Page 101 of Sweet Ruin

“Does she always make herself at home like this?” he asked as we started down a long corridor that led to the kitchen and living area.

“It’s Anna, so probably,” Cress replied with a laugh.

When we arrived at the kitchen, Luther paused. “Can I get you girls a drink?”

“Just water for me,” Cress said.

“Yeah, same,” I agreed.

Luther went to the fridge while Cress and I searched for Anna. The balcony was just off the main living area, and the door outside was open. She was already in the hot tub when we reached her, still happily clasping the bottle of tequila.

“Way to take your time, you guys,” she said with a laugh. She seemed a lot more relaxed here than she had at the entrance when she’d first seen Luther topless.

“We can’t help that you practically ran through the house to get here,” Cress said. She was starting to strip down to her bikini so she could join Anna.

I hesitated for a moment, mainly because of the bikini I was wearing underneath my clothes but partly because of the view. Luther was right. The view was even better than at Wes and Sawyer’s house but only just. The balcony here was a little higher, so you could see farther down into the valley.

“Isobel, are you getting in?” Anna asked.

“Oh, uh, yeah.” Luther was still inside the house, thankfully, so I changed out of my clothes in record speed and darted straight into the hot tub. The air was crisp, but the water was warm and soothing, and as soon as my body was submerged, I knew it was going to be difficult to get out into the cold again when the time came.

Anna offered me the tequila bottle, so I had a tiny sip before quickly passing it back. I had no intention of getting drunk in a hot tub. That seemed like a recipe for disaster. Especially when I needed to keep my wits about me. I was behind enemy lines, after all.

Luther soon emerged from the house with our glasses of water. “You happy with the tequila bottle, Anna?” he asked as he passed Cress and me our drinks. “Or do you need a straw?”

She rolled her eyes and placed the bottle down on the table beside the hot tub. “I’m not going to drink the whole bottle.”

“Just half of it then?” Luther replied with a grin.

She shot him a scowl as he slid into the water next to her. It was probably a good thing the hot tub was so big and there was plenty of space between them because I got the impression Anna wouldn’t hesitate to dunk Luther under the water if he came too close.

“So, newbie, how are you enjoying your first trip to Aspen?” Luther said.

“It’s been…interesting.” I wasn’t sure how to describe the trip so far. I’d enjoyed the mountains, the snow, and hanging out with my friends. The surprises? Not so much.

“Are you having a good time?” I replied.

“Yeah, but I’m more of a sunshine guy myself,” he replied. “Which you would know if you’d spent any time at all with us…”

Luther knew exactly why I hadn’t spent any time with them, and I really didn’t want to get into the details of the awkward situation between his best friend, my boyfriend, and me.

“Well, I’ve been busy,” I said.

“Busy neglecting your BFF.”

“We’re hardly BFFs, Luther.”

“Yeah, we’re her BFFs,” Anna protested.

“Ah, but have either of you serenaded her in public?” Luther joked, wiggling his eyebrows. “Because I’m not sure you can truly call yourself a bestie if you haven’t sung to each other.”

“Please don’t remind me about that,” I groaned, which only made Luther laugh.

“Seriously, though, I’ve missed you this trip, newbie. We all have.”

“I’m on this trip to hang out with my boyfriend, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

“Well, both you and your boyfriend are very boring,” he replied. “Maybe you should upgrade to a better model…”

---