“Which is your favorite winter activity? After reading, of course.”
“I like snowshoeing. It’s the only winter sport I don’t feel like a complete klutz.”
“You’re not klutzy.”
“Compared to Stella and Felix, I am.”
“I heard my name,” Felix says, plopping down into a chair next to Teddy. “Are you telling her how I kicked your ass on the slopes?”
“You got me,” Teddy says with a chuckle.
Stella, Lucas, and Emmett are behind Felix, and they gather around in a circle, drinking and warming up. The snow stopped and the sun is shining. It’s the type of winter weather that makes you feel like you should get out and do something, instead of sit inside (well, not me, but other people) and as soon as the guys finish their drinks, I can tell they’re antsy to get back out there.
“You ready to fall down some more?” Felix nudges Teddy.
“I’m almost dry.”
“Come on, Radford.” Felix stands. “You can’t give up yet.”
Stella jumps up, ready to go too.
“Good luck,” I say and wiggle my fingers at a reluctant looking Teddy.
“I’m gonna need it.” He slowly gets to his feet and groans, looking around the room like maybe he’s appreciating it in here like I do, then his gaze stops on me. “Staying in here looks a whole lot better.”
The guys start drinking as soon as we get back from the resort, and by the time eight o’clock rolls around, they’re ready to kick it up a notch. The liquor bottles come down and more people fill the already-cramped living area.
I’m sitting with Teddy and one of his and Felix’s teammates, Garrison, who lives nearby and drove up for the night, watching them play something on the Xbox. The rest of the guys have set up beer pong on the dining room table. The other couch is taken by a group of girls the guys met the first night—Tricia and Anna, and a couple more I haven’t been introduced to yet, and in the kitchen are more people I don’t know.
Stella is hiding in the bedroom talking to Beau, so I’m doing my best to blend in until she’s done.
“Do you need another drink?” Teddy asks as he gets up from the couch. Tonight, he’s wearing a white Valley U football hat and his dark blond hair curls around his ears.
The hard seltzer in my hand is nearly full, but I say, “Sure. Thanks.”
Anna rushes to take his spot. Her hair is long and blonde, and she smells like cotton candy. “Is he your boyfriend?”
“Teddy?” I ask, watching his back move to the fridge.
She quickly nods her head up and down like a bobblehead.
“No,” I say, and immediately regret it because her eyes gleam with excitement.
“I didn’t think so, but I wanted to be sure. Thank you!” She hurries back to her friends and tells them the good news.
I feel a prick of irritation and unease because I really don’t want to be stuck in the same house as my crush while he hooks up with another girl, but when Teddy comes back and hands me a cold can and falls into the seat next to me, I push away my annoyance and move an inch closer to him.
“Same game?” Teddy asks Garrison.
“I think I’m out. I need to move around.” Slowly, he moves his booted foot from the coffee table and grimaces.
Teddy leans back on the couch. “What’s the latest word from the doctor?”
Garrison was injured in a football game earlier in the season. It was a nasty hit, though they all look pretty brutal to me. I cringe every time Felix gets sacked, which thankfully isn’t that often.
“He thinks I can rehab it without surgery, but I have to wear this fucking boot for another week. I’m losing my mind.”
Teddy stays silent, but nods. “Sorry, man.”
“That stupid fucker Ricci is going down next year. He should have been ejected for that dirty hit.” He gets to his feet and grumbles, “I need a shot or twelve.”
“Is he okay?” I ask when he’s gone.
“Yeah. His foot will heal, but he’s gonna be pissed for a while.”
“What did he mean about it being a dirty hit? They all look awful to me.”
“It came late, after the play. Garrison was already out of bounds when Ricci took him down. It’s tough for refs to call.” Teddy continues, “Things out there happen so fast. Guys have a hard time stopping but sometimes it’s just dirty.” Teddy releases a breath and holds out the controller to me.
“I’ve never played this game,” I say, but take it and sit up to place both of my drinks on the table.
“We can play whatever you want.” He navigates back to the menu to show me the options.
“Have you ever been injured playing football? Aside from the thumb dislocation last year.”
“Good memory.” The smile he aims at me makes me dizzy. “Not like Garrison. No broken bones or injuries that have kept me sidelined, but I’ve had plenty of bumps and bruises. What about you?”
“Me?” I shake my head. “I was never into any sports, except swimming, and one summer I played softball with Stella.” I shudder at the memory.
“I bet you looked pretty cute in a baseball cap.” He takes the hat off his head and places it on mine, then leans back to get a better look at me. “Yep. I knew it.”
“We wore visors.” Frenetic energy courses through me. Being near Teddy, especially when I’m talking to him, has this weird effect on me, where I want to lean into the moment while simultaneously wishing I was invisible.
His smile widens. I leave on the hat. It’s too big, falling over my eyes, but I don’t care.
I place a hand to my cheek. “It’s kind of hot in here.”
He tilts his head to the door. “Want to step outside for a minute?”
I think the heat coursing through me is more from him being so close than the temperature in the cabin, but I nod. We abandon our spots on the couch and head for the front door. Teddy holds it open for me and I blush harder as I walk in front of him.
It hasn’t snowed any more, but the front porch is still partially covered. We stand at the railing, looking out toward the tree line to the right of the cabin.
Teddy groans and rolls his neck.
“You can take three-hundred-pound dudes pummeling into you, but you fall to the ground on your own and turn into a big ole’ baby,” I tease.
“Yeah, yeah.” He hits the brim of his hat, still on my head, and fights a smile. “I tried to keep up with your brother. That was a mistake. My ass is black and blue.”
I laugh softly. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” He turns, so his back is against the railing, and looks over at me. “It’s so peaceful out here. Feels like we’re inside a Christmas movie.”
“Yeah, I guess it does a little.” I tip my head up to look at the stars. The cold is seeping in through my thin sweater and I hug myself for added warmth. “But we’d be the least festive house in the movie.”
A rough chuckle leaves his lips and hangs in a cloud of cool air.
“We’re totally festive. Felix is even wearing his Santa hat again.” He gives his head a shake. “I made fun of him for it, but the girls flock to him in that thing.”