Season of Dreams. Jenna Mindel

the chairlift, Eva was wedged between Adam and her brother. She checked out the view of vast rolling hills of white dotted with evergreens and naked brown hardwoods. And then she scanned the slope. This was a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. Adam included. He definitely belonged here. Several women checked him out with interest. Even with her sitting next to him.

      But then, it must be obvious that they didn’t go together. Adam wore expensive top-of-the-line ski attire and Eva had donned an old pink ski suit complete with a white patch on one elbow. Like a stale marshmallow Peep left over from an Easter basket, she was definitely out of date.

      “When we get off, be sure to veer to the right. Then wait. There are a couple trailheads for this lift. I want to take the right one,” Adam said.

      Getting on a chairlift was one thing, getting off—completely different. The closer the crest loomed, the more the lift creaked, its gears pulling them closer to the launching pad. Eva’s palms felt sweaty inside her mittens. She took a deep breath. “Okay.”

      “Eva, hand me your poles. Ryan, we’d better help her out.”

      Adam took her poles and then her hand. “Ready, step off and veer right. Now.”