled at him, but managed to keep his words to himself.

"I'm gonna go back up.  I can probably make it down
twice for your single trip," Edwin teased.

"You're so funny," I retorted, as Edwin turned away
and headed for the lift.

Cameron skied closer to me and took my hand, staring at me
until I met his gaze.  "Are you mad at me?"

"Kind of.  You hurt my feelings and I really hurt my
ass," I admitted, sorely.

"I'm sorry for laughing."

It was hard to believe him when he was still smirking.  "Are
you done yet?" I retorted, scowling.

His smile was about ready to burst.  "No, just a second." 
He paused, and cleared his throat.  He even managed to wipe the smile from his
face this time.  "Okay, now I'm done."

I rolled my eyes.  "I think maybe I should just watch
from down here."  There was no way in hell anyone was going to get me to
go back up there again.

Cameron looked disappointed.  "Oh, come on.  You got
better near the end there.  You're getting the hang of it."

"Really?"

"Sort of.”  His smile was killer.  “You went through
all the trouble of renting the skis and everything.  You want to end the day
already?"

"Ugh.  Fine.  One more.  But that's it!" 
Damn
his good looks and powers of persuasion.

"Good.  Let's go."  He skied off toward the lift, before
I could come to my senses.

This time around, I got off the chair with little trouble.

"There you go," Cam hollered.

"Stop with that," I snapped, getting tired of
being treated like a child.

If it were at all possible, my skiing actually got worse.  I
found myself heading for an area for more skilled skiers.  I had to purposefully
fall to my knees before running into some nearby trees.

Cameron made an attempt to come help me out, but when he hit
the steep slope, he slid farther down the mountain and was unable to get back
up.

"I got her," Edwin hollered, with his above
average skill.  Edwin came slicing down the mountain and hauled me to my feet. 
"Why is it that I have to keep coming to your rescue?"

"Will you shut up and help me already?"

"Okay, okay.  Take it easy."  He tried to help me
stabilize myself, but when I stood up, my feet came out from under me.

Edwin caught me in his arms, but lost his balance and
crashed down on top of me.  I couldn't help but laugh, even after cracking the
back of my head off the ice.

"You think this is funny?" he asked, his face only
inches from mine.

I couldn't wipe the smile off my face, even when Edwin's features
had turned deathly serious.  I was helplessly pinned beneath him, when I
realized he was going to kiss me.  I timidly examined his eyes and I think he
could sense that I was alarmed, but he didn't let it affect his decision.

"Hey!  Is everything okay over there?" a ski
patroller hollered, breaking the tense atmosphere.

Edwin released me and waved to the patroller.  "She's
okay, I think.  She just bumped her head," he hollered, embarrassing the
shit out of me.

"Come on out of there, it's not safe," the
patroller called.

Edwin helped me to my feet and this time we managed to inch over
to safety on foot.

"You shouldn't be over there," the patroller told
us.  "Those slopes are for experienced downhill skiers only."

"I'm sorry.  I couldn't stop," I admitted.

"I see," he replied, smiling with Edwin. 
"You're sure you're okay?"

I nodded, utterly embarrassed.

"Alright then,” he said to me, then turned to Edwin. 
“You take care."  He pushed off and glided down the slope with such masculine
grace that it sickened me.

Before I could decide on my next move, Edwin was helping me
on my way.  I was surprised how patient he was being with me and I couldn't
help but wonder if he was only doing it to get a rise out of Cameron.  I still
fell another two times, battering my already bruised body, but I finished on my
feet and that was a small miracle.

Cameron was waiting for me at the bottom again and he didn't
look very impressed.  "I thought you got lost," he said to me, then
narrowed his eyes at Edwin.

"You could say that," Edwin answered, just to push
Cameron’s buttons.

"Could you leave us alone, please Eddie?" I begged.

"Whatever you want.  See you later."  He took off
immediately, heading back for the lift, where I saw Hunter and Aliah waiting in
line.  Aliah waved at me wildly and I raised my hand to acknowledge that I saw
her.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not going again.  I'm afraid I
might kill myself if I try hard enough.  You're not mad are you?"

"I'm not mad," he replied, with pause.  “A little
disappointed, but not mad."

"I knew this was a bad idea."  I shook my head
with regret, then I plopped my sore ass into a snow bank.  "I'll just hang
out down here and watch you, if that's okay."

"Okay, I guess.  Why don’t you watch for me and tell me
how good I do.”  He smirked.  “I'm not the most experienced skier, but I think
I’m getting better with every run.”

I smiled at his attempt to make me feel better, as he bent
over for an awkward kiss.  “I’ll be back before you know it,” he said, before
skiing off.