I walked back out to find them all waiting by the front door, giddy with anticipation.
"You ready?" Cindy slipped her arm into mine and pulled me to the front door. "You drive. I want to get trashed."
"Absolutely." I pulled the keys from my purse and glanced back at the twins. “Where is your luggage?”
“I dropped it off at the hotel next door where Kinsey and Janet are staying before meeting you.” Cindy smiled. “It’s right next door. Remind me to get it when we get done tonight.”
They were giggling furiously about something and I couldn't help but smile. They were identical, both of them with brown hair and green eyes. There wasn't anything that made them stand out from the next girl, but they were wild women and knew how to get attention when they wanted it.
"Your Dad finally dating?" Cindy asked as we walked through the dark parking lot.
"He's turned into a manwhore, too." I shook my head and unlocked the car.
"That's not good." Cindy moved around the SUV and got in. "You think he's just still hurt over your mom?"
"I guess. He and I don't speak much. I bitch at him about his diet and he grunts at me and reminds me how unworthy I am for everything I have." I buckled up and lamented over the fact that I wouldn't be getting drunk. It seemed like the only way I might find relief. Seeing that I wasn't going to do it alone and yet had no friends, tonight was my only chance.
"I'm sorry to hear that. He's always been a jerk like that, though. You know you’re beautiful, talented and everything you should be." She reached over and squeezed my shoulder. "I'm proud of you and I've missed you."
"Me too." I turned on the lights and pulled the car out into the road as the girls in the back started giggling.
The stories they shared left me wondering where my friends from school where. The hookers in the car with me and Cindy were a hoot to watch sober. I was almost scared to see them drunk.
* * * *
"I love this place!" Kinsey danced around, throwing her hands up in the air and sloshing her beer all over her sister.
"Hey, bitch. Watch your drink." Janet laughed and turned to the bartender. "Another round please."
He looked over at me and I nodded before shaking my head and smiling.
"You want another coke, pretty girl?" He leaned over and tapped the bar between us. He was handsome and looked like he belonged with me in California.
"Nope. I'm going to float out of here if I'm not careful."
"One beer won't hurt, unless you're a lightweight." He lifted his eyebrow and I chuckled.
"I had a glass of wine at dinner; besides, I'm not used to driving in the snow. I'm from Los Angeles."
"What? Me too." He chuckled and extended his hand. "Caleb. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Chloe. What are you doing here in Aspen?"
"Taking a break for the winter. I love the sun and the snow, so half a year there, half here." He shrugged. "Living the life, I guess."
"Sounds like it." I turned as Kinsey to wrap her arms around my neck.
"Oh my God, Chloe. The finest boy in the whole universe just walked in. He's so fucking dreamy."
I untangled her arms from around me and brushed her hair from her face. She was sloppy drunk and the fun was about to begin. Being designated driver sucked ass, but these next few moments would make it all worthwhile.
"Where? I want to see the best looking thing in Aspen." I got up and walked to the edge of the dance floor before Janet pulled me back.
"No, silly. He just walked in. Look at that group of guys. Hot. So hot!" Janet fanned herself and I looked around for Cindy.
She was against the bar, leaning in closely to the handsome bartender who caught my eye moments before.
"Figures." I let out a soft growl and resigned myself to helping my friends have a good time. I didn't need anything more than a good laugh and a break from the house. Falling in love with some guy wasn't at the top of my list, and even if it was, it was a horrible idea. I was heading home in ta few weeks and the last thing I planned to leave behind in Colorado was my heart.
"There. With the blue shirt. Tell me you see him."
I narrowed my gaze and scanned the faces, finally finding a group of handsome guys. "Blue shirt...blue shirt..."
A gasp left me as I spotted him. The twins were right. He was the finest thing in the bar, if not the city.
Too bad he was off limits.
Finn.
Chapter 8
Finn
I spent the rest of the day thinking about Chloe. There wasn't another time in my life I could pinpoint the desire to hunt some girl down just for the chance to see her again. The good thing was that I knew she would be in Aspen for another two weeks, the bad thing was that I didn't have her last name. There was no smart way to go about finding her.
The only option was to haunt the slopes she'd been on as often as I could. Surely she would show back up.
A smile lifted my lips as I finished getting dressed and walked into the kitchen for a quick sip of water. My place was only a few miles from my father’s, which was on purpose. He wasn't getting old just yet, but if he needed me for anything, I wanted to be available quickly.
My studio log cabin was far too small for even two people, but it was just me and I didn't see my relationship status changing anytime soon. Besides, the only girl I wanted wasn't up for grabs and wouldn't be around to have me help change her mind anyway.
I brushed my hands down the front of my dark blue button up shirt and made sure my jeans and boots were clean too.
"Alright. Let's go have fun being the designated driver." I rolled my eyes and grabbed my keys, not quite sure why I signed up for the job, but I did. My father had been more generous than I'd expected when I told him what I'd be up to. He was letting me borrow one of the fifteen passenger vans for the evening.
After stopping by the shop to get it, I drove to Brian's and picked him up first. The rest of the guys were staying at the Sheraton downtown. Seemed everyone was doing better financially than me. I couldn't afford half a night at the Sheraton, but dwelling on it was too depressing.
"Hey, buddy. Looking good." Brian got into the front seat of the van and popped me in the chest.
"Thanks, bro. Not too shabby yourself." I glanced at him and nodded to the window. "Fix that side mirror for me. Something hit it and it's crooked."
"Yeah, sure." He rolled the window down and I floored it, causing the snow from the window and hood to fly back, a good chunk of it hitting him in the face.
"You fucker!" He jerked back in the van as we both laughed like teenagers.
My father swore that we were the dumbest idiots ever, but it only got worse when we were together. He was my best friend and the only one from our group that still lived in Aspen. We had decided years ago that going out to look for women together wasn't at all beneficial. We were childish when together, and they all seemed to realize that.
"Tonight should be fun." I let out another laugh and turned toward the city lights. "I'm the designated driver and don't push any women on me. I'm taking December off."
"Off? What the hell does that mean?" He wiped at his shirt and pants as the snow began to melt.