Now it was my turn to laugh.  “It’s okay.  I, well, I wasn’t exactly kicked out.  My mom just wanted me to have more discipline – because we all know that she can’t provide it at home.”

“Well…”

I cut her off before she could continue.  “Come on, we can’t reveal all my secrets in one day…I mean, what fun would that be?  Especially since now I know that I might see you again.”  I hoped I would – well, hope was not exactly how I thought about it.

“Ha…I guess you’re right.  Hey, maybe we’ll be in a class or two together.  I could even show you around?”  Spencer blushed slightly.  At least I thought I saw her blush, or wanted to believe she did. 

“That would be cool,” I said, and I paused to think about it – and believe me, those thoughts were nice.  I shook my head to get my mind out of the gutter and looked back at Spencer.  “So, hmm, I’m here with my friend Aiden and his family and a few of his friends.  I’m the only girl and, well, we’re heading into town tonight to this bar, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?  I am kinda over being one of the guys.”  Please say yes, please, I thought to myself.

“Bar?  But we’re only 18?”

“Well, technically, I don’t turn 18 for another 2 months, but we made friends with the bartender a few weekend ago.  It’s cool.”  Please come, I thought again and then thought to myself about how dirty that was.  I smiled to myself.

“Well, hmm, sure, I guess.  I mean, I have to ask my parents, but they should let me.”

“Your brothers are welcome too – you know, if they’re old enough.”

Spencer smiled.  God, I loved making her smile.  “Yeah, they’re both over 21.  I’ll definitely ask them.  It’ll be a better bargaining chip if my brothers are asking too.”

“Cool, it’s called Dublin’s.  Off Canyon Blvd.  If you need directions, here,” I grabbed one of the napkins sitting on the bench beside us and wrote down my number.  “Here’s my number.  Give me a call.  We’ll be there around 9pm.”  I can’t believe I just invited her out tonight, and gave her my number.  I looked down at my watch and realized the time.  “I, hmm, I have to get going or I’ll miss the last lift of the day.  I’m staying in one of the cabins off the trail and if I miss the lift, I’ll have to hike back up…How are you getting back to…where you’re staying?”  I started putting on my jacket and helmet. 

“Oh, we drove over in the morning.  We’re all meeting here at 4:30 so they should be here soon.  So I’ll see you later tonight.  And, if for some reason my parents suck, I’ll call you.” 

As Spencer said those last few words, I thought I heard angels sing.  Corny, I know, but whatever.  She just keeps melting my heart. 

I pushed the door open, leaving the ski lodge and hurried over to the lift.  I think I was still thinking about Spencer and not paying attention to the line because next thing I knew, I fell into the guy in front of me. 

“Oh, shit. Sorry,” I said as Aiden turned around.  He was about to say something shitty when he saw it was me. 

“Ash?  Where have you been all afternoon?  I tried calling you.”

“You know I can never feel my phone on the mountain…”

Aiden looked at me a little closer.  “You’re glowing.”

“What?  No I’m not,” I said, overly defensive.

“Yes you are!”  Aiden smiled.  “It’s that girl, huh?  So you got to know her, did you?” Aiden laughed and playfully elbowed me in the stomach. 

“You are really cheesy.  But, hmm, we hung out and we talked…and I invited her out tonight.”  And I was totally blushing.  I hoped Aiden didn’t notice. 

As we sat down on the lift, Aiden looked over at me and smiled genuinely.  “That’s cool, Ash, I’m excited to meet her.”  And then he started messing with me again.  “So, you tell her you have the hots for her?”

I gave Aiden the death stare.  “No, and you better not say a word.  Seriously…I don’t even know if she is or not.  So please don’t scare her away.” 

“Don’t worry.  I’ll be on my best behavior.” 

Aiden laughed and I leaned back on the chair and thought about my outfit options tonight.  Cold weather puts a few limitations on things, but I figured I could come up with something.