Chapter 84 Derrick
DERRICK
Taking the private car from Geneva to Zermatt via the Alps is like being popped into a screensaver. All snowy peaks, pristine lakes, and picture-perfect villages. My face is pressed to the window like a kid, and my mouth is gaped open as we drive further into a Christmas card.
“It’s beautiful, right?” Charlie says, his knee knocking into mine.
Callum has passed out in the front seat.
“It looks fake. Like someone painted it. Or like we’re traveling inside a snow globe.”
Charlie grins. “Well, good news, we’re staying where the billionaires stay.”
“I don’t have a billionaire budget, though.”
“I’ll be your sugar daddy this week.” He smirks.
“Oh, I like the sound of that, Daddy …” I whisper into his ear. Charlie looks at me, and I look at him, and we burst out laughing. “I was going with the bit.”
“Not my kink.” Charlie smirks.
“I know, babe.” I wink. “I can’t thank your parents enough for inviting me on this trip.”
“There was a spare room, and everything is included when you hire the chalet.”
“Still.” I nudge him.
“They are excited to hang out with you. I know Mom wants to take you shopping. All the designer shops are on the main street, you’re going to die.”
“I’m excited.” I wiggle in my seat.
It takes us a couple of hours to reach T?sch, where cars must stop before Zermatt.
“Are you ready for the Alps?” Callum asks, waking up from his nap, stretching himself like a cat.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I tell him.
“Tonight, we are going to party hard. Hope you have your party hats on,” Callum warns us.
I look at Charlie, and he nods. “Bring it on.”
We switch to one of the electric taxis to enter the village.
It looks like a golf cart with doors. It zooms us up the mountain path and into the prettiest fucking ski village I’ve ever seen.
Fairy lights line rooftops, fireplaces smoke gently into the icy air, and the Matterhorn looms above everything like a postcard.
“Holy shit,” I whisper.
“Right?” Callum laughs. “Wait until you see the chalet.”
He’s not kidding.
We stop in front of a gorgeous three-story wooden chalet with stone accents, huge windows, and balconies draped in snow. Warm light glows from inside. A carved wooden sign hangs above the entrance, Haus Edelweiss.
Inside smells like cinnamon, pine, and woodfire. A tall, ridiculously handsome guy with floppy brown hair and stupidly long eyelashes walks over and hugs Callum immediately.
“You made it!” the guy says.
“This is Baird,” Callum introduces. “One of my best mates.” Baird smiles at us. “And this is my brother, Derrick, and his partner, Charlie.”
“No shit.” Baird curses as he rushes to give me a hug. “It’s so wild finding out Callum has an Aussie brother.”
“Who lives in LA. He’s a celebrity stylist,” Callum adds proudly.
“Does that mean he can hook us up with actresses?” Baird smirks.
“I called dibs first. Plus, we’re family,” Callum jokes.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Callum claps his hands. “Right, tour time!”
The chalet is modern meets alpine luxury, with vaulted wooden ceilings, glass walls facing the mountains, a sleek fireplace, big cozy couches, and fur throws everywhere. I’ve seen expensive things before, but this is next level.
“This place is insane,” I whisper to Charlie.
Callum grins. “Wait until you see the view from the balcony.” He pushes open the glass doors letting in the frigid cold air, but there standing before us like a majestic beast is the Matterhorn.
“Wow.”
“She’s spectacular, isn’t she. This view is sweet.
Most of the other crew won’t be coming until late tomorrow.
Braid and I always get in a day earlier to make sure everything is set for the next week.
Our friends can be quite demanding.” He chuckles as he closes the door behind us.
“You guys settle in. I have some stuff to sort out with Baird, and then I’ll show you around.
We can grab dinner and drinks and then party on into the night. ”
“We do have an early train ride in the morning. We can’t go too hard,” I remind him.
“True. Nothing worse than being hungover on a train. I promise I won’t get you too drunk.” He winks at me before walking out of our room.
“I don’t trust him.” Charlie smirks.
“You and I need to keep an eye on our drinks tonight. We can’t go overboard.”
“Deal.”
Our room is warm and cozy, with a queen bed, soft lighting, and a balcony overlooking the whole snowy valley. It’s peaceful. Quiet. And after Scotland’s emotional whirlwind, it feels like a deep exhale.
“How are you feeling about the Arran situation?” Charlie asks as he sits on the bed and stares out the window at the view.
“I don’t know.”
“Look, don’t shoot me, but I’m playing devil’s advocate here, and believe me, I am not Chance’s biggest fan at all,” I glare at my man, “but hear me out.”
“This should be good,” I grumble.
“What happens if they both actually like each other?” I raise a brow at him, surprised I’m hearing this. “Look, I don’t like this situation any more than you do, but …”
“That’s what’s stressing me.”
“Oh,” Charlie says.
“I’m not jealous,” I quickly add.
“I know, babe.”
“You think that they might have real feelings for each other?” I question him.
“Or maybe they are each other’s confidants like Chance told you. Seems like they are both navigating the same situation,” Charlie explains.
“You think that’s it?” He nods. “Do you think I should call, Chance?” Charlie gives me a surprised expression. “I’m sure Arran’s talked to him about me confronting him.”
“Are you worried Chance is going to try to turn Arran against you?” Charlie asks.
“Maybe. I don’t think he would, but a little,” I confess.
“Then call him. Right now. Before we go to dinner, get it off your mind,” Charlie tells me.
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey,” he says, grabbing my face, “you have nothing to apologize for.” He kisses me softly. “I can leave if you want me too.” I shake my head. I want him to hear so he knows there is truly nothing going on between the two of us.
“Fuck I love you.”
“I know.” He grins.
Taking out my phone, I call Chance. It’s early, but whatever, the phone rings and rings until eventually Chance’s groggy voice answers.
“Derrick?”
“Sorry to wake you but we need to talk,” I tell him.
“It’s fucking eight in the morning.” He groans.
“I know but …”
“It’s about Arran, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“He told me you two had a chat and that it didn’t go so well.”
Shit. “Guess you could say that.”
“If it makes you any happier, he’s pissed with me as well. He was blindsided by our relationship,” Chance explains.
“Didn’t think you had told him.”
“I was working up to it.”
“Or you were never going to tell him.” I let my anger rise in me.
Chance lets out a heavy sigh. “I was, but thought it might have been better face-to-face. He’s coming to the States next week to our show in Vegas.”
Wait. What?
“I should thank you for that because he told me he couldn’t make it, but after our argument, he wanted to see me, hash it out in person.” Chance chuckles.
“Glad I could be of service,” I say sarcastically.
“D, I know you don’t trust me, and you have every right not to, but I do really like Arran.
We talk every day for hours. He’s there for me when I’m struggling with my sobriety.
He talks me off the ledge. Reminds me I am stronger than I think I am.
” I look over at Charlie and mouth the word fuck.
“I’m sorry he is your brother, and I wish I could have chosen anyone else to have this connection with but … ”
“I get it.” I sigh. “I’ve said what I’ve said. You two are both grown adults, and this is your life. But if you fuck him over so help me, Chance.”
“I won’t. I promise. I’ve learned my lesson,” he tells me.
“Good. Well, Happy New Year and good luck in Vegas.”
“Thanks, D. And I do appreciate you holding me to task.” This surprises me. “See ya around.” And with that he hangs up.
“Fuck me.” I sigh, leaning back against the bed.
“That went well.”
I turn and look at Charlie. “You think?”
“Look, Chance knows where he stands with you. And I’m proud that you are stepping away because it doesn’t seem as crazy as we first thought that they might have a connection.
” I give him a look of bullshit. “As absurd as it is, I believe Chance is being genuine.” I am gagged.
“I know. It’s killing me to say it, but you can hear it in his voice.
The way he talks about Arran is with respect.
And if they are talking that much, they have connected on a whole other level other than physicality, and you’re not going to beat that. ”
He’s right.
“So, you’re doing the right thing. Stepping away. You said your piece, and they will do what they will. But if you keep forcing your views onto them, you’re going to push them together even more.”
“It’s messed up, that’s all,” I say, placing my head on his shoulder.
“It is, but what’s done is done. Don’t worry about it anymore.”
“I’m done. They are on their own.”
By the time Charlie and I finish talking, the sun has disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the whole valley washed in deep twilight blues and golds. Fairy lights flicker on outside the chalet, and distant music drifts faintly from the village like the whole town is gearing up for a big night.
Charlie nudges me with his knee. “C’mon. Let’s go see what kind of trouble Callum is planning.”
Trouble arrives faster than expected. Callum barges into our room with a bottle of champagne under his arm and Baird peeking over his shoulder.
“Thank fuck I didn’t walk in on you two. I love you, bro, but I don’t need to see that.” I shake my head at his antics. “Right. The party starts now,” Callum declares.
Charlie looks at the bottle, then at Callum. “We said we’d pace ourselves.”
“We will,” Callum promises, opening the bottle with no warning. The cork flies and hits the ceiling, Charlie flinches, Baird cheers.
Absolute menace.
“You’re both terrible influences,” I mutter, even as I accept a glass.