Finding Me (Love's Not Easy Series Book 1) (7 page)

C
hapter Eight

Normark Resort was amazingly beautiful. The snow was so white with the perfect powder texture. The group was staying in a penthouse room in the resort’s most pristine lodge. It was decorated in Neahovian Mountain decor. The rooms for the ladies were the two on the left side of the staircase.

Aimee and Lexi took their small luggage and walked up the stairs. The guys said they would get settled in, before bringing the rest of the girls luggage up. Aimee laid her bag on her bed and went to look at the fresh snow covered slopes.

“Aimee, what’s on your mind?” Lexi asked as she started unpacking.

“Nothing. Why?”

“You are being unusually quiet.”

“I am just taking in the mountain view.”

“Well, you and LJ seemed to be getting along very good.”

Aimee moved over to her bed. “Thanks for the setup.”

“Me? Never.”

“Yes, you and Colin.”

“Hey, Colin came to me with the idea. Actually, LJ wanted him to make sure you rode the front with him.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So, what do you think of him?”

“Are you doing research for him and Colin?”

Lexi sat down on her bed. “No. I am asking, as your friend.”

“He seems nice enough.”

“That’s all… he is nice enough? I am pretty sure I almost walked in on a kiss at Lakeside.”

“And I thank God you did, before I made a complete fool of myself.”

“How?”

“Never mind.”

“Aimee, do you honestly think he is hanging out at our flat so much because of Colin?”

Aimee shrugged her shoulders.

“Ok, let me lay this out for you. I have known LJ my entire life. Granted, he has probably been more of Colin’s friend than any of the rest of us; but, he has never arranged a ski trip for all of us. We have all been here, but with our families, not with LJ.”

“Ok.”

“Ugh. Aimee, are you blind? The guy is majorly hot. He has treated you nicer than I have ever seen him treat anyone. And he arranged this trip to get to know you.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, Lexi, he is so hot and have you noticed his physique? He has lovely eyes too. But, guys like him are not into girls like me.”

“What do you mean girls, like you?”

“Lexi, I am so plain. Guys like the supermodel type, like you and Piper.”

“Oh, honey, you are not plain. Go over and stand in front of the mirror. You have the most beautiful hair. No matter how you fix it, your hair looks great. Even in a messy bun. You have a gorgeous face.”

“Ok, stop. It’s more than how I look. When you’re a Christian, it is hard to find a guy that respects you and how you believe.”

“Ok, that is just dumb on their part.”

“Maybe. But, it is probably why I have never had a boyfriend.”

“Never?” Lexi looked shocked.

“Never.”

“Well, maybe the fact you can’t tell when a guy is flirting with you, has something to do with that.”

Aimee laid back on her bed. “When it comes to guys, I am dumb.”

“No, you’re not. You just need to be taught the art of flirting with guys; and, the art of knowing when a guy is flirting with you.”

“Really, and who is going to teach me?”

“Me, of course. And Piper, if she wants to.”

“Ok.”  Aimee laughed.

“I have one more question before we get started.” Lexi looked her dead in the eyes.

“Ok."

“Have you ever been kissed?”

“Once, eighth grade. It was horrible.”

Lexi roared with laughter. “Oh, honey, all middle school kisses are horrible.”

Aimee sat up. “Ok, what is your story? You tell me I need to learn to flirt; but, you are just as single as I am.”

“Well, I guess that depends on who you ask. My sisters say I am too picky. My friends say I expect too much.”

“Get with it, Lexi. What is the reason you are single?”

“Ok. I am tired of dating jerks and losers. I had enough of that in high school. The guy I dated last year took the cake. It was our Senior Prom and he went missing; so, I went to look for him, and found him and my, so called, best friend doing a little more than kissing. They are parents now.”

“Wow. Major jerk. I thought my prom date was bad.”

“Well that day I decided, from that point on, I will date with caution. No more jerks.”

Aimee laid back down. “Lexi, love’s not easy.”

“No, Aimee, it’s not. What did your prom date do?”

“His name was Morgan, and he is the son of one of my dad’s campaign people. He kept the dance floor hot, just not with me. I got the first dance and last dance.”

♥
♥

It was just before seven p.m. when James and Piper arrived. James went to put his stuff away and Piper joined the girls in their room. Aimee sat Piper down and told her all about the conversation she had with Lexi. Lexi added her own dramatization from time to time.

Piper just laughed at them. “The two of you are hopeless. Aimee, LJ has been flirting with you forever and, Lexi, you are going to pass up Mr. Right if you don’t narrow down your requirements.”

Lexi acted shocked. “What requirements would you like me to get rid of, Piper?”

“Start with hair color. Not just blondes, ok?”

Aimee shook her head. “You required they be blonde. Man, Lexi.”

“Oh yeah, at least I know when a guy flirts with me.”

“Ok, LJ has been flirting with me. That doesn’t mean he wants to date me. Some guys are just flirts.”

“Oh, he wants to date you.” Lexi grinned.

Aimee set in the floor and pulled her knees to her chest. “Lexi, since I have now confessed my lack of dating experience to you, both of you know that I have never been in a relationship. My dating experience consists of a few bad blind dates and the horrible Prom date.”

“If it makes you feel better, Aimee, Colin told me he had a long talk with LJ. He told him you are like a sister to him; and, if he was not serious about you, to back off.” Lexi sat beside her.

“I know it sounds stupid, but sometimes when guys like LJ give me attention, I feel like I am a project of some sort or a joke.”

Piper joined them on the floor. “You’re not. Colin would not let him do you like that.”

Lexi stood up. “Alright, Aimee, let’s make a deal. I will be less picky, if you promise to have more confidence in yourself when it comes to guys.”

“Ok, but one other thing concerns me. He is not a Christian.”

Lexi shrugged her shoulder. “Does he have to be?”

“It definitely helps. A Christian guy would already know my boundaries before I would have to mention them. I am not sure LJ will.”

Piper stood. “If he likes you, he will. If he doesn’t respect you, then Colin and Aiden will beat him up.”

“I guess you’re right. There is just something in my brain telling me to be careful.”

“If I said that, Aimee, I would be told I am being too picky.” Lexi laughed.

Piper stood on the bed. “Ok team, here is the game plan. Lexi, stop being so picky. You are not allowed to search for flaws in a guy; if they are not obvious, don’t look until you find one; like, one eyebrow is thicker than the other.” That caused Aimee to laugh.

“Aimee, this is no laughing matter.” Piper had to regain her composure so she would not laugh. “You need to accept that guys think that you’re hot; with your long legs and gorgeous hair, you are so many guys’ dream woman. When guys flirt with you, flirt back. Got it?”

Aimee and Lexi laughed. “Yes, coach!”

“Ok, girls, I want you to go out there flirt, giggle, talk, and dance. I want to see you both having good, clean fun on this vacation. Do I make myself clear?”

This time they saluted her. “Mam, yes, mam!”

Lexi yelled out. “But, I don’t have a man.”

Aimee patted her shoulder. “Oh, we will find you one.”

“That’s what I am talking about; now, get out there flip, that hair back, and flirt.”

Piper jumped down off the bed and opened the door. She could contain her laughter no longer, so all the girls went down stairs, laughing hysterically.

The next morning everyone, went to the main lodge for breakfast. Then, the girls hit the shopping stores for ski and snowboarding gear. While the guys went to the men’s sport shop to get their gear. Lexi text Ava to see if she wanted them to get her anything. Ava text her back, stating she was fine; if she decided to go on the slopes, she would purchase her stuff at that time.

At eleven o’clock, they hit the ski slopes. Aimee loved the freedom she felt on the slopes; she was handling herself like a pro. She and LJ hit some of the more difficult slopes and at one o’clock, they joined the others for lunch.

Aiden and Ava had made it to the resort by then. Aiden met them for lunch, while Ava chose to stay at the penthouse. Aiden was itching to do some snowboarding. So, the group headed to the area on the resort that had half pipes and snowboard runs. When they reached the half pipe, they saw a group of boarders doing tricks.

One of the guys stopped and came over to them. “Hey, LJ. What’s up?”

“Hey, Drew. Man, your tricks are getting tight.”

“Thanks, man. I practice when I can.”

“How long are you on the mountain?” LJ started putting on his gloves.

“Two weeks, then back to East Newport University.” He took off his hat, exposing his wavy, blonde hair.

“No kidding, I am studying at Ancaster.  We are only like an hour away, we need to meet up…”

Aimee stopped listening at that point, she turned to her right and noticed Lexi looking at Drew. Aimee took her arm and motioned at Piper.

The two girls walked over to Piper. “Found him.” Aimee grinned.

“Found who?”

“Lexi a man.” Aimee motioned toward LJ and Drew.

Piper took a good look at him. “Wow.” James cleared his throat.

“Don’t worry, I still think you are hotter. Well, Lexi, don’t let him get away.  Get over there and teach Aimee the art of flirting.”

Lexi grinned as she walked toward LJ, Aiden, and Drew. Just as she reached them, she turned her attention to Drew, flipping her hair off her shoulder. When Aimee made it over, she took a tip Lexi gave her last night and touched LJ’s elbow.

He looked over at her and grinned. “Hey.”

“Hey.” She took a loose piece of hair and tucked it behind her ear, another tip from Lexi.

“Drew, this is Aimee.” Aimee simply smiled, but made sure she brought her attention back to LJ. That tip was from Piper. He pointed to Lexi, who had managed to position herself close, but not too close, to Drew. “And this is Lexi.”

Lexi took control at that point, looking him in the eye, but not for too long. Then she smiled and reached out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Drew took her hand. “The pleasure is all mine.”

Lexi looked at his snow board. “Nice board.”

“Thanks. Do you snowboard?”

“No, but I would love to learn.”

Aiden was well aware of his cousin’s flirting. “You know, Drew, Lexi is studying at Ancaster as well.”

Lexi, knowing all too well, that Aiden was getting ready to ramble to torture her, she took action. “Drew, I have an idea. Both Aimee and I want to learn to snowboard, so why don’t you teach me and LJ can teach Aimee?”

Before Aimee knew it, she found herself standing on a bank, acting as if she had no clue how to snowboard. Aimee was feeling silly, acting like she had no clue as how to snowboard. She had spent almost every Christmas on the slopes. Her dad was a fanatic when it came to ski resorts. She has been boarding since she was eleven. She preferred it to skiing.

Piper stood on the bottom of the slope, cheering everyone on and encouraging Aimee and Lexi when they would pretend to fall. Which was happening way more than Aimee would have liked, because right now, all she wanted to do, was make Drew eat her powder.

Aimee started having fun, once she pretended she finally knew the basics of boarding. She did dread admitting it to Piper and Lexi exactly how much fun she was having now that her guard was down. LJ was enjoying helping her and every time he would put his arms around her to show her how to stand or shift her body, he would give her a hug.

LJ and Drew went over a few more basic moves, and then joined Piper, James, and Aiden at the bottom of the slope. Lexi was in the front, with Aimee following close behind her. The group of friends at the bottom of the slope was in clear view. All of a sudden, Lexi came to an abrupt stop, causing Aimee to plow right into her, sending both of them down the hill rolling.

They managed to stop a few feet from LJ and Drew, who came running to them. Aiden started to run, but realized LJ was going for Aimee. LJ took Aimee’s hand, and helped her stand.