Annie and Fia (Mind Games 0.50)

“We need to get the heck out of that all-girls’ school.”

“Or you need to start liking girls.”

“I so would if I could, just to feel like this more often. I’m already dreading the withdrawal. I don’t want today to end.”

I link my arm through hers, because Eden is a very touchy person and it’s the right thing to do to get her completely on my side. I know she’s still wary of me—I’ve never been nice to her—but I need her, because I need both Ty and Ryan tonight. “I think I know how to make that high last at least a few hours longer. It involves some serious rule breaking, though. You in?”

Her dark brown eyes crinkle up at the edges and she leans against me, lips pursed to smother her devious smile. “Oh, I’m in.”

I spot the boys walking gingerly back to us across the packed snow. “Follow my lead.”

I take my hot chocolate with a grateful smile, looking up through my eyelashes at Ryan. “I wish they had night skiing.”

“Me, too!” He leans forward, then shuffles his feet, unsure of how close he should stand to me. I shift my hips so I’m closer to him.

“Isn’t there anything to do in the evenings?” I ask.

Ty shrugs. “Nah, not really. You can go into town, but . . .” “But we’re here with chaperones,” Eden finishes.

I twist my ski boot, letting the hard shell dig into the ice beneath. “I heard there was a Jacuzzi.”

“It closes at nine,” Ty says. “And you need an executive room key card to even get in.”

My smile turns challenging as I look at him. “And who do we know with one of those?”

“We have to be in our rooms by nine,” Eden says. “And a bikini wasn’t exactly on the packing list.”

I shrug. “Because that’s so much different than a bra and underwear? Pretty sure we brought those.”

Ty’s mouth drops open, but he’s not the one I have to win over. He’ll do it in a heartbeat. It’s Ryan I have to convince.

“We could get in trouble,” Ryan says, his mouth a worried line.

I reach out, glad I already took my gloves off, and touch his cheek. “Yeah, we could. Good kids wouldn’t do this.”

“Three a.m.,” he blurts out.

“What?” Ty asks, shocked.

“Let’s meet at the Jacuzzi at three a.m. Dad will be asleep. No one has to know. Besides, what else are we going to be doing then?”

Ty laughs. “Umm, sleeping?”

I gaze admiringly at Ryan, then raise a mocking eyebrow at Ty. “Boring much?”

“Fine,” he says, squaring his shoulders. “Three a.m. We’ll prop the door

open for you.”

Eden giggles, hiding her face behind her hot chocolate. “Good thing I’m better at sitting in a steamy room than I am at skiing. I love today.”

I lean even closer to Ryan, anchoring him so he doesn’t change his mind. When no one is looking, I slip my hand into his and squeeze.

It’s a lie, but it’s the lie he needs.

I’m going to hell.

ANNIE