“No way. The skiing there is supposed to be great,” Will said.
“Oh, it definitely is. Although I wouldn’t know much about that personally.” Aside from one misguided attempt from Oliver to teach me last winter, I’d never gotten into the sport.
“Are you just here on holiday?” Nigel asked.
“Um, kind of? Yes. I guess we are. We’re only here through Sunday.”
“You’ll be able to see a lot in a few days. We only just got here the other day and we’ve already done loads. We’re down for Mark and Will’s birthday.”
“Twins?” I guessed.
“Yep,” the two said in unison.
“Fraternal, obviously,” Mark added.
“Well, happy birthday, then.”
“Thanks,” they said again before Will added, “We just turned twenty. Turning into old farts.”
My smile froze before I burst out laughing. “Right; talk to me when you’re approaching twenty-seven.”
“You don’t look a day over twenty-two.” Nigel smiled and winked at me.
“Sure, thanks for trying,” I said, still laughing. “I suppose you’re twenty as well.”
“Nah, I’m only nineteen,” Nigel said, grinning.
Infants.
I shifted my posture, hoping my back didn’t creak in the process.
“What’s on your agenda for the day?” Nigel asked.
“I wanted to head into town soon. We didn’t get to see much last night.”
“We’re about to head that way now. Care to join us?” Nigel sprang to his feet and offered up his hand.
“Oh, um, well...” I hesitated, my hand hovering over his. Would Harrison want me to wait for him?
“We can wait a bit, if you need to grab something from the room,” Will offered.
“Just let me get my bag.”
I could leave Harrison a note if he was still sleeping. It was already almost nine, after all. I had been up for hours at this point and I was itching to get moving. He would understand.
As I entered the room, I quietly approached our bunk bed, noting a lump under the covers. I grabbed my shoulder bag and threw in some sunscreen, my wallet, and a few other necessities. I scanned the shelf by my bed for a pen and paper so I could leave that note.
“What are you doing?”
I nearly jumped out of my skin and whipped around to see Harrison standing behind me, fully awake and dressed for the day. I tried not to stare at the thigh tattoos that poked out of his black cutoff shorts.
“You scared the shit out of me,” I accused.
He furrowed his brow. “I’ve been standing here this whole time.”
“I thought you were still asleep.” I gestured to his bed. Upon closer inspection, the lump I’d noticed turned out to be just a pillow and a rumpled comforter.
“Nope. I’m up.”
