“What’s going on?” I tried my best to sound natural, but I was sure it came out robotic.

“Just got out of the shower.” I didn’t need that image in my mind… “I was going to ask you what time you’re available tomorrow. Turns out I have to buy tickets for what I’m planning, and I figured I’d get them now.”

If whatever he had planned involved tickets, chances were I would not enjoy it.

“Should I be scared?” I asked flirtily.

Sarah got up from her seat and whispered, “I’ll talk to you later I guess,” as she went to walk back inside.

The sliding glass door slowly shut, and Finn asked, “Was that Sarah?”

I leaned back further in my seat. “How did you know?”

“You’re always a little different around her.”

Finn was far too perceptive for his own good, so I ignored him. “I don't have any plans tomorrow to answer your question. Although if you're planning on taking me somewhere that involves heights again, I think I'd rather stay here.”

Finn's responding chuckle was oddly comforting.

“No heights this time, Grinchy. I’ll text you when I get off tomorrow, alright? Be ready around 4:00 and dress…comfortably.”

I did not want to know what that meant.

17. Seventeen

“Alright, today we’re going to make our first jumps.” I projected my voice over the group of young kids surrounding Coop and me. The morning class was always the busiest, so we had to share the students between the two of us.

Today, we had a select few who we had been working with for a couple of months. They all passed beginner levels and different slopes, and they were ready to move on to skills like jumps.

“Everyone watch Mr. Coop very carefully, alright?”

I moved out of the way and let the children all see him slide down, bend his knees, and do a small hop in the air. It was slow enough that they could all witness his actions but fast enough to make them collectively say, “Wow!”

When he rejoined our group, he asked, “Did you guys see my start up? We’re going to build speed, crowd down, straighten when you’re ready to jump, then land with your feet straight! I want you all to practice that.” Coop demonstrated his actions as he spoke, and the kids mimicked him.

Alea, my recent favorite, pouted in the back row with her skis pointed “pizza style” and her arms crossed. I slid down the row of children until I reached her.

“Alea, what is it this time?” Alea was always a troublemaker; she was moody and had an attitude like you wouldn’t believe. She was also the most skilled of this group and one of the smartest kids I’d ever taught.