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My mouth goes dry at the question, heat rising in my cheeks.
Hiro points at my knees. “Are they worse?”
Oh, he’s not talking about the ache low in my belly at the thought of being alone with him for the next however many days. I nod to cover my flustered reaction. “Right.” I clear my throat, awkwardly. “They’re sore, yes.” I give an exaggerated wince, heading into what looks like a living room, complete with comfortable looking dark wood furniture and over-stuffed couches. I’m suddenly, terribly self-consciously aware that I’m standing in Hiro’s cabin in ripped tights and a too-short skirt, my hair a tangled mess and I probably reek of beer. More than one partygoer bumped into me last night. The combination of my sugary breakfast, too much alcohol from last night and the weirdness of Karli’s new boyfriend and Hiro’s arrival is making my temples throb. I rub my forehead, not really knowing what to do. I turn to see Hiro unpacking our stuff.
“Can I help?”
“You won’t know where anything goes.” He doesn’t glance up. “Why don’t you have a seat?”
I watch as he opens a cupboard, noting the cereal boxes lined up meticulously, like soldiers in a line. The box I chose doesn’t fit.
Of course.
“How come there’s food already here? Did you drive down to get me?”
He shakes his head, trying to move some of the stuff around, but it’s apparent to me that it’s not going to fit. He’s going to have to leave it out on the counter. I eye the perfectly bare charcoal granite. That’s going to drive him nuts.
“No, someone stocked the cabin for me.” He sets the cereal box down before picking it up again, frowning down at the colorful cartoon drawing on the front. “You were the only thing unplanned.”
“Oh.”
His head snaps up. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m happy to help Henry.”
I bite my lip. Of course, this is just a favor to my brother, like holding onto a package. I shake it off, poking around in one of the bags for something to wear. “Is there somewhere I can shower?”
He straightens. “Yes, of course.” He points at the open staircase. “Up the stairs to the left. Take your pick.”
I climb the stairs, my eyes widening at the bookcases that line the open area at the top. There’s a cozy reading nook I wouldn’t mind settling into later. I go left, noting the two guest bedrooms on either side of the hallway. Maybe this place isn’t as small as I initially thought. I step into one, the cream-colored walls and old-fashioned quilt on the bed drawing me in. It’s simply decorated but feels inviting and I’m drawn to the window where I can see snow softly falling outside on green trees and there’s even a lake, its unfrozen surface a dark gray in the distance. I put the few things I carried upstairs on the bench at the end of the bed. My phone lights up and I see several messages from Karli. I hesitate, looking at the door. My friend must be worried. I think about the knife I saw flashing in the dark. I’m worried. I flip my phone over so I can’t see the notifications. Everything is so quiet here. It’s a far cry from my apartment on campus, where I might technically live alone, but Karli and my other friends are always around. Plus, in an apartment building you can always hear other stuff going on, not just from residents, but from outside. A dog barking. A siren wailing. Here it's like everything is muted by the snow. Even when I’m home, with so many siblings, cousins, friends, and the house staff, it’s never quiet, no matter which property I happen to find myself.
I press my forehead against the glass, the cold easing the ache there and just watch the snow steadily falling for a minute. Is Henry just being paranoid? I don’t pretend to know everything he does to keep our vast holdings and business interests organized and profitable. I imagine it’s a lot like running several countries at once, at least that’s how our father used to describe it. I squeeze my eyes shut. No matter where he was in the world, we were always together for Christmas.
A shuddery breath escapes me, and I head for the bathroom, stripping off my clothes. Goosebumps race across my skin when my feet touch the cold tile floor and I switch the shower on, letting the hot steam rise around me. The shower matches the rustic feel of the cabin, an alcove of natural stone and a large skylight so it feels like I’m standing outside when I step in and gaze up. I rake my hands through my hair, tugging at the tangles before I soap up with a bar that smells like I’m walking in the woods. The hot water stings the raw skin at my knees, and I wish I could call Karli and ask what is going on. Is that Tom guy her new boyfriend? Why did he follow us out to the parking lot? What happened after we left?
The water beats down on my shoulders, easing the tension from the long drive and I sigh, arching my back and turning to let the heat wash down my front, my breasts heavy and sensitive. A sudden wave of dizziness hits me, and I reach for the ledge holding the soap and bottles. I breathe shallowly, slowly rinsing the soap out of my hair and switch the water off. I step out onto the soft towel and sink to my knees. I should have had more than candy for breakfast. Nausea washes through me. Definitely not, considering the drinks I had last night. I shiver in the cool air, water trickling around me from the ends of my hair as I suck in streams of air between my teeth.
“Katie?”
I flinch as the door swings open. How fucking embarrassing. Naked on the floor with some combination of low blood sugar and a hangover. “Get out,” I mumble.
A warm towel wraps around my back. “Did you fall?”
“No, I’m just sick and stupid. Leave me alone.”
Gentle fingers comb my wet hair back from face, and a soft towel covers my head, those deft hands working some kind of fancy towel origami that wouldn’t be out of place at my usual salon. “I’m going to pick you up, Katie. If you feel like you need to throw up, just tell me.”
Hiro lifts me like I weigh next to nothing and cuddles me against his chest, striding into the bedroom. I’m caught somewhere between mortification and relief as he lowers me to the soft bed and the shivery feeling passes.
“What happened?” he asks.
I bite my lip. “Maybe one too many drinks and not enough food,” I mumble.
“Did you eat and get enough sleep through your finals?” he inquires, his voice quiet.
I think back over the hectic last couple of weeks. I had three back-to-back exams in a twenty-four-hour period and had to turn in a paper within that same time. My fifth exam gave me some breathing room, but the exam counted for the majority of the final mark, so I couldn’t slack off, not that I would have. Then there were the late-night calls with Karli and getting ready for the end of the year parties… I’m not certain when I last ate a full meal, to be honest.
Hiro smooths the lines across my brow. “You’re probably the one sibling who is the most like your brother. He’ll go until he drops too.”
The mattress shifts as Hiro stands. “Are you going to be okay if I leave you for a few minutes?”
