Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34292 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“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.
Chapter Three
Simon
After our tepid greeting yesterday, I know that Vivian won’t be too keen on seeing me this morning, so I keep my distance. My brothers did their job, low-key following her and her classmates around the slopes. Since they were with the group, they all knew my brothers and had wanted to hang with them, which annoyed Vivian.
I stay in the lodge, hating skiing more than I hate snow. With a hot cup of coffee, I open a book and sit on one of the cozy sofas to enjoy the nice silence. It doesn’t last long when a snow bunny appears in all her tight gear, bringing the chill in with her. Snow falls from her right at my feet and onto my book. I shake it off my book before it’s ruined and then lie the book flat on the sofa so it can dry. If it’s ruined, I’m going to be pissed.
Looking up, I say, “Excuse me.” My tone isn’t polite, but from the look on her face, I’m sure she doesn’t get it.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to get in your way,” she says with a giggle, as if attempting to be cute, but it’s not working for me. I just want her out of my way. I stand up, but she doesn’t move far enough, so when I reach my full height, we’re mere inches from each other.