Slippery Slopes by Emily Franklin Read Free Book Online Page A

his silvery blond hair.
    Melissa looks around. White curtains, white walls, white linoleum floors—like a version of heaven, except that Gabe Schroeder is sitting next to her. Once she sees the white jacket flapping toward her, she gets it. “The Infirmary? What the—” Then she remembers the dare, the rope swing, trying to look cool while Charlie got too close for comfort to James.
    A doctor wearing an expensive striped tie, pressed khakis, and a French blue button-down walks toward the cot where Melissa lies. Covering her, though she is dressed, is a white sheet. At least Gabe didn’t see me naked. At least I’m not in one of those awful tie-in-the-back robes.
    “Miss Forsythe.” The doctor gives her a standard look of concern crossed with a hopeful smile. “You had quite a tumble.” Melissa blushes, thinking of the rope, how it slipped from her hands. His accent is thick, and Melissa strains to understand him. “You’ll be fine.” He hands her some over-the-counter pain medication and a tiny cup of water and warns her to be careful on the slopes.
    The doctor gives her the go-ahead to leave. As he walks away, Melissa looks at Gabe and thinks, I should be just as careful off the slopes.
    “Diagnosis: two broken ribs and one very bruised ego.” Gabe’s hand grips the metal bars on the side of her bed. “Not to mention an unrequited crush.”
    And just what am I supposed to say to that? “Speak for yourself—my ego’s just fine, thanks.” Melissa feels herself blush but ignores it. Gathering her strength she tries to move, and semisucceeds. “And what would you know about my love life, anyway?”
    Gabe shakes his head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” He leans forward, looking closely at Melissa’s face. “Just—I didn’t think it was coincidence that you let go of that rope right when the hottie nanny grabbed James.”
    Melissa’s throat tightens, her breath quickening. “First of all, Charlie’s not a nanny. She’s a cleaner now.” Melissa wishes this small fact made her feel better, but the truth is that Charlie could be scrubbing toilets or making filet mignon or playing with rich toddlers, and the only part that Melissa would mind is the thought of James liking her. “And second of all, I dropped that rope because it was hard. Admittedly, it was a stupid trick.” She leaves it at that. “Ow.”
    Gabe watches her touch the sore ribs. “The doctor said you could spend the night if you wanted.”
    “No way.” Melissa sits up, then prepares to stand.
    Gabe rises from the folding chair to give Melissa a hand. She refuses. “The doctor said spend the night. Or maybe he said you sure put up a fight—I don’t know. The guy’s Bavarian, so it was hard to understand….”
    This prompts a grin from Melissa. She steadies herself on the edge of the bed, swings her legs over the side, and stands up, wobbly. Oh my god, pain. Pain. And also — more pain. She blushes again, knowing Gabe’s right and her ego is way bruised. “Fine. My ego might be dented, but at least I gave it a shot.”
    Gabe reaches for her again but accepts the shrug-off and hands her the comfort of her jacket. “Look, if it’s any consolation, I think you were …”
    “I don’t need your consolations, okay?” She licks her dry lips and studies him. “What’re you even doing here, anyway?” Of course James didn’t come, just Gabe.
    Now it’s Gabe’s turn to blush, which he does only slightly, then takes a deep breath. “Ski team code—if you see the injury, you accompany the injured. Done deal.”
    “And you stay with them? Me, I mean?” Melissa’s side hurts, her whole body aches, and her mind begins to race with everything she needs to get done. “Oh, man. I’m doomed. How can I host when I’m among the wounded?”
    “Okay. In answer to the first question—yes, I stayed. Not just because it’s code. But because …” Gabe turns away from Melissa, looking out to the otherwise empty infirmary. “Because