Double Black Diamond
my bed, mentally kicking myself. I’d read something about altitude sickness while researching Vail, but of course I didn’t think it would happen to me. A tiny, gray haired nurse bustled in, checking my IV bag. I stared at the needle piercing my skin to give me the fluids. What would Brown say?I tried to forget puking on Connor, but the moment was fresh and horrifying in my mind. Ali and Gage’s faces had crumpled with disgust. Veena, at least, had managed to look sorry for me. Connor was professional about it; he only shook his foot a little while he and the other guy helped me to the snowmobile.
With a look on his face like this wasn’t the first time he’d had to do it for an idiot tourist, the other ski patroller handed me a barf bag out of his pack and gunned us down the hill. Luckily, we didn’t have to go far. The local medical center operated a satellite emergency department at the base of the mountain. It was hopping, too, with a steady stream of sprains, strains, broken bones—and altitude sickness.
“In a few minutes you can try sucking on some ice chips and see how that goes down.” The nurse gave me a won’t-that-be-wonderful smile.
Veena poked her head in the room as the doctor turned to me. “Rest and fluids. We’ll get you out of here as soon as the headache is gone and you can hold down some food.”
Veena hovered by the door as they left. Her miniskirt was back. “How are you feeling?” Completely humiliated? I thought. She looked behind her. “Oh, Connor wanted to check on you. Can he come in?”
“Um—” I was about to say hell no, when he leaned into the doorway and waved.
I wanted to roll under my bed and pretend to be a dust bunny, but I smiled back instead. “Sure, come on in.”
I adjusted the thin hospital blanket over my practically see-through gown and tried not to look at his victimized boot while he leaned against the wall. Veena perched on the edge of a chair next to me.
“So, you’re feeling better?” she asked.
“Yeah, a little.” The dizziness was gone, my stomach was settling, and the headache was fading. On the other hand, I felt like a total loser.
“Nic, I’m so sorry,” she said in a rush. “It wasn’t fair to take you up the mountain the minute you got here. I should have thought about altitude sickness.” Her eyes pled with me to forgive her.
“It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.”
“You’re pretty understanding. I’d kick her butt.” Connor winked at me.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“Sorry, Connor Crowley.” He came over and shook my hand. “I’m on the ski patrol.”
“And he’s a sports trainer with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team.” Veena bounced a little in her chair. I got the sense she never stayed still for long.
He shrugged. “I came from Park City a week ago.”
Park City, Utah was the headquarters for the U.S. Team. If he just arrived, it made sense that we wouldn’t have his picture. I’d have to tell Brown about him.
“Connor helped Ali after a gnarly fall a few days ago. You picked a good one to hurl on.” Veena poked my arm, grinning.
“Yeah, um . . . sorry about that.” I meant to apologize to Connor but ended up mumbling at my hospital socks poking out of the blanket at the end of the bed. When I worked up the guts to look at him, he grinned.
“Altitude sickness sucks,” he said. “It can be serious, but you should be fine if you stay hydrated. Drink lots of water and eat something when you get out of here.”
“Oh! What kind of food do you like?” Veena asked. “I’ll take you anywhere you want to go! There’s a decent Indian place here in Vail. I miss my mom’s cooking when I’m at school, but at least I can get a decent fix once in a while.”
I laid a protective hand on my stomach. “Something simple. Please. The school dining hall is fine.” It was probably fancy as school cafeterias go, but they had to have some soup or a cheese sandwich. I’d never had Indian food. I’d be happy to try it, but I knew it was spicy, and my gut couldn’t handle that right now.
Veena shook her head, eyes wide. “The dining hall is never fine. But . . . if that’s what you want, you got it.”
What I wanted was to have a few minutes to talk to her, like I’d first planned. We had a lot to get straight before I dove into her schedule of classes, friends, and training in the morning—if I wasn’t already fired.
“Oh Nic, before I forget, Headmaster Muth wants to see you,” she said. “Which is usually an eleven out of ten on the agony scale. Maybe you could ask your doctor for some pain killers to get you through it.”
Crap, I’d forgotten about him. My watch vibrated with an incoming text. Brown wanted an update on my status. Now. Cooley had taken over as Veena’s official CPO as soon as it was clear I was of no use. He was probably laughing at me out in the hallway right now.
Connor pushed off the wall. “I’ve got to go. Glad you’re better, Nic. And don’t worry—I’ll be sure Nate makes Veena pay for today with plenty of squats and push-ups tomorrow.”
She groaned, I laughed, and Connor threw me a little salute as he walked out.
An hour and about fifteen hundred dollars billed to SSA later, I was dressed and leaving the clinic with Veena, on my way to see Muth.
“Connor’s pretty hot, don’t you think?” Veena said as we walked outside. “He’s nice, too. Unlike some of the jerks up here.” She fiddled with her braid. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Veena . . . listen.” I hesitated, knowing how what I was about to say would sound. “I’d love to be friends if the situation were