Ten Inches by AJ Hardcourt Page A

less crowds and more open space.”
     
    Nick was caving. The draw of
Ian and ten inches almost made him forget he had a full inbox at
the office and a mountain of work bigger then the peaks outside his
apartment window. “I have to work.”
     
    “ Man, but you sound
terrible. You’re coming down with a serious case of
gotta-tricky-itis. Call in because you’ll infect the rest of the
office.”
     
    “ Then the rest of the office
will be up on the mountain.”
     
    “ Yeah, so you’ll be doing
your boss a favor.”
     
    Nick could work from home
tonight. “I don’t know.”
     
    “ The boarding is going to be
freaking pristine, brother. So get your shred sled and let’s go
snowing.”
     
    Nick groaned. “You’re a bad
influence.” He could hear Ian’s smile through the phone. He glanced
at the clock. “I’ll be ready in an hour. Half day, Ian. I have to
get some work done tonight.”
     
    They were just words. If the
snow was perfect, Ian would have to be dragged kicking and
screaming off the mountain. And apparently Nick was unable to say
no to the man.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Several areas made up the
massive resort. A gondola ran from the lobby of the main lodge to a
grouping of several cottages and ski runs. There were areas
designed for skiers only, a halfpipe for boarders, and jumps for
aerials.
     
    Nick had to admit, Ian’s
idea to hit the slopes was nothing short of brilliant. Quick lift
rides up and fresh powder all the way down. Flurries had fallen off
and on throughout the chilly morning, but as they boarded into the
afternoon, the weather seemed to be shifting for the
worse.
     
    “ What do you think?” Ian
asked, snapping his goggles into place as they prepared to take
another run down the slope. “I don’t like how dark it’s
gotten.”
     
    “ Me either.” The sky and the
snow merged into one large gray horizon. Nick squinted into the
distance, then turned to Ian. “I think we should carve it up one
last time.”
     
    Ian smiled, the cold air
making his full lips red and just a bit wind burned. His breath
frosted in the air. “Care to make a wager for the best shred?
Lunch?”
     
    “ Sure.”
     
    “ See you at the bottom.” Ian
launched into his run and Nick followed. Racing down the hill Nick
carved hard and low, slicing the snow, but he couldn’t compete with
Ian’s skills. Ian’s plaid parka and baggie red and black vent pants
were a blaze of banging tricks.
     
    Nick would have no problem
buying lunch. Better than crashing and doing an asspass the rest of
the way down the mountain. Unlike Ian, Nick had an office job. Ian
worked for the resort. Private ski and boarding lessons and part
time ski patrol. He played where he worked, and Nick reaped some of
the perks. Their fun today was only going to cost him
lunch.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Thirty minutes later, Nick
sank his teeth into a big juicy cheeseburger.
     
    “ Have you ever thought about
boarding lessons?” Ian asked, then shoved another hot fry into his
mouth.
     
    Nick finished chewing,
wondering just how he was supposed to respond to that statement. He
might not have Ian’s skills, but he didn’t think he needed to be
schooled.
     
    “ Maybe just once or twice a
week. Just beginner stuff.”
     
    Nick leaned back in his
chair. “Fuck you, too.”
     
    Ian’s head snapped up.
“What?”
     
    “ Sorry if I cramp your
style. I have a real job and don’t spend my days up here on the
mountain catching air and chasing chicks.”
     
    Ian chucked a fry across the
table, smacking Nick in the head. “To teach, dumbass.” He laughed
and dipped another fry into ketchup and popped it into his mouth.
“Instruct with me, get a pass, we can board every day
together.”
     
    Nick stared as Ian’s tongue
slid from between his lips and tasted the salt from his thumb. Ian
slowed the movement, curling his tongue over his blunt nail then
lowering his hand. “You okay?”
     
    “ Um, yeah.” No, his own
tongue filled his mouth