Stella gets lost in her phone, and I go back to watching the guys. Felix throws the football to Lucas and calls, “I’m out. My nipples could cut glass.”
He jogs up the front porch steps and heads inside. I follow after him.
“Beer?” he asks.
“No, but will you grab me a soda?”
He does and then cracks open his beer and starts toward the master bedroom.
“Wait.” I walk with him, entering the messy room. It’s decorated exactly as you’d expect from grandparents. Elementary school pictures of Felix, Stella, and me in all the awkward phases are framed on the dresser, and it has a smell that’s a mixture of Icy Hot and floral potpourri.
“Stella and I are going to stay.”
“Awesome.”
“You’re really not pissed we’re crashing your entire week of partying?”
His blue eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles. “Nah, but I hope you’re prepared to sleep on the living room floor. At least until Sunday. Lucas is leaving then. After that, you are welcome to the lumpy couch.”
He sets his beer on the dresser and pulls out clean clothes from his bag on the floor.
“Not necessary. Teddy already gave up his room.” I smile smugly as I sit on the edge of his unmade bed.
“That Teddy.” He shakes his head as his voice takes on a taunting edge. “I’m going to have to talk to him about being so nice to my annoying sisters.”
“Teddy is nice to everyone.”
“True,” he says and then flicks on the bathroom light.
“What’s the plan for tonight anyway?”
“Lots of drinking, then who knows. Wherever the night takes us.”
Felix takes his beer and disappears into the bathroom. A second later, the shower turns on. I get up to leave, but pause in the doorway and say, “We should get a tree.”
“A tree?” he calls over the running water.
“Yeah. You know, those things you decorate at Christmastime.”
“Uh, yeah, maybe. I’m not sure how much room we have for that.”
He’s right. The cabin is not spacious, but our parents already said the only tree we’re doing at home this year is the small artificial one mom puts up in the kitchen and decorates with Santa ornaments. She usually puts up at least five artificial trees throughout the house—ranging in size and color and theme, but my favorite is always the real one that goes up in the living room. I love going to pick it out, the way it smells and the way it looks all lit up at night. Stella and I planned to get one this weekend and surprise everyone, but then we decided to come here instead. All the good ones will be picked over before we get back.
“We’ll make room,” I tell him.
I only get a grunt in acceptance, but it’s good enough for me. One small, Christmassy win.
We hang out at the cabin Friday night, and everyone goes to sleep pretty early. The next morning when I wake up, the guys are getting ready to go to the resort to ski, Stella too.
Felix smirks as he scans my sweatshirt. It reads, Don’t stop Believin’ with a picture of Santa Claus. “Did you get that for an ugly holiday sweater party or something?”
“What?” I gasp. “No. This sweater isn’t ugly.”
He chuckles. “Are you coming with us today?”
“And miss an opportunity to hang here by myself and read?” I shake my head. “No chance.”
“You could come and sit in the lodge and read. Better view, better food, and we can hang out while I warm up between runs.” Felix shrugs.
“Yeah!” Stella exclaims. “Come with us.”
I glance around the messy living room. It isn’t the cozy environment I had hoped for and the lodge at the resort is beautiful. Plus, they do have better snacks. “Okay. Let me grab a couple of books.”
“A couple?” Teddy asks.
“She’s a speed reader,” Stella says proudly, like it’s my superpower. Being a twin is funny like that. We both admire the things the other does better, even if it’s something silly like reading faster.
We pile into two vehicles to head to the resort. As everyone else goes to rent gear and buy passes, I head to the lodge. It is my absolute favorite part of the resort. The restaurant sits off on one side, the bar on the other, and in between is a giant fireplace with lots of cozy chairs. I find one near the windows, overlooking the ice-skating rink. There’s also an outdoor-seating area with a snack bar for those who want to grab something to eat, without taking off their wet gear.
Light snow is falling outside, and the sky is gray. I order a muffin and a coffee and take a seat with my book. I’m in the middle of a flirty romance and the hero is working hard to win over the heroine.
It only takes two paragraphs to suck me back into the story and I’m lost to the rest of the world. I don’t look up again until I’m finished. I hug the book to my chest. It’s the perfect way to spend the day, watching the snow, sitting near the fireplace, and finishing a great read.
I stand up and stretch and then pull out my second book. This one is a thriller set in a cozy mountain town in the middle of a blizzard. Curling up in the chair again, I just finish the first page when Stella flops down in front of me, bringing a blast of cold air with her.
“I missed this place.” Her face is red, but her smile is huge.
“Me too.”
She eyes the book in my hand. “Already on your second book?”
“Yeah,” I say as Felix and Teddy join us. Teddy peels off his coat and gloves, and then rubs his hands in front of him.
“I need to dry off,” he says, taking a seat.
“You only get wet if you fall.” Felix grins. “I’m gonna get a drink. Want anything?”
“Nah.” Teddy shakes his head.
“I’ll come with you.” Stella hops up. “I need something hot. I’m frozen to the bone. I should have packed some warmer clothes.”
When it’s just the two of us, Teddy stretches his long legs out in front of him and then takes the beanie off his head and runs his fingers through the thick strands.
“How was it?” I ask.
“Brutal. I let your brother talk me into going down a black diamond on my first day.” He chuckles softly. “I think I rolled down most of it.”
“You’ve never skied before?”
“Never. And from my performance out there this morning, I’m thinking I oughta stick to sports that don’t require me to wear tiny sleds on my feet.”
“There’s also cross-country skiing, snowboarding—Stella loves that, or snowshoeing.”
“Snowshoeing. Isn’t that just like walking in the snow?” His gray eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles.
“But with special shoes,” I insist, then laugh. “They rent shoes and poles here for it. We should try it while you’re here.”
He stares at me a beat, without speaking, and I realize I’ve just suggested the two of us hang out. “I meant you should ask Felix to do it with you. Fair warning, he’ll get bored ten minutes into the walk.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” His gaze drops to my book and then back up. “What about you?”
“What about me?” I squirm a little under his scrutiny.