Chapter 17 17–21 January 2017 #3
Hannah was drawn back to reality by the sound of Ami’s laughter.
She turned – Ami had been sitting beside her on the loveseat a moment ago.
But the sound was coming from somewhere else.
Now, her sister stood across the way, leaning against the wide wooden railing that surrounded the deck.
She hadn’t noticed her get up. Behind her, the tall glass barely obscured a breathtaking view of the snow-covered grounds.
Beside Ami, arm draped across her shoulders, was Bash.
Hannah stiffened, feeling suddenly sober.
Throughout the year, she’d found herself warming to Sebastian Beaumont.
He’d been a good friend to Theo when the Gemma scandal had broken, while not alienating Elle or calling Madison a liar.
And while he remained an incorrigible womaniser, he refrained from making the kind of disgusting comments on The Upper Edge about Gemma and other Prescott girls that many of their classmates traded in daily.
Which was to say, her first impression had softened a bit – but Bash nevertheless had no business cosying up to her fifteen-year-old sister.
She leapt to her feet, then wobbled in her ankle boots. The heels were low, but Hannah had eaten too little and indulged too much. She pinched the inside of her wrist. Get it together.
‘Hannah, darling.’ Bash threw his other arm around her. She was taller, and it landed around her mid-back. Instantly, she shrugged it off.
‘Come on, Ames. Let’s get dinner.’
Ami cast her a lazy grin and leaned into Bash’s side. They were all drunk, and high, and underfed. My fault, Hannah thought. When she’d come here tonight, she’d sworn to their parents she’d keep an eye on Ami. And she’d done the opposite.
‘Not hungry,’ Ami giggled. ‘Bash is going to show me around the lodge. There’s an unlocked window around back.’
‘Shh,’ Bash said, pressing a finger to his lips. ‘Our secret.’
‘The hell you are,’ Hannah growled.
‘Whoa, chill,’ Bash said. ‘We’re just going to take a little tour. No funny business.’
She stared pointedly at Bash’s hand, which had slid from Ami’s shoulder down to her waist. ‘Step away from her.’
‘Hannah.’ Ami’s cheeks flushed red. ‘You’re being embarrassing.’
Bash raised both hands in front of his chest, grinning. ‘Okay, Mom.’
Fury surged through Hannah. Her hand shot out, grasping Ami’s wrist. ‘Right now,’ she said, tugging Ami away from Bash. Startled, Ami stumbled after her sister, then dug in her heels a couple of yards down the deck. Directly behind was the set of stairs leading to the grounds below.
‘Let go of me.’ She shook her arm, hard, but Hannah tightened her grip.
She leaned in. ‘I promised Dad and Yoko I’d watch out for you tonight. There’s no way in hell you’re going to a second location with Bash Beaumont.’
Ami gave her arm another yank. ‘As if you haven’t been partying too.’
‘You’re right, I fucked up. But now we need to go downstairs and eat something.’
‘You’re not Dad,’ Ami snarled.
‘Tonight I am.’
She turned, pulling Ami in the direction of the door leading back inside.
Bash looked on, amused. From their table, Madison and Beatrice peered at the scene over a plate of oysters and mini quiches.
Even the conversation at the bar had fallen silent.
Hannah tugged Ami towards the door again, and Ami twisted her arm, hard, finally coming free of Hannah’s grasp.
‘Ow!’ she shrieked as Hannah’s nails grazed her wrist. Then there was a soft thud.
Hannah whirled around, just in time to see Ami stumble backward, the heel of her boot catching the top of the deck stairs. One hand reached out to break her fall, then she tumbled to the grounds below.
‘Ami!’ Hannah pounded down the stairs after her. At the base of the steps, Ami lay on her back in the snow, black hair fanned out around her, clutching her wrist.
‘Shit.’ She crouched over her and placed her hand to her cheek. ‘Are you okay?’
‘My wrist,’ Ami whimpered. It was swelling fast.
‘Does anything else hurt?’ She helped her sister sit up.
Slowly, Ami shook her head. ‘My butt’s gonna be bruised. But I think I’m okay.’
Just then, Bash and Madison arrived at the base of the stairs. Bash glared daggers at Hannah, while Madison loomed over both girls. Above them, still on the deck, Beatrice stood peering down at the scene, her phone out.
‘You okay?’ Madison’s voice was kind. She knelt beside Ami, seemingly unaware of the snow soaking the knees of her gauzy Lela Rose dress. Hannah breathed in deep. She’d half-expected Madison to demand that Theo kick them out for making a scene. Not that there was anywhere around here to go.
‘Fine.’ Ami smiled gratefully, allowing Hannah and Madison to help her up.
‘Good.’ In a snap, Madison’s voice had turned frosty. Hannah’s back stiffened.
Madison turned to Bash. ‘You, upstairs. Now.’
Bash glowered but turned to go.
When the three girls were alone, Madison turned to Ami, arms crossed over her chest. ‘Theo went out on a limb inviting you here tonight. I should have told him you were too much of a baby to bring to a party like this.’
‘I—’ Ami started to say, but Madison cut her off.
‘Bash Beaumont is not someone to play games with, and unless you want to be the next Gemma Phipps, you need to stay away from Prescott boys. Do you understand?’
Ami was stunned into silence. Madison’s words had perhaps been intended as a kindness, but they’d landed like a cut.
Hannah stared into Madison’s brown eyes, finding no answers there.
Was Madison really looking out for her little sister?
Or was she simply horrified by the idea of her friend hooking up with a nobody like Ami?
After a moment, Hannah spoke up. ‘We’re going to get some ice for her wrist. I think it’s sprained.’
Madison’s eyes travelled downward. ‘Fine,’ she said crisply. ‘I’ll see you both in the dining room.’
With that, they were dismissed.