All characters are fictional and over 18 years old.
"You ski like you have really good health insurance," Riley said. She hefted her skis off her shoulder and leaned them against the side of the cabin underneath an icicle-crusted overhang.
"I haven't wiped out in like... well it's been at least a month," Jess argued, putting her skis next to Riley's. She took off her beanie and shook her black hair free, running her fingers through her scalp to unflatten her locks. "I just don't see the fun in taking the longest path imaginable down a mountain."
"I don't see the fun in a broken back."
"Oh, I can see the fun in a broken back," Ella, Jess' girlfriend, called out from behind them. Her pale cheeks were pink from exertion and the icy breeze whipping across the mountain and her bangs stuck to her forehead from the melted snowflakes. Riley rolled her eyes and walked back to their car to help Daisy, who was struggling with her gear.
"Here, let me get your poles," Riley said, offering a hand.
"Thanks!" Daisy said, her voice cheerful and bright. "It's so beautiful out, look at the snow piling up on the tree branches."
Riley grunted and looked at the treeline that Daisy was staring at. It was very pretty, but she wouldn't exactly describe the below-freezing temperature and heavy snowfall as "beautiful." Riley felt a hand on her arm as she stared at the trees and saw Daisy smiling at her with soft eyes.
"I just wanted to say thanks for going slow today out there. I know Jess and Ella like to fly down the mountain, so it's nice to have someone that matches my speed," Daisy said.
"Yeah, that just about explains the relationship. Always going at 100 miles an hour, usually crashing into each other," Riley laughed, diffusing the compliment with a joke. They watched Jess smack Ella's butt as she walked up the stairs, both disappearing into the cabin.
"It's still so crazy that they're dating now. I mean they were always best friends, but I can't imagine them..." Daisy said, trailing off.
"You can't imagine them, what? Fucking?" Riley said as she grabbed bags of food and clothes from the car.
"Yes, being intimate," Daisy said softly. Riley narrowed her eyes. Was Daisy blushing from the conversation or the cold?
"Yeah, that's a good point. Who do you think is calling the shots there? Ella has always been super kinky, but Jess is a bit more obvious with her flirting," Riley said. She watched through the window of the cabin as Jess wrapped her arms around Ella and whispered something in her ear.
"Oh, I don't know about all of that," Daisy said, now certainly blushing from the conservation. "I just meant that I can't imagine being friends with someone for so long and then figuring out that you actually love them instead."
"Maybe it's both? Love doesn't have to replace friendship," Riley shrugged. "What has you thinking about this stuff?"
"I just haven't seen them so close. They really are cute though," Daisy smiled to cover her pensive expression.
Riley nodded and walked into the cabin, tossing her bags next to the door. It was a small, cozy space built from thick cedar logs and decorated with furs, old ski equipment, and leather furniture. When she was little, her grandfather used to take her and her cousins up to the cabin during their Christmas vacation to give their parents a break from all of the chaos. After he passed, he left the cabin to Riley. It was a bit surreal to own a piece of property as a 23-year-old, but she was never going to sell it.
"Where's Ella and Jess?" Daisy asked, putting her jacket up on a hook and peeling off her sweatshirt. Riley's eyes flickered to her exposed hips and stomach. With all of the talk about sex and friendships, Riley was looking at her friend a bit longer than she normally would have. Daisy was short with an athletic figure, and Riley could see evidence of ab muscles. She always wore her dark brown hair up in a bun or a braid, but she let it fall down her shoulders to dry off from the snow.
"Guess," Riley said, nodding her head toward one of the two bedrooms. The door was closed and she could hear the old wooden bed frame creak every few seconds. Daisy's eyes went wide and she whipped her head around to Riley.
"They're... having sex? With us here?" She asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, did none of your roommates have sex when you were in college?" Riley asked, confused at Daisy's confusion.
"I don't think so. I mean, I never heard anything... I guess that there was this one time where my roommate asked me to leave so she could study with her boyfriend..."
"Oh, my sweet, precious flower. What I would give to be as innocent as you," Riley laughed and pinched her cheek. Daisy swatted her hand away and shot her an annoyed look.
"I'm not innocent! I watch porn, you know," Daisy said as if it would win the argument. Riley laughed again and began putting food away in cabinets.
"Oh yeah? That's crazy, Daisy."
"I'm not so different from you three. I can get myself off perfectly fine, thank you very much."
"I didn't realize. You're always quiet when we talk about this stuff," Riley said, genuinely surprised.
"I figure my masturbation isn't as interesting as your sex life. Though it's probably more consistent... and more... me focused?" Daisy looked for the right words.
"Yeah, probably. I don't think a man has ever made me cum," Riley admitted. She had sex with a few men in college, but it was usually influenced by a concoction of boredom and loneliness. Riley was happy enough to please her partner and feel a physical connection, but if she was being honest with herself, she didn't feel much when she hooked up with strangers.
"Well, that doesn't make much sense. Why would you keep having sex if you're not going to reach an orgasm?"
"I... that's actually a good point."
"Thank you," Daisy said, looking pleased with herself. She lifted up two of her bags and started walking toward the other bedroom. "They did make it easy to figure out the bunking situation."
Riley laughed and followed Daisy into the bedroom. There was a single queen bed and two dressers, one of which Daisy was busy putting clothes into. Riley went to the other side of the room and took some fresh clothes out of her bag, anxious to get out of her cold, wet ski clothes. She quickly pulled on a new pair of underwear and sweatpants before throwing a warm crew neck over her shoulders. Riley eyed a mirror above the dresser and saw Daisy looking over her shoulder at her. They made eye contact for a brief second before Daisy quickly turned away and returned to her unpacking.