“Jennifer!” I cry, disoriented by the harrowing inability to help my sister.
“Jennifer!”
I should have yanked her to me.
“Jennifer!”
No. No. No. No. No.
This isn’t happening.
This isn’t real.Chapter 1Mason(Twenty-two-years old / Present day.)
“My ears are freezing. They feel like two blocks of ice,” Kingsley complains.
I resist the urge to tell her it’s because she’s wearing that shitty excuse for a headband, instead of a decent balaclava. The guys are already pissed with me for being confrontational with Kingsley, so I try to save face by stepping up behind her.
When I push her hands away, Kingsley scowls, “What are you doing?”
Already regretting my decision to be nice, I ignore her. I cover her ears and lean forward. Blowing hot air between my cupped hand and her ear, I’m hoping it will shut her up for a couple of minutes.
But my hope is short-lived as she asks, “Ahh… what’s happening right now?”
Fuck my life, it’s hard to not give in to the temptation to shove her face first down into the snow.
“I’m being nice,” I mutter, then quickly warm her other ear before I adjust the headband. I almost slap her on the back but stop myself in time and give her a quick pat instead.
Noticing the ski lifts are coming in, I move toward it before I die of an overdose of her perky attitude.
The only thing I like perky is a nice pair of…
“Should I worry?” Kingsley asks, making my irritation increase. “Do you think maybe he’s lost his mind?”
You can’t hit a girl.
You can’t hit a girl.
You can’t hit a girl.
I’m struggling as is, then Lake adds, “I’m actually not sure. Maybe he’s coming down with the flu.”
Fuckers.
All of them.
Right before stepping up to the lift, I glare at them. “See, when I’m nice, you all think I’m insane. Get your asses to the lifts, so I can push Hunt down the slope.” I sit my ass down, muttering, “Can’t fucking win.”
“He’s fine,” Falcon says.
Going up, I zone out, not taking in any of the nature around me.
Why the fuck am I torturing myself like this?
Oh, yeah. Because it’s for Layla and Falcon loves the girl.
My thoughts go back to yesterday when Layla hugged me. She totally caught me off guard. I’m used to people scattering away from me. Definitely not hugging me and telling me to breathe.
I get why Falcon fell for her. Her balls to the wall attitude alone is enough to catch your attention, never mind her ability to make you feel calm and at home.
Home.
I haven’t felt that in a long time. Sure, I have Falcon and Lake, but there’s just something different a woman brings to a household.
Warmth. Tenderness.
I lost that five years ago and since Layla started dating Falcon, I’ve seen glimpses of it, and it’s been blinding me.
Add Kingsley’s overexcited, happy go lucky attitude, and I’m ready to dig my eyes out.
They remind me of what I’ve lost and seeing as I can’t tell Layla to fuck off, I direct my anger at Kingsley.
Reaching the top of the slope, I get off and walk over to the benches so I can put on my gear. I take my time, letting the others go ahead of me.
I’m really not in the mood for this, but I get up and ski closer to where Lake is.
“Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit,” Kingsley panics. She’s about to lose her balance, so I slowly ski up behind her and placing my hands on her hips, I help her to remain standing.
Fulfilling my ‘being nice’ quota for the day, I ski away from her and shout, “Try not to break your neck, Hunt.”
Skiing down the slope, the wind rushes past me, and when I reach the bottom, I’m tempted to say fuck it, and to head to the resort. But because my friends are up on the slope, I head over to the lift and make my way back up to them.
An hour later, Kingsley’s arms wave wildly at her sides as she tries to keep her balance where she’s skiing at a snail’s pace slightly in front of me. I plant my poles in the snow and grabbing hold of her hips, I help her to regain her balance. She turns her head, and when she sees me, her eyes widen behind the pink Oakley goggles.
“Why are you still surprised, Hunt? It’s like the fiftieth time already. Next time, I’m letting you eat snow,” I growl, maddened by her uncanny ability to aggravate me with just one look.
I take hold of my poles and watch as Lake skis toward us. Once again, he’s not able to stop which causes him to plow into Kingsley. A grin spreads over my face until I hear Kingsley laugh. The sound has my eye fucking twitching as if I’m about to have a damn stroke.