Chapter 26
It was such a relief when Christmas break finally arrived.
My English final went pretty well, and I was glad all the studying I’d put in paid off.
Once it was over and the bell rang to signal the end of the day, a huge cheer filled the room.
We could hear similar celebrations from the classroom next door, and even Mr. Brenner seemed happy school was over for the semester.
I officially finished off my week by submitting the business management assignment I’d been working on with Noah. I was glad we’d been able to polish it off without meeting in the library again. I’d been doing my best to avoid him for fear Wes’s concerns might return.
As soon as I’d handed it in, my thoughts went to the mountains.
I was so excited about the ski trip and even more excited to get back to Rapid Bay after that.
My mom had been so busy with the café over the last few weeks, and she always sounded so tired when we spoke on the phone.
I had to wonder if she was still staying up late stressing about finances.
She needed a break. And after weeks of studying for finals, fretting about college applications, and, of course, the ongoing tension between me, Wes, and Noah, I was more than ready for a break myself.
We flew out to Aspen on the Montfort family jet first thing the following morning.
I thought I might eventually get used to seeing expensive homes after spending time at my father’s properties and even Luther’s family villa in Weybridge, but when we arrived at the Montforts’ ski chalet, I was speechless.
I hadn’t heard much about the place, but Wes and Sawyer had spoken about it like we were headed to some quaint cabin in the woods.
We might have been surrounded by trees, but this was no cabin.
The house was at the end of a peaceful cul-de-sac lined with other massive homes, but none were as big as the Montforts’.
They were all made of silvery stone and dark wood with huge glass windows that overlooked the towering snowy mountains.
As we got out of the car, I was struck by the freshness of the cool winter breeze, and I gaped up at the tall peaks.
I was still coming to terms with how beautiful this part of the country was.
I loved the tall pine trees dusted in snow and the soft white blanket that covered everything in sight.
The sky seemed so much bluer here, and the air tasted so much cleaner.
Most of all, I loved the rocky peaks that surrounded us and the way they jutted into the sky.
I’d always thought of myself as a beach girl, but I was being easily charmed by the mountains.
The only thing that might take some getting used to was the cold.
I was wrapped up in my warmest jacket, but I could still feel the nip in the air.
“Gosh, I love it here,” Cress said as she jumped out of the car beside me. There was a wide smile on her face, and her eyes sparkled as she looked out at the view. The house was up a gradual slope and had a gorgeous outlook across the resort.
“Me too,” Anna said, coming around the back of the car to join us. “We have to put up with Sawyer, but it’s totally worth it.”
“I heard that,” Sawyer shouted from the other side of the vehicle.
Wes got out of the driver’s seat and came to place an arm over my shoulders. Maybe I would be able to put up with the cold if he kept close to me this way.
“You want to see the house?” he asked.
“I’m still trying to get over the view,” I said, making him grin.
“Well, it’s just as good from inside. And it’s warm too.” “You probably should have led with that.” I laughed. “Let’s get inside.”
Wes insisted he and Sawyer could grab the luggage, so I followed Anna and Cress into the house.
The entrance opened onto a large kitchen living area, and all of us stopped as we saw the huge windows that stretched across the entire back wall of the room.
Beyond lay a view unlike any other I’d ever seen before.
The house was elevated, so it felt like we were hovering above the trees with the whole valley stretched out beneath us.
We could see the town, which was currently in the shadow of the mountains that stood behind it.
Just off the living area on the other side of the window was a large deck that was basked in sunshine.
If the weather stayed like this, I could easily picture myself sitting on the long comfy sofas out there, snuggled under a blanket, with a hot chocolate as I admired the view.
“Can you see why we like it here so much?” Anna asked.
“Uh, yeah.” I gasped. “This place is incredible.”
“So beautiful,” Cress agreed. “I could stay out here forever.”
When the twins entered the house, Sawyer was muttering curses under his breath while he attempted to drag Anna’s bag inside.
“I thought you were the strong twin, Sawyer,” Anna joked. “Perhaps I should have asked Wes to get my bag.”
Sawyer’s face only grew darker. Wes chuckled and shot Anna a wink before gesturing for me to follow him.
He led us up a set of stairs, lugging my duffel bag with him, and showed me to my room.
We each had our own bedroom, which I thought Cress would be particularly pleased about seeing as I was always up at the crack of dawn while she loved to sleep in.
No matter how quiet I was, I often woke her up while I was getting ready for my morning runs.
My bedroom was gorgeous. It had a huge fluffy white bed, and a door in the corner led to an en suite bathroom. I looked through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the view was even better now we were higher.
Wes left me to get settled while he went to help with the rest of our group’s luggage. I spent a few minutes unpacking before there was a knock at the door. I turned to see him leaning against the doorframe, a smile on his lips as he watched me. “Do you like the room?” he asked.
“I love it,” I said. “And the view…” There were no words.
“I thought you’d like that,” he said. “And you’re right next door to me.”
His cheeks flushed slightly as he glanced away. The thought of Wes sleeping in the next room had me a little flustered as well. We’d joked a few times about getting caught in each other’s rooms after curfew, but there were no teachers clamping down on the rules here.
“So, you’re saying you’ll easily be able to hear me snore then?” I asked.
He laughed, and the awkward tension that had briefly appeared between us dissolved. “I’m sure you don’t snore,” he said, stepping into the room. “And even if you did, I’m sure it would be adorable.”
“You don’t know that. I could sound like a freight train.”
“I have always liked trains.”
I laughed as he gathered me in his arms and looked into my eyes. “I can’t wait to spend these next few days together,” he said. “It’s going to be great finally having time for just the two of us.”
“We’ll have to ditch the others,” I reminded him.
“I’m sure we’ll find a way…” He lowered his head and closed in on my lips, but a shout from downstairs caused us to pause.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Anna’s voice echoed from the living area.
Wes let out a sigh and pulled away from me. “I wonder what that’s about?”
“She’s probably just discovered she forgot her favorite hair straightener,” I suggested.
Wes didn’t seem so sure though. “I better go check she hasn’t broken my mom’s precious china or something. Sawyer can’t be trusted to keep an eye on things.”
When we got downstairs, Cress and Sawyer had also just arrived in the living area. Anna was peering out the window by the front door, looking at the driveway.
“Anna, what’s wrong?” Cress asked as she went to join her.
“You’ll never believe who just arrived at the house next door.” Anna pulled away from the window and turned to us. The surprise on her face became an uncomfortable grimace when her eyes fell on me and Wes.
Cress leaned past Anna, peered out the window, and squealed. “Oh my gosh!” She was far more excited than Anna, and she immediately opened the front door and rushed outside.
Wes and Sawyer hurried to the front door while I followed just behind, dragging my feet. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see who was out there.
“Hey there, neighbors.”
My worst fear was realized as I stepped outside to be greeted by Luther’s gleeful voice.
Anna groaned, and my stomach flipped as I looked across the driveway to see Kaden and Luther standing in front of large black truck parked outside the house next door.
Luther was waving at us, and Kaden was grinning as Cress ran toward him.
When she reached him, she threw her arms around him, and he lifted her off the ground.
“We’re neighbors?” Kaden asked her through shocked laughter.
“What are you even doing here?” she asked at the same time. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming.”
“We decided to come just yesterday,” Kaden said. He looked a little nervous as though he hadn’t been sure what Cress’s reaction would be. “Luther organized it,” he continued. “I thought it might be fun to surprise you. But I didn’t know we’d be right next door. I hope this is okay?”
“Of course, it is,” Cress replied. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
I wasn’t sure anyone else felt that way.
Anna was standing with arms folded, glaring at Luther.
Sawyer had a confused expression on his face, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at Wes.
I knew what he’d be thinking because I was thinking it too.
If Luther and Kaden were here, then surely Noah was too.
As if he’d been summoned by the thought alone, Noah appeared from behind the truck.
His eyes widened when he saw us, betraying his surprise, and he leaned in to whisper something to Luther, but his friend just smirked at him.
Noah looked just as shocked to see us as we were to see him, but when his eyes met mine, I was convinced I saw the flicker of a smile touching the corner of his lips.