“Wow, marriage has already mellowed you,” I joke, and as I turn my head to look at her, I’m just in time to catch one of her eye rolls.
“I’m not so mellow that I won’t give you crap when you deserve it.” My only response is a nod, as I wouldn’t expect anything less from Jasmine.
She squints as she looks at me more closely, her eyebrows drawn down. “All jokes aside, you look tired. I know you’ve really been putting in long hours at the office lately.”
I can’t hold in the exasperated sigh that escapes from my mouth. “Jazzy, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. Besides, I’m here like you wanted, and I’m going to get a break from work this week,” I remind her.
We continue to talk for a little while longer, enjoying the opportunity to catch up. Even though we see each other every day in the office, we don’t often get a chance to just do this. It’s a shame Rory couldn’t join us until next week. My older brother is my best friend and, like Jasmine, one of the few people I trust completely.
Our family dynamic is the key to the success of our business. We are all very close. Dad was my hero growing up and still is. He is responsible for taking our commercial and residential sales company in Manhattan from successful to the best. My mother is his emotional rock, and his three children make up his loyal executive team.
Dad’s mantra has always been,hard work will bring your dreams closer, and I’ve lived by this. Maybe I took the lesson to heart a little more seriously than my siblings, but that’s just the way I tick. I thrive on hard work, and even though the rest of my family worry that I’m missing fun, I don’t feel that way.
I date, not a lot over the years, but on and off. Unfortunately, most of the women in my past have complained about my working long hours. Which, of course, means I didn’t spend enough time with them. And they moved on.
Thinking about it now, it’s been a few months since my last temporary girlfriend checked out on me. That could be why I had such an immediate attraction to Madison. I run my hand through my hair and make an effort to tune back into the conversation; I don’t need to be racing off to the bathroom again.
The guys are talking business. Scott is telling the others about the new surfboard his design company will be releasing next summer. He has become extremely successful selling his boards globally, and now it sounds like he is branching out into winter sports.
“Hey, Scott, are you seriously thinking of making custom snowboards?” I’m not a surfer, but I’d be interested in getting one of his snowboards.
Blake interrupts, “Yeah, that’s really cool. Next winter vacation, we could all get new boards.”
“Sorry, Blake, a custom board can only account for so much. You still need skill to get down the mountain,” Scott retorts with a cheesy grin.
The guys are close because they all served together in Afghanistan, and I’ve come to learn that this back-and-forth banter is common. Having gone out for drinks with them in the past, I know it’s best to sit back and enjoy the entertainment.
Luke takes Scott’s side tonight, adding, “Very true, Scotty. Blake snowboards like he surfs … badly.” Blake just laughs it off.
The ribbing ends with Scott promising to let us all help him test out the new designs. Even Blake. And soon after, the party is breaking up with a final confirmation on arrangements for the morning. I walk upstairs with Scott and Jasmine, and when I wish them goodnight, I catch a glimpse of a shiny thick gold band on Scott’s left hand.
I guess their marriage is not a secret anymore.
Chapter 5
Madison
DAY TWO
Imadeit.Aftersleeping past my alarm, rushing to dress in my new snow gear—the shop tags still attached—and skipping breakfast, I’m on time. Finally, I can catch my breath sitting in the back of Jarrod’s SUV with Jasmine beside me. Thankfully Scott jumped in the front seat so I didn’t have to.
It was agreed last night that Jarrod would drive us from Aspen to Snowmass Village this morning. The others are traveling in Luke’s rental car for the twenty-minute drive. I buckle up, then slump back into the leather seat with a heavy sigh.
Jasmine, noticing my exhale, turns to me, a crease pinching at her brow as she asks, “You okay, Mads? You know you don’t need to be nervous about your first time snowboarding. It’s a similar balance and shift to surfing.”
She’s right; I am a little nervous about my first lesson, but it’s not the only reason for the sigh.
I smile at her, glad she can’t tell that it’s her brother that has me all jittery and on edge. He’s the reason I didn’t sleep well last night and then missed my alarm.
I brush away thoughts of Jarrod and his proximity to me in the enclosed space, the faint hint of a woodsy cologne drifting back from his seat in the front and waking up my senses.
“Thanks for the confidence boost. But really, I’m looking forward to it. Once I get into my first lesson, I’ll be fine.”
Her smile widens. “Great! And when you’ve mastered the basics, we can take you up the mountain with us.”
I laugh at her enthusiasm. “Deal. I can’t wait to explore farther than the bunny slopes.” I turn to look out the window at the passing fields wearing their white winter coats as the road gently climbs higher. The pretty scenery is a perfect distraction from the man in the front, and shortly after, we are pulling into the main parking garage at Snowmass.
Jasmine and Scott waste no time in unloading their boards and strapping on their boots, and with a wave and a “Have a good day,” they’re off, leaving me standing beside Jarrod. All my trying to avoid him last night, and yet here we are now, standing alone in an uneasy silence.
