“Maybe you’ll be a natural,” Giles offered as Frankie looked warily up the hill. “Mattie picked it up pretty fast.”

Frankie raised an eyebrow. “Was this before or after she wound up in the hospital?”

Giles winced and Mattie rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you, that wasn’t my fault.”

“We’ll be on the bunny hill. Chances of hospitalization are low,” I reassured Frankie. I had taught plenty of lessons over the years and so far hadn’t had a single injury on my watch. Well, other than a few bruised butts. That couldn’t be helped.

“But never zero,” she countered.

I swiped my hand across my face, hiding my massive grin. I’d gotten to know Frankie’s feisty demeanor quite well after spending almost every evening at Marie’s, hoping to catch her there. Getting her to loosen up wasn’t going to be easy, but hell if I wouldn’t give it a fighting try.

“Are we doing this or not?” Frankie asked, lifting up the boots and waving them around, almost knocking herself right in the face.

“Careful, champ. Any injuries that happen before the hill, I cannot be held responsible for.” I gave her shoulder a little shake, and Giles and Mattie laughed.

“Come on. Let’s go,” Frankie whined.

The slight shake in her voice told me that she was anxious. I felt a slight tug at that.

“You two go ahead.” I pointed to Mattie and Giles. “Maybe we’ll meet up at the base later.”

“Oh, I’ll definitely be stopping by before that to see Frankie fall a few times.”

Frankie glared at her sister. “Wait. You’re actually ditching me?”

Giles looked behind them, clearly eager to escape the beginner area.

“We can’t all take over the bunny hill,” Mattie said. “Oliver is going to teach you.”

The sigh Frankie let out could have triggered an avalanche.

“Let’s go.” I waved for her to follow me, but she still stood there, hesitant.

“See ya,” Mattie said as she and Giles headed to the main lift.

I turned, not waiting for Frankie to follow, and walked over to one of several outdoor benches surrounding a firepit. It wasn’t turned on right now because of the early hour, but later in the day, people would be packed shoulder to shoulder around this thing.

“Come on, I won’t bite,” I yelled to Frankie, who was still standing there. “Unless you want me to,” I added with a wink.

That seemed to finally snap her out of it. She stalked toward me and plopped down on the bench. “I don’t know if this is such a good idea—hey!” She swatted my hand away, but I had already managed to pull off one of her leather boots.

“Put this on,” I instructed, taking the right snowboard boot from her hand and setting it on the ground. “I can grab you another pair from the rental shop if they don’t fit. They should be tight but not crushing your toes.”

She looked hesitant but thankfully followed my instructions. She stuffed her foot into the bulky boot and grunted as she tried to get her heel to slide in.