Chapter Two
Vivian
We’ve been here less than two hours, and I’m so pumped to get started.
I need to take a breather from my thoughts about Simon.
After our confrontation at the garage, I decided that my crush on him has to come to an end.
He’s a grown man, and I’m a little girl in his eyes, even though we are only a few years apart.
“Vivi, are you ready?”
“Almost,” I mutter, checking my reflection.
I’d picked out several cute numbers online, and luckily they all arrived before we left town.
There are six of us girls to a suite, and we’ve unpacked our suitcases and changed before heading out to meet our groups at noon in the lobby of the large hotel decked out like a fancy chalet.
I shake my head; my eyes must be playing tricks on me because I see Simon West Jr. leaning over the reception desk, chatting up the woman behind the counter.
A deep rumbling chuckle comes from him as the beautiful blonde receptionist laughs at something he says, and I let out a low hiss with my fists balled low at my thighs.
Oh, yes, it’s real. I’d know that damn laugh anywhere.
Simon West Jr. is here. I can’t believe it. Why? Is he here to drive me nuts? Then I see his mom and dad. Oh, they’re all here.
No one mentioned that they were planning the same vacation.
No, they weren’t planning it. My father did this.
It’s so something he would do, or rather, something my mother would set up.
They never really give me any real lead before they pull on the yoke.
I do my best to school my features, but there is no way to truly mask my ire.
I’m so peeved that I can feel the heat spreading up my face.
“Oh my goodness, Vivian, dear. It’s so good to see you,” Mrs. West says, suddenly standing directly in front of me.
Most of my parents’ friends, I call aunt and uncle or by their patched names, but for some reason I can’t with the Wests.
Maybe it’s the way I feel about Simon. If I treat them like family then Simon becomes family and unavailable to me and that would be awkward.
“Hello. I had no idea you’d be coming,” I answer with my teeth clenched tightly together, doing my best to not scream at the way they’ve all invaded my peace. How he has invaded my peace. I can’t escape the man who doesn’t want me while he continues to crush my poor, fragile heart.
“Wrench told me about the trip, and I thought it would be a great way to spend a holiday with the family,” Mrs. West says, smiling so sweetly that I can’t be as upset as I want to be.
“That’s sweet.” Simon doesn’t even approach. He continues speaking to the woman at the desk as if I’m nothing. I do my best not to be destroyed by it. Then, Mr. West turns his head after catching my attention. “Oh, they messed up our rooms. He’s getting it settled.”
“I’m sure.” I smile, pretending to be unbothered. “It’s good to see you all, but I’m supposed to join my group.” I nod and excuse myself, walking away from them without acknowledging Simon, who is slowly moving in our direction.
“Trouble,” he mutters, but I refuse to give him more than a passing nod.
It’s all he deserves. I’ve been struggling with my feelings for that man for so long.
Years. I’ve been madly in love with him, and he’s pushed me away for the last damn time.
We aren’t a million years apart in age, and yet, he acts like it’s a crime.
It’s not, so it’s obvious he doesn’t like me and I’ve been wasting my damn time.
Seeing him openly flirting with another woman just confirms all the fears I had while he was in school.
I’ve never heard or seen him with other girls in town, so this hits in a way I can’t even explain.
Pushing those emotions away, I head out to the ski area just off the resort to begin our first run.
Thankfully I’ve gone skiing before, because my head isn’t in the game. My heart isn’t in it, either.
“Hey, pretty girl. How are you doing?” I’m so distracted I almost didn’t see my classmate Richie. Luckily I stopped myself from slamming right into him.
“Hey, Richie,” I say, smiling at him as best as I can.
I can’t truly flirt with anyone. I never could because my heart and soul have always belonged to that bastard Simon, and I’m not even sure why.
He’s a no-good, philandering piece of crap.
I can’t believe he’d be so cruel as to flirt right in front of me.
He’s known forever that I’ve been obsessed with him, and then he does that.
It’s like he wants me to stop this fascination.
If that’s what he wants, well, that’s what he’ll get.
From here on out, I’m not the damn doormat schoolgirl with a crush on the hunky mechanic.
God, it’s not like I haven’t been warned by him several times to go home and grow up.
Well, now I’m done being the pathetic little simpering Vivian who wears her heart on her sleeve.
“Things are going better now that you’re here.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. Do you want to be my partner for the day?” he asks.
“Sure, I’d like that,” I say, smiling at him while walking toward the ski instructor.
I see Simon’s nosy brothers nearby and roll my eyes.
If I could get away with it, I’d kick them in their shins, but then I wouldn’t doubt that they’d accidentally trip me in the snow.
Unfortunately, we’ve grown up way too close to each other, and it’s like having extra brothers.
“Come on, Richie. Let’s go over here.” I move him away from the twins so I don’t have to deal with their pestering. Over the past two years, I’ve gotten used to their big-brother antics, but they aren’t my big brothers, so they can quit it.
“So, are you seeing anyone?” he asks, his intent clear.
“Yeah,” twin one asks, stepping around me. Where the hell did he come from? How did I not hear him crunch through the snow?
The other pops his head over Richie’s shoulder and says, “Yes, she’s seeing a therapist because she’s in love with my brother and she doesn’t understand that she’s jailbait.”
Number one rests his arm on my shoulder and shakes his head. “One more month and she’s fair game for Simon, but she’s too damn impatient. Girls,” he sighs.
“I think you boys are full of shit because she’s clearly here with me,” Richie tells them. I smirk.
“He’s right,” I say.
“We gave you a warning, Richie, but you’re just a placeholder. I hate to say it, but once my brother finds out, you’ll be the last placeholder for anyone.”
I want to punch both of them, but instead, I think it would be better to prove them wrong. I grab Richie by his snow vest and pull him in close, but before I can lock lips with him, he suddenly slips on his skis. I feel so bad.
“Dude, what a bad look,” Jackass number two says, annoying me so much I clock him in the jaw.He takes it with a smile, stumbling back in the snow.
“Seriously, could you be more of a prick?” I screech.
“I could. Is that a challenge?”
“Ugh,” I huff and leave all three of them there because even though Richie fell, he isn’t hurt and all he wanted from me was to keep him warm this weekend—something that is not going to happen.
I ride the slopes for a few hours with a couple of the girls, avoiding all the neanderthals because the only one I want isn’t anywhere to be found.
He’s probably inside keeping himself well occupied with all the snow bunnies and their personal attention. I do my best to hold back the pain that bubbles in my chest.
“Are you okay, Ms. Lawrence?”
I turn to my instructor, who is a handsome thirty-something-year-old man who has ladies flocking to him with his charming smile, but I’m not one of them. “Um. Yes.”
“Whoever he is, don’t let him bring you down.
You’re young and beautiful. One day when you grow up, you’ll meet the right man.
” I want to scream. What the hell is it with the whole growing-up BS?
Yes, I’m freaking young, and I know it, but still, I’m my parents’ child, so I’m also stubborn and determined.
I may not be an adult, but my mother was just as young as me and so was Simon’s mother.
If Simon’s brothers were being legit, he’s just waiting for me to grow up, but he’s not really waiting, is he?
More like enjoying his time while I wait.
He was having a free-for-all with all the ladies—a full buffet of women at his disposal and in his bed while I long for him.
“Thank you. I promise I’m fine. I’m done for today and am going to return to the resort and to my room.”
I manage to return to the resort, checking in with my group so they don’t panic, and then go to my room without running into another damn West family member. Then, I give a quick call to my parents before showering the chill off my body. Once I’m good, I get some sleep because I’m worn out.
I’m woken up a few hours later by my roommates. “Girl, what are you doing sleeping in? Dang. Was it too much?”
“Did you take all those boys at once?”
“What?” Are they assuming that I was screwing a bunch of guys?
“You were with all those guys.”
“Are you three serious? I wasn’t with anyone. Seriously. Two of them are like annoying brothers, and Richie and I are friends.” I roll my eyes. “What would make you think that? Since when is talking to some of the guys in school mean I’m having sex with them?”
“Richie said you hooked up.”
“Richie’s a fucking liar.” Ugh. When I see him tomorrow, I’m going to kick him in his sack. I can’t believe he would go so far as to make up some crap like that.