She found him waiting for her again when she came off duty the next day.
‘It was a low act, Elaine, but it was nothing personal. I liked you...I liked you a lot, but I had the world championships in my sights and...’ He ran his fingers through his hair and screwed up his face. ‘Hell, Elaine. You were a distraction I didn't need.’
‘Well you could have told me that to my face. Dumping me by text, Brendan...I wasn’t fifteen!’
He turned away to look up beyond the roofs of the village. ‘Yeah. No excuses Elaine. We'd only gone out a few times and I didn't think…’ he paused. Yeah, well I just didn't think.’ He returned his gaze to her face, smiled and lifted his hands. ‘Come and have a drink with me for old times sake if nothing else.’
Elaine stopped in her tracks and thought about it. How could she resist the appeal in the blue eyes and wide, boyish smile? For old times sake?
If she was honest with herself she had to concede he was right, there were not really that many ‘old times’ to recall. After Alan had introduced them, they had dated on a couple of occasions; a movie, a dinner, a few snatched kisses. Nothing mind shattering enough to justify the weeks of misery she had put herself through after he left. She had behaved like a love lorn fifteen year old.
She was older and wiser now and after all, this was the first invitation to experience the famous ‘atmosphere’ of the ski village at night.
Despite her better judgment Elaine relented.
The ‘apres ski’ crowd filled the saloon. Brendan crossed to the bar, summoning the barmaid by name. She leaned toward him, her eyes holding his, their conversation inaudible to Elaine. The girl gave a pealing laugh and served the drinks. A few others around the bar hailed him and he paused to chat before he returned to the table with a glass of wine and a beer.
‘You know a lot of people.’ Elaine said, taking a self-conscious sip of the wine and looking around the bar at the interested faces of the strangers.
He shrugged. ‘I've been coming here for quite a few seasons now. I used to teach at the ski school. It helped pay the bills.’
‘And now?’
‘Now I have sponsors who pay my bills.’ He shrugged and took a swig of his beer. ‘Get a bit of success and it can be damned good money. Hey, I remember now, when I saw Alan last year he told me you had a boyfriend. Some famous surgeon. What's his name again?’
She smiled at the innocent use of the family pseudonym. ‘It doesn't matter. It's been over for months.’ She managed, what she hoped, passed for a brave smile. ‘I hear you are in training for the Olympics.’
The smile widened. ‘Sure. Olympics in February. World championships first.’ He tilted his head and looked at her. ‘What are you doing up here. If I remember rightly you didn't like skiing.’
‘No,’ she replied. ‘Alan took me skiing when I was at first at uni. I dislocated my shoulder and I've never been back since.’
He clucked his tongue. ‘That’s too bad. You should try again. It's like riding a horse. If you get thrown, you just get straight on up again.’
She set her glass down a little too firmly, slopping some of its contents. ‘Brendan, to be quite frank, I hate snow and I hate skiing. Give me a beach and the sun any day.’
He leaned toward her. ‘So why are you here Elaine?’
It was a fair question. To heal a broken heart may have been the correct answer but not the one she gave. ‘Because it's hard to say no to Alan.’
‘Yeah, I know what you mean. Alan can be like that.’ He set his empty beer glass down. ‘You know what, Elaine, I reckon it's time you gave skiing a second chance. I have some spare time tomorrow and I have it on good authority I’m a real good teacher. How about it?’