“What do you call what just happened?” I gestured at the steep, winding trail behind us.
Rare mischief gleamed in his eyes. “Alternative winning.”
“Oh, fuck off with that bullshit.” But I couldn’t help laughing.
Since I wasn’t one to ever turn down a challenge, I agreed to the best of three, though I regretted it when Alex beat me by a minute on the second run.
The third run was even closer than our first. We were literally neck to neck until the last second, when I pulled ahead by a hair.
A smug grin bloomed on my face, and I opened my mouth before Alex cut me off.
“Don’t say a word,” he warned.
“Wasn’t going to.” My expression said it all.
“Don’t feel bad.” I clapped him on the back as we walked back to the lodge for dinner. “There’s no shame in alternative winning. Just ask any silver medalist.”
“I don’t feel bad. If I do, I’ll just buy myself a gold medal. Twenty-four karats, Cartier.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“Always.”
I shook my head with a laugh. I hadn’t hung out with Alex in so long I’d forgotten how fucked up his sense of humor was, though I was one of the few people who even considered it humor. Most people chalked his deadpan deliveries up to him being a dick, which…well, fair enough. Ava used to call him a robot—
My smile disappeared.
Ava. Michael. Kidnapping and secrets and thousands of lies that tainted every memory of our friendship.
That afternoon had been our closest to normal in a long time, and I’d almost forgotten why Alex and I were no longer friends.
Almost.
Alex must’ve picked up on the shift in atmosphere because his smile faded alongside mine and his jaw visibly tightened.
Tension descended like an iron curtain between us.
I wished I could forget what happened and start over. I had plenty of friends, but I’d only ever had one best friend, and sometimes I missed him so damn much it hurt.
But I wasn’t the same person I was two years ago, and neither was Alex. I didn’t know how to move on no matter how much I wanted to. Every time I made progress, the yoke of the past yanked me back like a jealous mistress.
And yet, our ski competition proved Alex and I could act normal around each other even when Ava wasn’t there. It wasn’t enough, but it was a start.
“I had a good time today,” I said stiffly, testing the waters for myself as much as for Alex.
A beat passed before he responded. I’d surprised him again. Twice in one day—that had to be a record. “I did too.”
We didn’t speak again after that.