Page 21 of The Season
I feel the weight of several pairs of eyes on me, and the bite of panic turns my fingertips numb. It’s obvious that at least Eddie heard Tom last night, but they have no idea who he was with, and I share a room with him.
My stomach lurches at the idea of them thinking I was the one having sex with him.Gross.
“I highly doubt it,” I say coolly. “Seeing as the chick you were with last night faked an orgasm and then ran as soon as she could get out from under you.”
There’s a choked sound from one of the guys in the kitchen and Tom’s smile drops, bloodshot eyes widening in momentary confusion before his lip curls back in a sneer.
“How the fuck would you know?” he retorts. “Her pussy felt pretty wet to me.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Tell me you’ve never made a girl come without telling me you’ve never made a girl come,” I reply, pushing past him so I can put my yoga mat away.
“Oh, burn!” Eddie chortles, and I find myself grinning alongside Matty’s deep laughter.
“Shut the fuck up,” Tom grumbles.
When I come back out, with my snowboard pants on and my coat draped over one arm, Eddie is wiping tears from his eyes and Matty is grinning dopily. Tom narrows his eyes at me, checking me with his shoulder as he stomps past me down the hall—presumably to go to the bathroom. Liam watches Tom’s retreat with an unreadable expression, then turns to me, his steely gray eyes flickering with… something.
“Is it cool if I catch a ride to the mountain with you?” he grits out.
“Yah, no worries.” Hopefully that will make up for getting caught staring at his abs earlier like a creep. I give him a small smile that he doesn’t return. “I’m leaving in five.”
“Mind if I catch a lift too?” Eddie asks with a hopeful grin.
“I thought you had the day off,” Liam snaps, rounding on Eddie before I can answer. “After what happened with your class and everything.”
Eddie winces, the color draining from his face. “I don’t need a fucking day off,” he hisses, scowling at Liam. “What I need is to get back on the snow…”
Liam folds his arms over his chest, staring down at Eddie with an implacable frown. “You’re taking a day off.”
“That right?” Eddie rises to his feet, the chair skidding back behind him. “And what? You gonna make me?”
I exchange a look with Matty, wondering what is going on between the two Kiwis. It’s obvious they knew each other already, but I have no idea why Eddie wouldn’t want to have time off work, or why Liam is being so bossy about it. Matty shrugs, looking between Liam and Eddie with wide eyes.
“I don’t have to make you do anything,” Liam retorts, the faintest of smug smirks curling his lips. “I’ll just tell Rachel that I think you’re unfit to take a class, and she’ll listen to me.”
Eddie drops his bowl to the table, the spoon clattering loudly. “You motherfucker.” He stalks over to Liam, and I tense, thinking for a moment that he’s about to throw a punch, but he stops just in front of him. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me…”
“What’s going on?” Seth appears from nowhere, looking between Liam and Eddie with concern. “What’s all the shouting about?”
Some of the tension drains from Eddie’s shoulders, but his hands are still shaking at his sides, and a pink flush is snaking down his throat, dipping into the V-neck of his thermals. When neither Eddie nor Liam answers, Seth looks to me and Matty for a response. I shrug, and Matty shakes his head.
“No idea,” Matty says honestly. “Something about Eddie taking today off work, I think?”
Understanding flashes across Seth’s face, and he turns to give Eddie a sympathetic look, holding his hands out palm up, as if he’s approaching a wild animal. “Buddy…”
Eddie shakes his head, retreating from Seth, nostrils flared. “Stop it. Don’t fucking look at me like that.”
“You know Rachel isn’t going to give you a class if you show up today, right?” Seth says patiently. “If you need to get on the snow, that’s fine. Go ski. Antoine and I both have the day off today too—you could ski with us. But don’t try showing up to the lineup.”
Eddie’s eyes are bright, but he tamps down whatever emotions are running through him with a feral scowl.
I shoot Matty a panicked look, then nod toward the door. Whatever is going on with these guys, I don’t think I want to be a part of it.
“You ready to go?” I ask him.
Matty shoots to his feet, looking just as eager as I am to escape whatever drama these guys have going on. “Yep, I’m ready. Just let me get my boots on.”
“I’m coming too,” Liam huffs, picking up his coat from the back of his chair.
