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“I’m just wearing what was at the bottom of my suitcase. I need to do laundry.” I lie. It was at the bottom of my suitcase but only because it was the first thing I threw in when I’d set off packing, knowing Xander would be here. “And I was just laughing. I’m not allowed to laugh?”
Quentin’s shoulder rises and falls as he tilts his head and takes another sip of the beer he’s holding.
“I’m just trying to help. Guys like me will bite for that sort of thing. Xander? His tastes are more refined.”
I go through about five different shifts of emotions trying to make sense of that information. Whether or not Quentin Undergrove is hitting on me. The idea that Xander wouldn’t find me attractive. The idea that I’m not refined. That Quentin thinks he can help with Xander—which isn’t the worst idea now that I think about it. My brother would never, but Quentin might just be the right man for the job. Except first…
“Are you saying I’m not good enough for Xander?”
“Oh no. You’re perfect. That upper-class thing you pull off so well most of the time. Just like your brother. I guess money does buy all that, doesn’t it?”
He’s in a mood tonight. I don’t know if the trip out here was rough, or if he spent too much time in the car with Shelby and Daniel on the drive up from the Denver airport. He’s set himself up here in the breakfast nook while the rest of us have been playing drinking games and cards, only occasionally coming around to sit in for a hand of something.
I’m guessing that it has something to do with the fact that Tobias and Xander were drafted and are headed for the pros, where he’s courted injuries and the bench all season. His suspension this year had come as a shock to the college football world. A once promising career coming to a screeching halt in what had been widely seen as a series of self-destructive and senseless fuck ups. I mostly just felt sorry for him. I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to watch your friends go on to get drafted while you wonder if you have a career left at all. Stuck in a no-win situation, trying to decide if he should go back to play college ball for another year in hopes he can make next year’s draft or give up on that dream and try to find a new one. All while your friends get money, sponsorships, and women thrown at them.
Quentin isn’t like Xander and Tobias. They both come from money—Tobias from our dad’s money from playing pro football and coaching it and Xander’s parents who are both from old money and deep pockets perpetuated by Senator Xavier’s political career. They’d had private schools, coaches, and clinics from the time they could throw a ball. Quentin has gotten this far largely from pure talent. His meteoric rise to being one of the best QBs in college football and a forecasted top draft pick only to be stymied by bad habits and worse luck, has been rough to watch. The fact that his uncle, another pro coach like my father, has tried to help in the 11thhour and failed has only made the situation even more difficult for him.
“I’m just saying,” he starts again. “He won’t bite. For a million reasons including the fact your brother would kill him.”
My heart sinks in my chest. I’d stupidly come to the mountain house to get one last shot at Xander before he goes to the pros, and I go off for my gap year abroad. One last chance at my longtime crush to get him to see me as something other than Tobias’s little sister and maybe just maybe lose my V-card somewhere other than a hostel dorm. It was a long shot, and I knew it, but a girl can have dreams. At least until Quentin Undergrove crushes them with his ruthless honesty, but then I think misery just loves company sometimes. Not that I’m about to let it stop me.
2
Quentin
“Oh shit.I didn’t even think about sleeping arrangements.” Tobias frowns as everyone starts to head to their rooms, and I grab the bag I abandoned earlier at the front door.
“I can sleep on a couch.”
“No. Just let me think…” Tobias’s brow furrows, and I feel guilty I came here all over again. He and Xander didn’t expect me. Probably figured I’d be licking my wounds in private while the world burned down around me. But I couldn’t take another minute of self-reflection or quiet solitude. I need my friends, some cold drinks, and maybe a one-night stand or two to make this all fade into the background for a bit. At least pretending for a while that everything isn’t about to change for me. Walking in on a family weekend, and Daniel bringing his girlfriend isn’t exactly what I had in mind.
“It’s just… I took my room, Mads took hers, Xander took East’s, and Shelby and Daniel took my parents’ room. So we’re full up. But I hate making you sleep on a couch. I could get you a room at the hotel down the way. It’s the off-season ‘cause it’s a ski resort, so it might be a little empty, but you could just bunk there, spend the rest of your time here?”
I feel a lump in my throat at the idea of Tobias paying for my room or awkwardly begging to sleep on the couch to avoid any more time alone.
“He can sleep in the other bunk in my room.” Madison chimes in as she walks by, avoiding looking at me and instead focusing on her brother.
“Oh yeah. I forgot about that.” Tobias shrugs. “It’s an option?” He gives me a hesitant look like he’s sorry he’s even suggesting it.
“I get top bunk.” Madison adds and then finally looks at me. “And I don’t know if you’ll fit. But you’re welcome to the bottom bunk if you want it.” She sweeps some of her blonde hair behind her ear, and I try hard to stay focused on her face. Because my best friend’s sister, who I only ever remember being an awkward shy nerd, has been transformed into a long-legged curvy goddess sometime between the last time I saw her and now. I almost didn’t recognize her when I walked in—practically tripping over myself until I did the math and realized who she was.
“If you don’t mind.”
“Nope. Not a problem.” She glances at her brother, and he just shrugs. I’m not sure if he trusts me that much, or if he’s just that oblivious to the change in her. Because if she was my sister, I definitely wouldn’t let someone like me anywhere near her—let alone sleep in the same room.
“Okay.” I give a short nod and look back at Tobias.
“Works for you; works for me.” He smiles. “I’m glad you came. Not the same without you.”
That little admission from my old friend lifts a little weight off my shoulders.
“Well, can’t let you run off to the pros without a proper send-off.”
We say our goodnights and Tobias shows me where Madison’s room is before he heads off to his own to sleep. I stop at the threshold and stare into the blur of girly frills that have been frozen in time. The walls are bubblegum pink and fairy lights decorate the edges of the bunk beds with fake ivy snaking up the sides of the windows. The beds are each made with a softer shade of pastel pink and frilly white with a row of flower-patterned pillows that line the wall. It looks like Barbie tried to decorate a cottage.
She’s standing on the far side of the room brushing her hair, and she looks up. I must be making a face because her tone immediately becomes defensive.
“My mom decorated it when I was younger. I’ve told her it needs an update and bigger beds but she hasn’t had a chance to get up here yet.”
