“Ittook some searching to find whereDoomslideSummitis,”Isay. “Didyou know it’s not an officially named hill?”
Annettelaughs.It’snot a chuckle and it’s not a hearty laugh.It’sa musical thing, and it’s a beautiful sound. “Goodthing you have those spy skills to help you out.”
Ican’t believeI’dsaidIgained skills by training as a spy.First,Iwas an intelligence operative.Second, that’s a secretIguard fiercely, not somethingIjoke about.I’dflinched the momentIsaid it yesterday and was hoping she’d forget about it.Buthere we are.
Inod. “Otherwise,Icouldn’t have checked it out already to gauge whetherI’mmanly enough to brave it.”
Shelaughs a bit more this time. “Didyou decide that you are?”
Ishrug, even though this hill is no match for me.Notlong ago,Isped down anOlympicluge track on my back with a thin fiberglass and steel sled between me and the track.Andthe track had parabolic curves and hairpin bends.ButI’mnot here to brag or sound likeI’mbragging.SoIsay, “Idon’t know.Itsounds pretty intense.”
Ihaven’t dated for a while, butIdated a lot in my younger years.Asa field operative,Inever allowed any relationship to move beyond casual becauseIdidn’t think my job and a serious relationship could coexist.Afterleaving the field for the role ofDirectorofCovertIdentityandDisguise,Icould’ve settled down and had a real relationship, butInever found anyone who really grabbed me.Untilnow.Annettehas grabbed hold of me firmly andIcan’t stop thinking about her.
“Please,”Annettesays. “Iwatched you hang lights like it was aSundaystroll.”
“Ahh, but they didn’t train us in snow tubing.”Idid do anEscapeand evasion techniques using natural terraincourse and part of that was descending uneven mountainous areas, butIcan honestly say we didn’t get “snow tubing” training.
“Soyou’re saying this could be more dangerous than a covert operation?” she asks.
“Maybe.Ifyou hear me shout ‘abort,’ you’ll know.”I’lladmitIdo enjoy joking with her about the spy thing even if it makes me flinch.
Ipark near the top of the hill and pull the inflated snow tubes out of the back of my crossover.Aswe walk to the hill,Iask, “So, when was the last time you did this?”
“Oh, wow.Um…”Annettethinks for a moment. “ProbablywhenReesewas still too young to sled by herself.Shewas five the first time she braved it alone, so the winter before that.”
“Acouple of decades, then?”
“Soundsabout right.”
“That’stoo long ago,”Ihand her a tube. “I’mglad we’re going to remedy that.”
Thehill is long and decently high.We’reprobably going to get some good speed going down.Ican see why it’s a favorite sledding spot—there is plenty of flat, open field at the end of the hill.Well, except for one section toward the bottom where it looks like some kids piled up snow to make a ramp.
Idrop our tubes, then spot a sturdy stick a couple of feet long and pick it up before we both get situated on our tubes.Theyhave handles on the sides, and we grasp the ones on the outsides, butIreach across to grab hold of her inside handle and she grabs hold of mine, linking us together.
“Ready?”Iask.
Shenods, butIcan see she’s a bit nervous.
“Anytips you’d like to share before we take off?”Iask. “Youknow, besides ‘Closeyour eyes and hope for the best.’”
“Irecommend keeping them open until we’re aimed in the right direction.Unlessyou want to risk veering toward that ramp.”
“Solidadvice.Okay, to both of us—good luck, have fun, and don’t die!”Iuse the stick like an oar to nudge us toward the slope.Then,Idrop it and grab onto my handle.
Wepick up speed quickly.We’reboth making sounds like a rallying cry mixed with pure exhilaration and forAnnette, occasionally a scream.Ourtubes start to turn, and then we’regoing down backward before eventually spinning to face the direction we started.Bythe time we slow at the base, we’re both laughing.
“Thatwas such a rush!”Annettesays as we get off our tubes. “I’dforgotten how fun this is!”
Hercheeks are flushed—although that could be windburn from our descent—and her eyes are alive with excitement.
Aswe head toward the hill, hauling our tubes and still breathing heavily from the adrenaline, she asks, “So, is this normal for you?”
Iglance at her. “Snowtubing?”
Sheshrugs. “Adventurousthings in general.”
“I…”Ipause, carefully choosing my words, “have been known to participate in extreme sports now and then.”Itry to take in every facet of emotion on her face.IfIhave to guess,I’dsay her expression is part impressed, part longing, and something elseI’munsure of.
