Twisted Hate

Since arriving at the ski lodge, Jules is overcome with memories of her last ski weekend. Seven years ago, her manipulative ex-boyfriend, Max, convinced her to make a sex tape with a man twice her age as a distraction while he robbed him; she did so, but regrets it. She encourages the group to ski without her. Josh assumes Jules doesn’t know how to ski and offers to teach her. During their lesson, he pushes for information about her family, but she gives vague answers. When Jules feels confident enough to try the bunny slope, she can’t slow down and lands on top of Josh. Their position causes sexual tension, which they dissolve by trading insults. As Jules returns to the lodge, she experiences period cramps.

Josh notes Jules’s absence from lunch. Their ski lesson “hadn’t been as terrible as [he’d] expected” (98), and he felt arousal from their forced proximity. When Ava mentions Jules isn’t feeling well, Josh is disturbed by his concern for her. After lunch, Ava stays with Jules. Josh attempts to alleviate his and Alex’s tension by suggesting races down the advanced slopes. The men temporarily enjoy themselves.