Sweet Dandelion - Page 162
—Lachlan
Something else falls from the envelope and I bend to grab it from the white rug on my floor. My lips part in surprise as I hold the stem of a dried dandelion between my thumb and forefinger. It brings a smile to my lips.
Pulling my favorite book I’ve read from the small shelf mostly housing trinkets, I press the flower into the middle of the pages.
Hidden, like our love, but existing nonetheless.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Somehow, I end up in the back of Ansel’s mom’s SUV with Seth, while Ansel drives and Sasha serves as co-pilot, critiquing everything he does and constantly changing the radio station.
An old rock song plays and she makes a face, changing the station again.
“Can you stop?” Ansel complains, rubbing his temple with one hand.
“I’m trying to get some good tunes going. Eyes on the road.”
He exhales a heavy breath, glancing at me in the rearview mirror as he shakes his head.
Seth, like always, is silent, looking out at the snow-covered trees as we head further north.
We’ve been on the road around an hour, which means we’re about halfway to the ski resort. Somehow, we got the okay to stay overnight from all our parents, and will head home first thing in the morning. Ansel and Seth will be sharing a room and so will Sasha and I.
“Ooh, here’s a good one. This is classic.” Sasha bops her head along to some 90’s boy band song. Her feet rest on the dashboard and Ansel glances over several times glaring at them.
“Put your feet down,” he snaps at her. “My mom will kill me if this car comes back in less than pristine condition.”
She huffs, rolling her eyes at him but does as he requests. She mumbles something under her breath, but I don’t know what.
Ansel’s jaw ticks. He’s probably questioning why he invited her. Sasha isn’t a bad person, though. Ansel’s more quiet and introspective, where she’s more out there.
Sasha, thankfully, grows quiet, though her radio fiddling doesn’t let up.
We finally arrive, check in, and we all go to change our clothes into something weather appropriate. Thankfully, Sasha had snow pants I could borrow.
“I feel like the Michelin Man,” I turn to her, all puffed up, “look at me.”
She bursts into laughter. “But you look cute. Besides, look at me.”
She’s bundled up similarly.
We meet the guys in the lobby and head out to rent our gear and hit the slopes.
When I fall for the five-thousandth time I throw my hands up in defeat, glaring at Ansel. I haven’t seen Sasha or Seth in a few hours because they left Ansel and I at the baby slope to go do more challenging hills.
“Don’t give up.” Ansel stifles his laughter, holding out a thick-gloved hand to haul me up from the mountain of snow. “You’re so close to figuring it out.”
“Ansel.” I give him a death-glare. “It’s been hours and I can’t go more than a few feet without falling on my ass.”
“Yeah, but I think that last time you made it like an inch further than you’ve been going,” he chortles.
I swat at him but he dodges me easily and I fall down again. “Ugh,” I groan. “I’m done with this. I want coffee. Or hot chocolate. Something warm. I’m turning into a popsicle.”
“All right,” he agrees, helping me up again. “I’ll get you a warm drink and a snack. Let’s go.”
I follow him to where we return our gear and waddle my stiff bones back into the lobby of the resort. We end up in a café, sitting beside a roaring stone fireplace that goes all the way up to the next level.
Ansel sits down across from me, passing me the caramel latte I ordered as well as a chocolate chip muffin he tacked on. One for each of us.
Source: readsnovelonline.net