When they got to Billy’s, he asked whether she’d prefer to wait in the truck.
“I’m not hiding from her, Jace. We just haven’t been very close lately, and I don’t want to make it worse.”
“Come on, then.”
Renie glared at her when they came in the back door, and Jace noticed right away.
He walked over and stood right in front of her. “Knock it off,” he said. “Not your business.”
Renie looked stunned. Blythe didn’t know Jace very well, but from what she’d seen so far, this behavior was out of character.
When he turned his back, Renie raised her eyebrows at Blythe, who burst out laughing. Which made Renie laugh. Soon the two of them were doubled over, in tears.
“What’s goin’ on?” Billy asked, walking into the kitchen with Willow.
“Evidently, they think I’m funny.” Jace turned to the two of them, who were holding onto each other, still laughing. “Which I’m not.”
“Uh huh.” Blythe could hardly speak she was laughing so hard.
“They’re always like this,” said Billy. “They don’t even have to say anything. All of a sudden they both start laughing and they can’t stop. It’s been that way as long as I’ve known ’em.”
Before they came inside, Blythe told him her friendship with Renie was rocky. Maybe the best thing he could do for her today was give her a chance to spend time with someone who meant something to her.
“You wanna go with us?” Jace asked Billy. “The lifts don’t open for another hour. I bet there’d be plenty of folks back at the house who’d take care of Willow.”
Billy looked at Irene, who shrugged her shoulders. The look on her face was hopeful though.
“I’m not very good,” said Billy. “Renie’s been trying to teach me, and I’ve taken a few lessons, but…”
“It’ll be fine, Billy. You’re better than you think,” Irene told him.
“As long as this isn’t a competition,” Billy glared at Jace.
“I’m a former racer, Billy. You don’t stand a chance in hell of competing with me. I’ll win before you get your skis on. But I’ll tell you what, I’m no match for you on a bronc.” Might give him a run for his money on a bull though, although Jace wasn’t going to bring that up yet.
Billy was appeased. He took his cell out of his pocket and called his mom. Willow tried her best to get the phone away from him.
“She wants to chew on it,” he said while he waited for his mom to pick up.
“You get her over here as quick as you can, Billy, both her grandmas would love to spend the day with sweet Willow,” they overheard Dottie’s response.
“I’ll run her over. Do you want to wait for me here, or should I meet you up at the mountain?” Billy asked Renie.
“I’ll go with you,” Jace offered.
A look passed between Blythe and Renie.
“Why?” Blythe asked.
“I’ll let my mama and daddy know what I’m doing today. I’m feelin’ kind of bad for leavin’ without talking to them.”
“Oh,” Blythe frowned. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to. I mean, we can go back to the house.”
“What? I thought we were skiing today?” Renie pouted.
“We are,” he answered. “Billy and I will be back as quick as we can. Blythe, can you call and reserve skis for us, since we won’t be using theirs anymore?”
“Of course.”