The night had been dream free and I slept like a fucking rock after having sex with Annie. I woke the following morning feeling invigorated and ready to tackle the day, even though it was the day we were headed back home. Back to reality. I wasn't particularly sad to leave yet I wasn't overjoyed to head home either. The weekend had been something out of a fever dream, or previously compared-to porn flick and would forever live in the recesses of my mind where I hid it away shamefully.
Rebecca stirred next to me and we snuggled in bed before leaving the warm comfort of the sheets. I got the coffee ready as Kevin and Susanne made their way to the kitchen while Annie remained isolated in her bedroom. We sat around drinking coffee and ate bowls of cereal or microwaveable oatmeal so we didn't have to cook. I had two cups of coffee that morning and felt the energetic pulse of caffeine as it coursed through my body. Annie joined us later and had to turn the coffee pot back on. She still wore the new hoodie that Beccs had gifted her and her hair hung down her back in a chaotic mass.
"So, what's the plan?" I asked, looking around at everyone in turn.
Kevin had begun taking down the tree as Susanne packed up in their bedroom. Rebecca and I were helping put away the ornaments while Annie sipped her cup of coffee.
"Well, there's really no rush in getting back, it's only a couple hours, but we tend to like getting off the mountain before it gets too dark." Said Kevin, stuffing a portion of the tree back in its box.
"No last snow-shoeing trek, dad? You always beg us for an outing before we head out." Said Annie with a sarcastic tone.
"Be my guest, but I think I slept funky on my back and don't feel like hoofing it today." Said Kevin.
Part of me wondered if he was getting too old for the type of sex him and Susanne were having. He wasn't a young buck anymore and watching him take Susanne from behind the night before made me think he did more than sleep on it wrong. I was still in shock that I had a front-row spot to that performance.
"What do you say, Spencer? Want to go and see the sights before we leave?" Annie asked me.
I looked at her, then to Rebecca, wondering why I had received the sole invite. I knew Annie was bold but to invite me, and me alone, felt weird in this instance.
"Go for it," said Rebecca, putting the lid on the ornament bin. "I can't stand climbing up the mountain, so if you want to go, I'm happy staying back!" Said Beccs.
"I uh," I said, looking back at Annie with a suspicious look. She just nodded and sipped her cup. What was she up to? "Sure, let's do it."
"Great. I'll go and get bundled and we can get going. Dress warm, Spence, it gets cold up there." Said Annie as she rose from the couch and wandered into her room.
"Are you sure about this? I am happy to hang back and we can go next time. I don't want to ditch you." I asked Rebecca.
"I'm positive, you really should go see the sights. Just because I'm not up for it doesn't mean you should miss out. Just be careful, the trek up can be iffy sometimes." She said, giving me a smile.
I gave her a kiss and wandered into our bedroom where I pulled on some thermals before tugging on my jeans and a sweatshirt, followed by two pairs of socks and my snow boots. I didn't own a pair of snow pants so I had to hope that the thermals and jeans would suffice. I tucked my gloves into my back pocket and made sure to grab my phone and beanie. I went to the living room where I pulled on my winter coat and waited by the front door for Annie.
"I'm going to wait outside." I said, pulling open the front door.
Rebecca gave me a thumbs up and I stepped out onto the porch. Standing inside with all the layers was beginning to feel like standing in an oven and the fresh air outside was a welcome feeling. I sat on one of the rocking chairs as I enjoyed the scenery. The fluffy white snow covered everything in amazing brightness underneath a clear morning sky. My air puffed out in white clouds with each breath as I sat there.
The door finally opened and Annie stepped out. Either she forgot snow pants as well or didn't own a pair and had bulky jeans on. My guess was she pulled them on over her baggy sweats. Her dark hair poked out from beneath her beanie and she was tugging her thick gloves on while smiling at me.
"Ready?" She asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be." I said, standing from the rocking chair.
I followed her to her dad's SUV where she opened the trunk and pulled out two pairs of snowshoes. Judging by the wear, they weren't the new pairs he was boasting about when he got there. We walked back to the porch and sat down to get the shoes strapped on.
"How the hell do you put these on?" I asked, struggling with the straps.
Annie laughed and helped me get them fastened over my boots before getting her own pair on. As much shit as she talked about snow-shoeing, she was really good about pulling them on. When we were both fastened up, we wandered down the steps into the deep snow where we seamlessly trudged on top without sinking in. It was a really cool experience.
"Alright, follow me on our expedition round the mountain." Annie joked, putting on some random accent.
"Lead the way." I said.
I followed her as rounded the right side of the cabin toward the tree line. We made our way between the tall pines, the snow crunching slightly beneath our feet.
"So, am I safe in assuming this trip has an agenda?" I asked as I walked next to her.
"You know me too well, big guy." She replied.
"A little bold I'll admit, asking for me to join you in front of everyone. I can't believe it worked as fluidly as it did." I admitted.
"It's only bold if you are under the impression that they suspect anything, which I can confidently say they don't. I will admit, to your point, that it went off much smoother than I could have hoped for. Thank god for my dad pulling his back, because otherwise, this wouldn't have worked. Rebecca was a given as she loathes this more than I do and can't stand heights."
We continued to walk until we came across a split path of sorts. The right side went up the mountainside as the left descended. I mindlessly wandered to the right expecting to go up the mountain as originally advertised.
"Where are you headed?" Annie asked.
I stopped and turned around as she began moving down the left path. "I thought we were going up."