Free Secret Admirer by Melody Carlson Page B

sat down across from her. “Sorry about that.”
    She shrugged. “It was my own stupid fault.”
    “Well, Chelsea kind of egged you on.” He shook his head. “I heard her going on about it … before your run. I could tell that she was kind of challenging you. Then, after you fell, I saw her acting like you were just faking it to get attention. She’s such an idiot.”
    “No, she’s just Chelsea. She doesn’t always think before she speaks.”
    “So, you’re not mad at her?”
    Carlie considered this. “Yeah, I guess I am. But she’s in our club … so I probably shouldn’t be mad. I’m pretty sure Morgan would tell me to forgive her. But I guess I don’t totally know how to do that.”
    He nodded. “Me too. I mean, I heard the stuff that Cory said last night about forgiving people, but what if you can’t forgive someone? Like what if someone did something so wrong you didn’t want to forgive him?”
    “I know … I wondered the same thing.”
    “So, are you a Christian, Carlie?”
    “Yeah, I think I am,” she admitted in a way that didn’t sound very convincing.
    “But you’re not sure?”
    “No,” she said firmly. “I
am
a Christian. I invited Jesus into my heart last summer. But my family, well, we’re Catholic, and although we pretty much believe the same things … I guess I still have some questions. Like I see Morgan and Emily and sometimes it seems like they have something that’s different … like they take their faith really seriously. I guess I kind of want to be like that too.”
    Enrico studied her closely. “I know what you mean.”
    “But I’m just not sure what to do about it.”
    “Cory was telling us some more stuff last night, before we went to bed. Some of the things he said really made me think.”
    “Like what?”
    “Like he said you can pray to God, and he will really hear you. And he’ll answer you. Cory makes it sound like God wants to be your best friend … not just some old dude with a long white beard who lives up in the clouds, you know?”
    Carlie nodded. “That’s what Morgan and Emily say too.”
    “But you don’t believe it?”
    Carlie considered this. “Well, I actually do sort of believe it.” Then she told him about some of the things they had prayed about in their club. Like most recently when Emily’s family was in trouble, and then the timewhen she and Chelsea almost drowned. “And it really did seem like our prayers were answered — miraculously.”
    They talked some more about God and faith and being a Christian, and as they were talking, Carlie almost forgot that Enrico was a boy. It’s like their conversation was natural … and interesting … it just didn’t matter. Then Carlie looked up and noticed that Chelsea, Amy, and Whitney were walking through the lodge now. Chelsea looked in Carlie’s direction then quickly turned away as if she was trying to act like she hadn’t seen her, although Carlie knew that she had. Still, Carlie wasn’t sure why Chelsea would do that. Carlie was also pretty sure that she didn’t care. In fact, if she never spoke to Chelsea again, it would be too soon.
    Before long, Morgan and Emily showed up. “How’s it going?” asked Morgan as she flopped into a chair across from Carlie.
    “Good,” said Carlie.
    Then Jeff came over and joined them, sitting next to Enrico and warming his hands by the fire.
    “How was snowboarding?” asked Carlie.
    “Pretty good,” said Jeff. “The snow was perfect.”
    “Yeah,” said Morgan. “You should’ve seen my last ride, Carlie. It was awesome.”
    “She’s really getting the hang of it,” said Emily.
    “Who knows,” said Morgan, “by this time tomorrow, I might even try the half-pipe.”
    “Just make sure you’re careful,” warned Carlie.
    “I’m not going to try to jump,” said Morgan quickly.
    “Don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you don’t want to do,” said Enrico in a serious tone.
    “Well, unless you’re a guy,” said