“I told you to be careful out there,” she scolded.
“I was, I swear. Someone ran into me, and I fell. I fractured my ankle, and I have a small concussion.” I decided to omit the part about me being stuck on the mountain alone for hours.
“Oh no, sweetie. That sounds serious,” my mom cooed. “Do I need to get on a flight out there?”
“No,” I insisted hurriedly. “I’m fine.”
“Is anyone helping you? You probably shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“I’m staying with a friend.”
“What friend?” They both asked my dad in a harsh tone and my mom in an inquisitive one.
“No one you know,” I hissed.
“Is it a boy friend?” she asked as if I was still in high school or something.
“It’s none of your business, but if you must know, yes, it is aboy. But we’re just friends. His family owns the lodge I’ve been working at.”
“Do you think that’s a smart idea?” My dad asked at the same time my mom told me to send her a picture.
“Look, I’ve got to go. I just wanted to call and let you know what happened, but I need to give Giles his phone back.”
“Okay, but call us if you need absolutely anything.”
“I will. Love you both. Bye.”
I hung up the phone before they could think of another question to keep the conversation going. Glancing up at the staircase, I saw no sign of Giles emerging. I strained my ears but heard nothing. Quickly, I plugged in the only other number I knew by heart.
“Hello,” answered Frankie on the second ring.
“It’s me. I can’t talk long,” I whispered.
“Mattie? Whose number is this?”
I rattled off the details of today’s events, except this time, I disclosed the entire story. My sister gasped in all the parts I expected her to, but like I predicted, she was only half as interested in my brush with death as she was with where I was currently staying.
“He insisted on taking care of you? Mattie, that’s huge.”
“Do you think? It’s not like I had a ton of other options. He could just be being nice.”
“No way. If he didn’t want you there, he would have let you stay with Bev. And I’m sorry, did you say he told the hospital he was yourhusband?”
“Just so that they would let him come back to the room.”
“And he spent hours searching for you.”
“A lot of people were searching.”
“Mattie, get over yourself. He obviously likes you and—”
The staircase creaked, causing me to jump and hang up the phone in a panic, as if Giles could somehow hear what my sister was saying on the other end of the call. He emerged onto the landing, his hair was damp, and he had changed into a hoodie and gray sweatpants.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt your phone call. The food should be here any minute.”
“No, you’re fine,” I said in a voice that sounded too high-pitched. Clearing my throat, I continued. “I was done anyway.”
He sauntered over to the couch, and I handed him back his phone. His warm hand brushed my fingertips, causing me to shudder. He smelled good, even better than usual. It must be the scent of his shampoo that I was so obsessed with. I fought the urge to ask him what brand he used. Disappearing into the kitchen for a moment, he returned holding an ice pack.
