‘I’d thought the skating was fast when we’d watched the locals play, but that was something else!’ I whistle, as Taz and I manage to bag one of the last tables in The Pub. I never was one for watching team sports back in the UK, but I find myself getting more and more into hockey over here. The bar is busy after an epic hockey match between Fraser’s professional team and the nearest local town called Kimberly – fierce rivals if the fighting on the ice was anything to go by. The chanting was hilarious, with everyone from Fraser’s side of the rink chanting ‘Kimberly’s a girls name!’ over and over again as the home team scored goal after goal.

Dan hands me a vodka and tonic. I’m not so much over Canadian beer, but I just have a craving for something less gassy.

‘I know. Talk about speedy!’ Taz nods. ‘And did you see Number 5 flatten that poor Kimberly player.’ She asks, before changing the subject back to food. ‘I’m starving! I could murder a Philly cheese steak.’

I look at the menu, which I pretty much know off by heart now. ‘I think I might just have a salad…’ I reply, getting horrified looks from everyone at the table. I may be exercising a whole lot more than usual, and sure, my muscles are looking a lot more toned but I’ve got a hankering for some vegetables.

‘You’re not watching your figure, are ya mate?’Stevie asks, before realising I could take that the wrong way. ‘…because you really don’t need to. You’ve got a great body. I mean, you look really nice! I mean…. Y’know…. Er….’ He takes a gulp of his pint, trying to hide behind the glass.

Taz pats him on the arm. ‘Carry on digging that big ol’ hole, Stevie.’

‘I just feel like a change.’ I reply, giving him a ‘no-hard-feelings’ grin. ‘No other reason.’

Dan cocks his head. ‘First you want a girl’s drink…’

‘I am a girl!’ I interrupt.

‘Whatever…’ he replies. ‘And now you’re on the rabbit food. What’s going on?’

‘Nothing!’ I say. ‘I’ve got a craving for something a bit healthier. Jesus, it’s like having three mothers with you lot around.’

‘Hah!’ Taz exclaims. ‘Pot calling Kettle! Come in, Kettle! You mother us to within an inch of our lives, Lex!’

‘I do not!’ I say, indignantly.

‘Yeah, you do!’ Stevie and Dan both say, in union.

‘I’m not that bad…’ I mutter, taking a swig of my ‘girl’s drink’. ‘And if I do, it’s only because I’m older and wiser…’

‘Aw, mate… We know you mean well.’ Taz says, sensing I’m slightly miffed. She puts her arms around me and gives me a tight hug. ‘We love ya really!’

‘Funny way of showing it…’ I mutter, just as Wade walks over to our table.

‘Hey guys, how’s it going? This here is my buddy Jessie, visiting from Moosejaw.’ He says, introducing the stranger standing next to him.

‘Word up, dudes. Nice to make your acquaintances.’ Jessie drawls, grinning around the table at all us. He seems very young and fresh-faced, not bad-looking at all if you’re into the whole hip-hop, homeboy thing, which I’m really not. He’s wearing a square baseball hat that looks far too big for his head. Dan and Stevie scooch along their side of the booth, making room for them to join us.

‘So, Jessie.’ I ask, as he sits down opposite. ‘Are you here for the weekend, or longer?’

‘Dunno, man. I just came to see my bro, Wade. Shred the bumps, ride some gnarly pow pow… I heard Fraser has some sick terrain, man. Spent last winter in Mammoth going huge in the park, thought I might get some shibby backcountry action going here, y’know.’ He utters, nodding his head slowly up and down as if he’s listening to music while he talks. Dan and I catch each other’s eye at the same time, obviously thinking the same thing – hello stoner snowboarder stereotype!

The waitress comes to take our order so we all choose what to eat. I’m just thinking about getting another drink when Taz nudges me.

‘I need a slash.’ she declares, planting a quick kiss on Travis’s cheek before grabbing my hand and pulling me up and in the direction of the toilets. As soon as we’re safely inside the washroom, she turns around.

‘That Jessie boy is eyeing you up a treat.’

‘Taz!’ I sigh, trying not to sound as exasperated as I feel. ‘What is with you? You’re trying to set me up with every spare man in this town! Do I have desperate and lonely tattooed on my forehead?’

We’re interrupted as two young girls bustle in behind us, giggling furiously.

‘Hey Lexie!’ Kimmy smiles.

‘Hey.’ I smile. I don’t know Kimmy that well, but she comes into Full O’Beans once in a while and tips well.

‘Now I actually do need to go and pee. Wait here.’ I say to Taz, walking into one of the cubicles and locking the door.

‘Kristy, which guy do you think is hotter? Wade or Jessie?’ I hear Kimmy on the other side of my cubicle, talking to her friend.

‘Omigod! Wade is totally hot right now. He’s, like, so buff, it’s not even funny’ her friend replies. ‘…but he’s with Kendra and she’s like amazing, so I call Jessie.’

‘Yeah, and Jessie’s got that whole rapper thing going down. That’s, like, an awesome look for him, you know?’

Taz snorts outside my cubicle as I pull my jeans back up.

‘Yeah, that is way cool, I guess. And Wades’ hair needs some serious work, Kristy. It’s, like, dorksville under that cap. Jessie is just, like, smokin’. He’s so hot right now, he’s on fire!’

I flush and open my door, finding Taz standing by the mirror shaking her head and grinning.

‘I thought they just talked like that in the movies!’ she whispers.

‘Ssshhhh!’ I chide, washing my hands in the sink as the two girls continue yabbering at each other, oblivious to anyone else. I’m amused to hear that Wade has a little fan-club, making a mental note to tell Kendra next time I see her.

I dry my hands on some paper towel before turning to face my friend. I grab her shoulders and look her right in the eyes, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

‘Enough with the matchmaking, okay? I’m serious!’ I say quietly, not wanting to be overheard. ‘Can we just forget about setting me up with anyone at all for the next month or two?’

I let go, and she leans against the sink and crosses her arms. ‘… I was only being silly. Jeez, what happened to your sense of humour? We were only kidding about the ‘Mom’ thing.’

I sigh and lean back against the sink next to her. ‘Sorry. I know you mean well. It’s just that Dan was trying to set me up with Aaron yesterday, which was… mortifying.’

She narrows her eyes. ‘Tell me!’

‘It’s not that exciting.’ I sigh. ‘We were having coffee he told us that he never dates season workers. Like, never. This was after he thought Dan and I were actually going out, if you can believe that.’

‘Huh?’

I open the door and leave the bathroom, Taz hot on my heels. ‘I know…’ I continue as we walk back through the bar. ‘We soon set him right, though. Dan was as bad as you, trying to set the two of us up… it was so cringe-worthy.’

‘Aw, mate. I’m sorry. What a dick.’

‘Oh, I’m sure Dan meant well…’

‘No, love. I meant Aaron. He’d be lucky to get a girl like you.’

I shrug as we walk back through the bar to our table. ‘You win some, you lose some. Aaron is lovely, but he’s right… there’s no point getting serious with someone if you have to go home at the end of the winter.’

‘Yeah, but what if it means you might miss out on a great relationship? I mean, look at me and Travis. We haven’t even talked about what happens when I go back to Oz, but you were all for us getting together.’

‘But you’re so right for each other.’ I point out.

‘Yeah, and you might be perfect for Azzo.’ She replies.

‘What can I tell you… he’s a patroller. I guess he loves rules. Let’s drop it, okay?’

Dan looks suspicious when we sit back down. ‘What were you two gossiping about in the lavs?’ he asks.

‘Just girl stuff.’ Taz says breezily as the waitress delivers large plates of food. I have to say I have never missed a piece of cucumber more, relishing the taste as I fork the salad into my mouth, trying not to inhale the plate.

Taz leans towards me and nods towards the door. ‘Speak of the devil!’

‘Oh, great. Just bloody marvellous.’ I mutter, putting my fork down and pushing my food away as I watch Aaron walk over to the bar with Mojo at his heels. I’m about to pop a tomato in my mouth until I see who he’s with. Dan follows my eyes and looks over to the doorway. ‘Uh-oh…’

Aaron orders two drinks at the bar while I try and snap out of my staring fit. Emily is smiling up at him, her eyes shining and her skin practically glowing. She looks a million times better than the last time I saw her, screaming at Rick on a street-corner. She pulls out a bar stool and perches prettily on top, almost flattening Mojo as she shrugs off her SkiTours jacket and dumps it on the floor next to him.

Wade notices that half of the table is now watching the bar instead of eating.

‘What’s the deal with Posh Emily? I thought she was boffing that Rick dude?’ he asks, his mouth full of burger. I feel slightly queasy as I watch Emily lean in close to Aaron, taking a small sip of her drink. There’s a pause and then she laughs, flicking her hair back. Are they flirting? Are they just having a friendly drink? Has he suddenly changed his dating rules… maybe that conversation we had yesterday was his way of letting me down gently? I can’t see his face because he’s got his back to us.

‘Whose the fox at the bar that we’re all staring at, dudes?’ Jessie asks, getting a flinty look from Dan.

‘Long story.’ I sigh, slightly annoyed that Jessie’s head is so easily turned by the not-so-lovely Emily. I turn back to the table and change the topic back to skiing again, knowing that everyone can talk about that for hours without running out of steam. ‘Have you been up to the park yet?’

Everyone else follows my lead as Jessie starts to tell me all about his day with Wade. I’m barely concentrating on what he’s saying when I feel something wet and cold on my hand and look down to find Mojo under our table, his tail thumping against my chair legs.

‘Hello sweetheart!’ I coo. He wiggles himself into an empty space underneath me and lies down, one paw on my foot.

‘Hey little guy!’ Jessie smiles, bending down to give him a stroke. ‘Who do you belong to?’

Travis points at the bar. ‘See that dude over there? The one talking to the really-not-that-hot blonde we were all staring at?’ Jessie nods. ‘This is his dog, otherwise known as Lexie’s favourite thing in the world.’

‘Best dog in Canada, aren’t you, sausage?’ I add, looking down at Mojo and feeling slightly comforted by his attention. If only his owner felt the same way.

‘Bloody poms and their dogs.’ Dan sighs, rolling his eyes. ‘Then again, at least he’s got good taste. I know who I’d rather be sitting with.’ I grin at him and he blows me a kiss back. I couldn’t have asked for a better gay boyfriend – Dan knows how to make me feel better.

‘Dogs are awesome!’ Jessie pipes up, trying to attract Mojo’s attention again, but being studiously ignored. Jessie reminds me of a puppy – all loose-limbed and floppy, full of enthusiasm. He’s very sweet, but a bit stupid.

I feel Mojo stiffen and fidget next to my foot so I put my hand down on his back to gently reassure him that he’s fine where he is... his tail wags briefly before stopping and I notice that his ears have moved flat against his head. He almost growls, which means something is most definitely not right. I look up and find Emily staring down at me with an expression of undisguised loathing in her eyes.

‘That explains a lot.’ I mutter. Mojo’s obviously a much better judge of character than his owner, whose standing behind her and grinning broadly.

‘Hey, mate!’ Dan smiles at Aaron, completely ignoring Emily.

‘Hi everyone!’ Emily cries, her face immediately snapping back into happy mode. God, she’s a piece of work. ‘It’s been forever since I saw you all!’

‘Yeah, funny that.’ Taz replies, barely disguising her sarcasm.

‘Aaron and I just bumped into each other outside so we decided to have a drink together. He’s so funny!’ she cries, twirling a piece of her hair in her fingers and playing the part of ditzy blonde to perfection. ‘I barely recognised him with his clothes on!’

It’s official. I want to smack her pretty little blonde face in.

‘Are you coming to Luc’s houseparty?’ she asks, looking around the table before she notices Jessie. ‘Oooh, a new person. We haven’t met? I’m Emily.’ She puts her hand out for Jessie to shake, which he takes while looking up at her like she’s the Venus De Milo.

‘Think we’re going to give it a miss.’ Dan replies. ‘We don’t really know Luc that well. I’m pretty tired? You?’ He asks, looking at Stevie.

‘Yeah, mate… bushed.’ Stevie says, yawning broadly. ‘You, Travis?’

‘I ain’t going.’ Travis growls. ‘Neither is Taz.’

‘God! What a bunch of boring bastards!’ Emily laughs. ‘How about you, new boy?’ she asks, completely ignoring me and giving Jessie a flirtatious smile. ‘I know Wade likes to party.’

I’m not sure I like what she’s implying with that little comment and I’m pretty sure Kendra wouldn’t either.

‘Sounds like a fun gig. C’mon, bro.’ Jessie grins, getting up from the table.

Wade gives us an apologetic look as he stands. ‘Sorry, guys… He’s only in town for a little while. See you around.’

‘Say hi to Kendra for me.’ I add, hoping I don’t need to remind Wade that he’s got a lovely girlfriend waiting at home.

‘You’re welcome to join us ‘boring bastards’ for another drink, Azzo?’ Dan says, looking back at Aaron.

‘Thanks, but I’m working tomorrow… You know the drill. C’mon Mojo!’ he says, patting his thigh as the dog gets up and shuffles out from under our table. Aaron grins down at me and clips him on the lead.

‘I didn’t give him any of my salad. Brownie’s honour.’ I say quietly, giving Mojo’s ears a quick rub. ‘Have a nice evening.’

‘Thanks. You too.’ He smiles. Why is it that he looks so completely gorgeous now I know he’s un-available. Sods bloody law.

‘Whatever, losers!’ Emily sighs, turning on her heel and flicking her hair, before stalking out of the door with Jessie and Wade hot on her heels. ‘Later, guys.’ Aaron adds, giving us a wave and following them out.

‘Christ… what a bitch!’ Dan spits.