BAM! I feel the snow ball hit my head just above the spine. I make a quick turn on my snowboard to grab some more snow and when I come up I hurl my new ammo straight at her bright face. She ducks and falls with a giant laugh.
I board over and plop down beside her. I look at the girl I am falling in love with and thank the heavens for this life before kissing her gently on the lips. She smiles showing her white teeth against her light skin and rosy cheeks that are framed by her golden wheat blond hair. She says laughing "Agh! I still dogged it! So that one doesn't count."
"HA! Fine, but I'm closing the gap. 10-12 and I still have a few minutes to catch up before we reach the cabin." I say.
"Then you'd better hurry up and get me because once we start again you're not gunna know what hit ya," she stalls, her smile faltering a little as if unsure, " Collin, I'm a little nervous about this."
" Really? So I do have a decent chance of beating you then?" I laugh.
"It's not that. It's that these last few months have been a dream. The travel, the money, you... It's all just so unreal," she says with a half smile, " Life around you seems so perfect. I don't want to scare you off, but I think I'm falling in love with you."
I smile broadly, warmth spreading through my chest. "Really now? And how long have you been having these destructive thoughts of love and happiness?" I say, mocking her with a serious therapist voice and my hand on my chin.
Still smiling she punches my arm and sighs, "That's not exactly the response I was looking for. How do you feel about it? Do you think this is going anywhere?"
"Honey, I think that this is going everywhere," I say putting my arm around her shoulder, "Actually I was just thinking how a day could never be wasted if I were to only see a flash of your beautiful smile." I finish with a grin.
She puts her arms around me and said with a similar mischievous grin," You are so cheesy, and wonderful." She gives a small satisfied sigh. "Where to next?"
"I say water that flows this time. How about Hawaii?" I suggest seriously
"That sounds great, but I've got news for you. BREAK'S OVER!" she shouts getting up fast and hitting me with a snowball to the face.
I yell after her, " I LOVE YOU!"
I hear her scream, "WHA...!" as she face plants into the snow because of her surprise.
I come over laughing. As she looks up I say "I love you too."
She smiles as we go down the mountain just happy to be with one another.
